2019.B.1.3. FEES: Flexible Experimental Embedded Satellite

Author(s)

Giulio Morelli (1)
Guido Parissenti (1)
Roberto Navoni (2)
Diego Ambroggi
Jiří Hofman (3)
Marco Pavia (4)
Giuseppe Gabetta (5)
Stefano Ampolo (6)
Yann Surel (6)
Michèle Lavagna (6)
Pasqualino Gramazio (6)
Alfonso Niro (6)

GP Advanced Projects, Italy
Laser Navigation, Italy
Brno University of Technology, Czech Republic
Linkit, Italy
Centro Elettrotecnico Sperimentale Italiano, Italy
Politecnico di Milano, Italy

Session

B.1

Keywords

cubesat, nanosatellite, picosat platform, in-orbit demonstration, payload validation

Abstract

FEES (Flexible Experimental Embedded Satellite) – a 1/3U CubeSat to be launched within Q1 2020 – is a pico-platform for technology In Orbit Demonstration and Validation, focused on critical on-board subsystems, specifically miniaturized for such reduced platforms: payload and subsystems are in fact packed in a 10x10x3 cm volume, weighting 300 g at most.

More specifically, FEES’ mission objectives are the in-orbit qualification of an ADCS architecture (e.g. PCB embedded magnetorquers), commercial GPS receivers and the IRIDIUM signal exploitation testing to support on-board traditional radio transmissions architectures. Moreover, FEES aims to test transmission protocols by using Software Defined Radio (SDR) digital technology, to perform Earth imaging and to measure the mission dose thanks to an innovative radiation experiment called RadEx2.

The telecommunication subsystem is based on different antenna typologies, in order to test and space qualify four different technologies and strategies:
• traditional 435MHz data link;
• experimental 1200MHz data link;
• experimental 435MHz data link with an SDR radio to test multiple transmission concepts;
• IRIDIUM modem, allowing bidirectional transmission of short amount of data in every part of the world (TBC authorization).

In addition, FEES power subsystem will be based on innovative thin solar cells, some of which are experimental and in need of a space validation.
The nanosat will be launched as piggy bag of UNISAT-7 satellite, property of G.A.U.S.S. srl, and will be inserted in a LEO Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO) up to 550 km.

FEES represents the joint effort of a number of SMEs and institutions to enable a new low cost nanosat platform concept. In this endeavour, GP Advanced Projects is in charge of project management and system engineering activities. Other partners are:
• Laser navigation (electronics and SDR, FW development)
• Politecnico di Milano (mission analysis, thermal analysis, ADCS algorithm, FW development, AIV/AIT)
• Linkit (TT&C)
• Brno University (total dose measurement)
• CESI (solar cells)

This presentation includes an insight of the FEES design and its current activities, other than the allocation of the groups’ efforts with respect to the mission and details relative to the mission objectives.