Mission Concept for Thermosphere In-Situ Measurement from Nano-Satellite Constellation
- Paper number
IAC-11,B4,2,15,x11432
- Author
Dr. An-Ming Wu, National Space Organization, Taiwan, China
- Year
2011
- Abstract
Six nano-satellites, each weighted less than 10 kg, carry in-situ measurement instruments of ion mass spectrometer, Langmuir probe, and airglow spectrograph. The satellites are launched together by a small launch vehicle into a low Earth orbit from 300 km to 350 km at 50 deg inclination, in which the altitude difference of each satellite is 10 km. The lifetime of the orbit at altitude of 300 to 350 km is about 3 months, and the period of the nodal precession is about 2 months. Therefore, the constellation of the six satellites can obtain not only the global measurement data every day, but also the measurement data of a complete cycle of local solar time everywhere. The measurement data rate of each satellite is 2 kbps, and the satellite will contact the ground station for 6 min every half day. With the telemetry data rate of 2 Mbps, the six satellites can download all the measurement data in one contact. Although a sounding rocket can reach the space at 300 km altitude, it will have only 10 min for measurement, and immediately fall to the ground due to the velocity too small. A payload on orbit can conduct the mission for 3 months, which are more cost-effective. To obtain sufficient measurement data of the thermosphere of 80 to 300 km, the satellites are required with small air drag in flight at low altitudes so as to increase the mission life. In this study, the satellite design utilizing the MEMS technology is proposed, and the orbit maneuver taking into account the aerodynamic force and solar radiation pressure is simulated for collision avoidance, dispersion, and operation.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
(absent)