SUSAT-1

Student Satellite Project -1

MISSION and OBJECTIVES

Reference Document: IST-CSE-SUSAT-1/001/20/03/2006

Institute of Space Technology, Islamabad

Participating Departments:

- Communication Systems Engineering

- Aeronautics and Astronautics

Supporting Departments:

- Computational Maths and Operations Research

Student Satellite Project SUSAT-1

1. Objectives

-         Develop interest of students in the field of space technology.

-         To encourage students’ participation in the design, development and operation of small satellites

-         To link up with other universities doing similar projects.

-         To include experiments onboard the satellite that can be used to conduct research.

-         To develop basic facilities for satellite development in an educational environment.

-         To allow students in different fields and at different levels to have access to satellite.

-         To develop strong emphasis on design methodologies and processes.

-         To encourage new design ideas on satellite bus, satellite payload, satellite services, satellite networking and satellite constellations.

-         To strengthen space technology education program

 2. Mission Statement

To have a small functional low earth orbit (LEO) satellite that can communicate with low cost earth stations and also to have capability to take pictures of the earth. The satellite concept will be based on design and development of a general purpose modular satellite bus which will be used in the future for various educational “research and development “missions that can be realized in a small satellite.

3. Primary Mission:

Primary mission is design, development, testing and operation of a small satellite in low earth orbit. Part of the primary mission is the involvement of students in the design and development of this project.

4. Secondary Mission

4.1 Communication using new modulation schemes, error correction methods and protocols.

4.2 To take pictures of earth.

5. Functional Requirements:

5.1  Earth pointing capability

5.2   Ability to communicate with earth stations.

5.3   Ability to provide satellite health data (telemetry).

5.4   Ability to store and execute commands in real time or at the assigned time (tele-command from ground).

5.5   Ability to take decisions based on in-house health status and conditions.

5.6   Ability to operate in normal, extended and safe modes.

5.7   Store and forward capability.

5.8   Ability to send and receive data in different modulation and coding formats.

5.9   Ability to store and send pictures of earth.

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6. Satellite Orbit

Satellite will be launched in a low earth polar orbit.

7. Coverage

Coverage of SUSAT-1 LEO satellite will be limited to an area under the satellite pass, with earth pointing. Satellite will be visible to an earth station for a limited time during pass. The satellite antenna beam will be wide enough to cover the area under and around the pass.

8. Lifetime and Survivability

The satellite mission lifetime is three years. The survivability is aimed towards a minimum period of three years. The selection of components in terms of reliability and redundancy will dictate the survivability of the satellite.

9. Satellite Access

9.1   Satellite telemetry will be available to universities and educational institutes.

   9.2   Satellite tele-command will be available only to limited number of stations at different Universities.

         9.3   Educational institutes will be able to participate in satellite payload experiments.

10. Satellite System Design

Satellite design will be based on the development of a satellite model. Design and development of the following satellite bus subsystems will be carried out as part of the project:

10.1  Satellite structure

10.2  Satellite power system

         10.3  Satellite Attitude Control System

         10.4  Satellite thermal control system

         10.5  Satellite propulsion system

         10.6  Satellite Onboard Computer and Data handling unit.

         10.7  Satellite telemetry and tele-command system.

         10.8  Satellite Antenna and RF system

         10.9  Satellite TTC station

         10.10 Satellite earth station(s)

 11. Satellite Payload Design

11.1               Design of satellite imaging system. 

11.2               Store and forward experiment

11.3               Design of modulation and error correction payload.

12. Satellite Environmental Analysis

Satellite environmental analysis will be done to include spacecraft charging, radiation effects, magnetic fields and other space influences.

Project Director

Dr Qamar ul Islam