Rubin – a Frequent Flyer Testbed for Micro- and Nanotechnologies

Paper number

IAC-06-B5.6.14

Author

Mr. Bent Ziegler, OHB-System AG, Germany

Coauthor

Mr. Indulis Kalnins, COSMOS International GmbH, Germany

Coauthor

Dr. Fredrik Bruhn, Angstrom Aerospace Corporation (AAC), Sweden

Coauthor

Prof. Lars Stenmark, Angstrom Aerospace Corporation (AAC), Sweden

Year

2006

Abstract

Micro and Nanotechnologies (MNT) offer important benefits for space missions due to their low requirements for mass, power and volume. MNT can be included on missions relying on primarily traditional technologies but can also enable entirely MNT-based space missions for e.g. swarms of nano or pico satellites. Developments of MNT for space are already widespread and steadily gaining momentum. A critical event before the acceptance of MNT on traditional space missions and the commitment to fully MNT-based missions is the flight qualification of the equipment. This is currently a bottle-neck as the number and frequency of flight opportunities does not correspond to the development efforts for MNT.

OHB-System and the University of Applied Sciences in Bremen have for a number of years been collaborating on the Rubin series. The Rubins are small spacecraft or attached payloads that are launched as piggy-backs on the Cosmos 3M or Dnepr launch vehicle. Communication between ground and the Rubin is provided via intersatellite link through the Orbcomm system. The available envelope for a Rubin depends on the primary passenger(s) and range from about 20 kg down to a few kilos. 1-2 launches per year can be foreseen for the near future.

The small envelope and frequent launch opportunities make Rubin an excellent test bed for MNT and will help in bringing these technologies to acceptable levels for other space missions. Candidate technologies to be used for the Microlink-1 spacecraft from Angstrom Aerospace Corporation have already been identified as potential technologies for the first Rubin MNT Test Bed launch scheduled for early 2007.

This paper will describe the characteristics of Rubin as an MNT test bed including environment, communication, interfaces and future launch opportunities. In addition the paper will contain a description of the first candidate technologies to be flown on Rubin and their application areas for future missions will be addressed. 

Abstract document

IAC-06-B5.6.14.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-06-B5.6.14.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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