CubeSat UWE-1 – technology tests and in orbit results
- Paper number
IAC-06-B5.3.07
- Author
Mr. Radu Barza, Wuerzburg University, Germany
- Coauthor
Mrs. Yohko Aoki, University of Southampton, United Kingdom
- Coauthor
Prof. Dr. Klaus Schilling, Wuerzburg University, Germany
- Year
2006
- Abstract
UWE-1 (University of Wuerzburg’s Experimental Satellite – 1) is a CubeSat type pico–satellite (10x10x10 cm3 cube with 1 Kg mass) build by a multi-disciplinary, international team of students at the University of Wuerzburg in Germany. It was successfully launched on 27. October 2005 from Plesetsk (Russia), within the ESA SETTI-Express initiative, and accomplished several in–orbit experiments.
The primary mission of UWE–1 is to analyze IP based communication protocols (different variants of TCP, UDP, SCTP) and to adapt their parameters to the Earth–space link characteristics regarding delays, noise, interruptions, low bandwidth and high packet loss rates. In addition, several technology tests were performed. The highly efficient, European fabricated, triple–junction GaAs solar cells mounted on UWE–1 were for the first time characterized in space. µCLinux running on the main CPU is used for the first time onboard a pico–satellite as operating system. This offers significant advantages for the mission: it supports multi–tasking operation, allows a flexible adjustment of the communication parameters, as well as a real–time comparison between the various protocol extensions and the standard TCP/IP protocols. The verification of passive attitude control mechanisms and the validation of the thermal control system are additional mission objectives which were successfully accomplished. Furthermore, UWE–1 demonstrated the advantages offered by modern miniaturization techniques, which made it possible to implement a fully functional spacecraft with a mass of less than 1Kg.
This contribution describes briefly the system design of the satellite, provides an overview of the performed technology tests and includes numerical simulations, on–ground measurements as well as in–orbit test results. Especially the in–flight experimental results regarding solar cells’ performance characterization and attitude determination and control are highlighted. The article concludes with some recommendations for future designs, based on the experience achieved from the UWE–1 mission.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-06-B5.3.07.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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