DAPHNE: Demonstrative Advanced multimission Platform Harnessing sustainable New space Economy

Paper number

IAC-24,B4,IP,95,x87061

Author

Mr. Raffaele Minichini, Campania Aerospace District, DAC, Italy

Coauthor

Ms. Nicole Fevola, University of Naples "Federico II", Italy

Coauthor

Dr. Maria Daniela Graziano, University of Naples "Federico II", Italy

Coauthor

Dr. Valerio Striano, Campania Aerospace District, DAC, Italy

Coauthor

Ms. Francesca Pelliccia, University of Naples "Federico II", Italy

Coauthor

Mr. Vincenzo Maria Cannavale, University of Naples "Federico II", Italy

Coauthor

Mr. Giuseppe Puleo, University of Naples "Federico II", Italy

Coauthor

Mr. Matteo Palescandolo, University of Naples "Federico II", Italy

Coauthor

Mr. Andrea Verde, University of Naples "Federico II", Italy

Coauthor

Mrs. Sara Mesco, Università degli Studi di Napoli “Federico II”, Italy

Year

2024

Abstract

Born in 2023 within a collaboration between Campania Aerospace District and University of Naples Federico II, DAPHNE (Demonstrative Advanced multimission Platform Harnessing sustainable New space Economy) is a 3U CubeSat whose technological objective is the demonstration of an innovative sustainable and cost-effective multimission nanosatellite that aims to decline Mission as a Service paradigm in the context of New Space Economy.

This goal is achieved thanks to the capability of DAPHNE CubeSat of providing different services at different stages of its operational life, fostering sustainability in Space by: i) contributing to optimise platform life-cycle, ii) enhancing satellite hardware utilisation, and iii) maximising the usage of a low-cost standardised platform as a CubeSat.

Therefore, the Mission as a Service intrinsic nature of DAPHNE has led to the identification of three different payloads dedicated to three different services:
\begin{itemize}\item {\it In-Orbit Demonstration service} at 500 km for 12 months, to test innovative shielding materials (Vitrimers, Metal Foams, Synthetic Regolith) against the radiative environment of a LEO orbit;\end{itemize}
\begin{itemize}\item {\it Internet of Things service} at 500 km for 12 months, to prove the effectiveness of a low-cost distributed LoRa Direct-to-Satellite ground segment spread across Campania Region;\end{itemize}
\begin{itemize}\item {\it Space Weather service} at an altitude lower than 350 km for 6 months - after a low-thrust propelled descent of few months -, to characterise the concentration of atomic species (i.e. atomic oxygen) for Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO), to contribute at enhancing predictive models for the next round of VLEO missions designed and operated by the major international space industry players.\end{itemize}

In order to comply with these multiple services and their different requirements, DAPHNE is a propelled 3U Cubesat. This comes in the same direction of the newest Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulamentation about orbital debris mitigation policy: the challenge of deorbiting any spacecraft by 5 years after the nominal end of its mission poses the quest of finding active means to re-enter atmosphere. Propelled solutions like DAPHNE will then represent the most viable chance in next years. 

Endorsing the FCC cause through the conception and the overdesign of a propulsion subsystem, will allow DAPHNE satellite to test how to maximise the capabilities of a 3U nanosatellite: at the end of one service the platform will change its scope into a new one by morphing to survive, exactly as the homonym Nymph does in the Apollo myth.

Abstract document

IAC-24,B4,IP,95,x87061.brief.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-24,B4,IP,95,x87061.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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