Two major themes for the space sector in recent years have been the resurgence of missions to the Moon, facilitating the expansion of human presence into the Solar System, and the rapid growth in CubeSat launches. Lunar missions will play an important role in sustainable space exploration, as discussed in the Global Exploration Roadmap. The Roadmap outlines the next steps for the current and next generation of explorers and reaffirms the interest of 14 space agencies to return to the Moon. Over the past decade, a more daring approach to space innovation and the proliferation of low-cost small satellites have invited commercialization and, subsequently, have accelerated the development of miniaturized technologies and substantially reduced the costs associated with CubeSats. In this context, CubeSats are increasingly being considered as platforms for pioneering missions beyond low-Earth orbit. This paper describes a 3U nanosatellite mission to the Moon, designed as part of the UKSEDS Satellite Design Competition, capable of capturing and analysing details of the lunar environment. To achieve the primary mission objectives, a camera and an infrared spectrometer have been included to relay information about historic lunar landmarks to Earth. The design was developed to be integrated with Open Cosmos' OpenKit and reviewed by experts in the field from SSPI. The paper includes a detailed assessment of the current state of miniaturized instruments and the quality of scientific return which can be achieved by a lunar CubeSat mission. This concludes in an overall feasibility study of lunar CubeSats, a discussion of the current limitations and challenges associated with CubeSat technologies and a framework for future missions.


    Zugriff

    Zugriff prüfen

    Verfügbarkeit in meiner Bibliothek prüfen

    Bestellung bei Subito €


    Exportieren, teilen und zitieren



    Titel :

    Application of Nanosatellites for Lunar Missions


    Beteiligte:


    Erscheinungsdatum :

    06.03.2021


    Format / Umfang :

    1224996 byte




    Medientyp :

    Aufsatz (Konferenz)


    Format :

    Elektronische Ressource


    Sprache :

    Englisch



    Nanosatellites—the BRITE and OPS-SAT missions

    Koudelka, Otto / Unterberger, Manuela / Romano, Patrick | Tema Archiv | 2014


    Review of Formation Flying and Constellation Missions Using Nanosatellites

    Bandyopadhyay, Saptarshi / Foust, Rebecca / Subramanian, Giri P. et al. | AIAA | 2016


    Correction: Review of Formation Flying and Constellation Missions Using Nanosatellites

    Bandyopadhyay, Saptarshi / Foust, Rebecca / Subramanian, Giri P. et al. | AIAA | 2020


    Nanosatellites

    de Carvalho, Rogerio / Estela, Jaime / Langer, Martin | TIBKAT | 2020