PICPOT Program: Lessons Learned

Paper number

IAC-07-B4.6.02

Author

Dr. Sabrina Corpino, Politecnico di Torino, Italy

Coauthor

Prof. Sergio Chiesa, Politecnico di Torino, Italy

Coauthor

Dr. Nicole Viola, Politecnico di Torino, Italy

Year

2007

Abstract

The paper describes the PiCPoT program, by means of which the satellite has been conceived, designed, developed, integrated and eventually launched, with emphasis on the results achieved.
PiCPoT is a nano-satellite, developed at Politecnico di Torino during the last two years by a team constituted by students and researchers of different technical areas. The program has been funded by the Italian Ministry of University and Research and by Politecnico di Torino itself.
The program has started in 2004 on the basis of previous researches on university satellites carried out by the AeroSpace System Engineering Team (ASSET) of Politecnico di Torino in collaboration with the GAUSS team of the Università di Roma “La Sapienza” and the Università di Napoli “Federico II”.
PiCPoT has been developed taking into account some major issues and constraints which derive from its nature of being an university satellite: educational relevance of the project and low cost system. 
Starting from these high-level requirements the technical specification has been established and the design methodologies have been defined. The main technical objective of PiCPoT has been identified in taking pictures of the northern hemisphere of the Earth. To fulfil the task PiCPoT is equipped with all the necessary sub-systems: payload (cameras and control), power supply, attitude control (passive), communications, command and data handling. All the components have been selected off-the-shelves and then assembled by the team, except of the solar panels which have been made on demand by an external company. The resulting satellite is a cube (13 cm side length), which weights about 2.5 kg, able to flight a sun-synchronous circular orbit (500 km height) and to take and send pictures on demand when it passes over the ground station located in Torino.
Mechanical and functional tests have been performed in order to guarantee the fulfilment of the mission. The results of the test campaign have been satisfactory. 
Unfortunately, the launch resulted in a failure of the launch vehicle and PiCPoT has never reached its scheduled orbit, so no post-launch analyses could be processed.
Notwithstanding the launch failure, PiCPoT project can be considered a success for all the participants to the program, who experienced a great value activity. In particular students have shown a great enthusiasm for the project, which is representative of an actual space program, even if a small one, since the satellite has been actually developed, manufactured and integrated on a real launch vehicle.

Abstract document

IAC-07-B4.6.02.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-07-B4.6.02.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.