December 27, 2010

Naval Research Lab Deploys Nano-Satellites

By Nathesh , TMCnet Contributor

The Naval Research Laboratory ( NRL ) Naval Center for Space Technology has built two nano-satellites to act as a platform for experimentation and technology development. The satellites were launched aboard a SpaceX’s (News - Alert) Falcon 9 launch vehicle on Dec. 8, from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.





The NRL is the Department of the Navy's corporate laboratory. NRL conducts a broad program of scientific research, technology, and advanced development.

California-based Pumpkin built the two 3U (30 x 10 x 10 cm) CubeSat buses, also known as the CubeSat Experiment (QbX). They were provided to NRL by the National Reconnaissance Office's (NRO's) Colony Program Office.

NRL spacecraft engineers are validating the 3U CubeSats. On-board, the NRL developed tracking, telemetry and command (TTC) radio, which provides two-way data transfers. The flight software, ported from previous and ongoing NRL programs to the Pumpkin Colony I processor, is supposedly providing an onboard scheduler for routine vehicle control and operation. Environmental testing of the completed package was also performed at NRL while ground stations on the East and West coasts are providing coverage for command loads and data collection.

In a press release , NRL Spacecraft Engineering Department said that the spacecrafts are healthy, and experimentation and checkout are continuing. Deployments, including arrays and antennas, were successful and were verified shortly after launch. Spacecraft attitude is controlled by, and operates in, a novel "Space Dart" mode. Due to the low orbit (300km) atmospheric drag, it provides a stabilization torque that, when used with reaction wheels and torque coils, provides stable pointing to within five degrees of Nadir throughout the orbit. The system has been verified on both vehicles and is providing a stable platform for continued experimentation.

SpaceX claimed that its Falcon launch vehicle family is designed to provide breakthrough advances in reliability, cost, flight environment and time to launch. Falcon 9 is a two-stage, liquid oxygen and rocket grade kerosene (RP-1) powered launch vehicle. The primary payload launched aboard the SpaceX Falcon 9 was the Dragon Module. Developed by SpaceX and was sponsored by NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program, the Dragon Module is an initiative to develop private spacecraft to ferry cargo to and from the International Space Station.

Edited by Tammy Wolf