Beegadhur, Shayne;
Finn, Joshua;
Delves, John;
Mukherjee, Sumana;
Patadia, Dhrumil;
McKevitt, James;
Sharma, Ramansha;
... Ivahnenko, Nadiya; + view all
(2023)
The Design of CubeSats for Outer Solar System Scientific Missions.
Journal of the British Interplanetary Society (JBIS)
, 76
(12)
pp. 424-432.
10.59332/jbis-076-12-0424.
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Abstract
In the past decade, CubeSats have emerged as a cost-effective solution for scientific missions beyond Earth’s orbit, though they have not yet gone further than orbiting Mars, as with NASA’s MarCO CubeSats. This paper discusses the technical challenges and solutions for designing CubeSats for Outer Solar System missions, specifically in the context of the proposed Astraeus Mission to Titan. These CubeSats, called the Mites, aim to measure heavy anions in Titan’s upper atmosphere and have undergone analysis to determine their optimal size and drag coefficient. A significant challenge addressed is the CubeSats’ power system, with solar panels being less effective at greater distances from the Sun. The paper proposes investigating Radioisotope Power Systems (RPS) as an alternative. However, there is the additional challenge of packaging the RPS in a sufficiently small form factor so that the upper atmospheric experiment can be completed. This must cover the greatest range of longitudes, latitudes, and ranges hence the orbital decay rate must be controlled to achieve this. The paper also explores the Mites’ long-duration exposure to space during transit and strategies to minimise cosmic radiation exposure. Whilst this is completed in the context of the Astraeus Mission, the data obtained can guide similar missions and aid others in overcoming the limitations of CubeSats so that they can be used more frequently for Outer Solar System science missions.
| Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | The Design of CubeSats for Outer Solar System Scientific Missions |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| DOI: | 10.59332/jbis-076-12-0424 |
| Publisher version: | https://www.bis-space.com/publications/jbis/ |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | This version is the version of record. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions. |
| Keywords: | Titan, CubeSat, Radioisotope, Thermoelectric Generator, Orbital Decey, Outer Solar System |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Maths and Physical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Maths and Physical Sciences > Dept of Space and Climate Physics |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10192031 |
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