Ionic Neutron Content Analyzer: System design of a student built 3U cubesat

Paper number

IAC-19,B4,9-GTS.5,8,x53010

Author

Mr. Ian Rankin, United States, New Mexico State University

Coauthor

Mr. Kyle Rankin, United States, New Mexico State University

Coauthor

Ms. Stephanie Lloyd, United States, New Mexico State University

Coauthor

Mr. Ian McNeil, United States, New Mexico State University

Coauthor

Mr. Andrew McGinnis, United States, New Mexico State University

Coauthor

Mr. Mark Roberts, United States, New Mexico State University

Coauthor

Dr. Steven Stochaj, United States, New Mexico State University

Coauthor

Dr. Georgia De Nolfo, United States, NASA GSFC

Coauthor

Mr. George Suarez, United States Minor Outlying Islands, NASA GSFC

Coauthor

Mr. Jeffrey Dumonthier, United States, NASA GSFC

Coauthor

Mr. Iker Liceaga-Indart, United States, Catholic University of America, NASA GSFC

Coauthor

Mr. Grant Mitchell, United States, NASA GSFC

Year

2019

Abstract

The Ionic Neutron Content Analyzer (INCA) spacecraft is a student built 3U cubesat designed and built by the New Mexico State University NanoSat Lab. INCA’s mission is to demonstrate the functionality of a new Scintillator - Silicon Photomultiplier (SiPM) based neutron detector designed by NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. The detector will provide science return by measuring neutron flux in Low Earth Orbit over time and a range of latitudes. This work provides technical details on the design of the INCA spacecraft to aid future cubesat missions. This paper presents INCA’s subsystems including: the architecture and design of the communication system, including software and hardware for both the satellite and its ground station; the design of mission software, which includes both the flight software and ground station architecture; the derivation of the prediction and update steps of the kalman filter used for attitude determination; design and simulation of the spin-stabilized attitude control system utilizing only magnetorquers for actuation; an overview of the design and testing of INCA’s thermal, vibrational, and structural properties. The paper concludes with a discussion of lessons learned from the assembly and integration of the INCA spacecraft. Additionally provided is a link to select portions of the described software developed by the INCA team.

Abstract document

IAC-19,B4,9-GTS.5,8,x53010.brief.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-19,B4,9-GTS.5,8,x53010.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.