Global Space Exploration Conference Washington, DC. Copyright 2012 by the International Astronautical Federation. All rights reserved.

GLEX-2012-12, 2, 2, x12447

ORBIT DESIGN AND TRAJECTORY ANALYSIS FOR UNIVERSITY CUBE-SATELLITE PROJECT FOR
REMOTE SENSING AND FOR EDUCATIONAL APPLICATIONS

Ugur Guven
Individual Collaborator, United States, drguven@live.com

Gurunadh Velidi@, Samaksh Behl#

With the advent of the first satellite Sputnik, a new era for mankind has opened. With this new era, the concepts
of satellites have become more important than ever for the amenities of the modern civilization that we enjoy today.
However, there is still a great need for improvement in satellite technology and this can be best achieved by various
Nanosatellite research and deployment programs. Due to its specific nature and its operational dynamics related to its
vast application, a Nanosatellite programme can be very efficiently and effectively implemented under a University's
R&D programme. Until today, many Nanosatellite have been successfully developed, launched and used by various
Universities all across the world and many useful information and experience have come out of these activities. In
this particular paper, a case study analysis of an ideal Nanosatellite research and deployment program for universities
will be shown. This paper can serve as a fundamental case study of a Nanosatellite program and academic and
research organizations can use this as a guideline for their programs. An optimal near polar, low earth orbit is
calculated for this Nanosatellite along with its structural configurations. The orbit is calculated keeping in mind
certain geographical constraints which defines the basic objectives of the mission. Moreover, different attitude
adjustments systems are explored in order to create the most stable configuration in orbit. In addition, possible
payload configurations for this particular case study will be analyzed and the corresponding launch systems along
with its costs will be explored. The main focus will be on creating the most optimal configuration with the minimum
of production and launching costs for the Nanosatellite. Thus, the payload capability as well as the launch
configuration along with the orbit will be calculated accordingly. This paper hopes to demonstrate the technical
aspects as well as the educational aspects of a University Cubesat project

I. INTRODUCTION from different aspects. But, mainly they are classified

In the advancement of space exploration the by their masses and the cost it takes to manufacture
requirement for launching experimental satellites is them because the satellite should be inexpensive and
increasing everyday and hence the most economical should perform more missions. When considering the
small satellites also called the CubeSat are being mass, it is more correct to include the propellant of the
launched by many universities. CubeSat satellites are a satellite. This is called as wet mass. Generally, the ones
class of small satellites called nano-satellite designed which are larger than 1000 kg are called large satellites,
for inexpensive access into space. Cube Sat standards the ones which are between 500 and 1000 kg are called
allow for 101010 cm cube or a 101020 cm or a as medium-sized satellites and those smaller than 500
101030 cm also known as 1U, 2U and 3U kg are called as small satellites. If a satellite is less than
respectively, with a maximum mass of 1 kg. They are 10 kg, then it is classified as nanosatellite.
launched and deployed by a deployer called the Poly-
Pico Satellite Orbital Deployer (P-POD) as a secondary Mini Micro Nano Pico
payload on larger missions. P-POD are mounted on the Satellite Satellite Satellite Satellite
launch vehicle which carry the cube sat to the Low Wet 200 - 10-200 1-10 kg 100 g- 1 kg
Earth orbit and are deployed into the orbit once the mass 500 kg kg
signal is received from the launch vehicle. Currently Cost 7-25M 1-7 M 0.1-1 M <0.1 M
over 100 institutions around the world have been taking Table 1: Comparison of satellites on the basis of wet
part in such projects on both Indian and International mass and cost in manufacturing.
grounds. Satellites can be classified into many groups

@
Co-author 1 University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, India, guru.velidi@live.in
#
Co-author 2 University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, India, samaksh.behl@gmail.com

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Global Space Exploration Conference Washington, DC. Copyright 2012 by the International Astronautical Federation. All rights reserved.
As we can see from Table 1, the different types of
satellites based on the wet mass and the cost of
manufacture; the CubeSat are a type of nanosatellites
which weigh 1kg 0.33 and the cost of production is
approximately 100,000 USD.
Applications
In addition to fulfilling communications, remote
sensing and space science applications, these miniature
satellites are particularly suitable as a focus for the
education and training of young scientists and
engineers. By providing a means for direct, hands-on
experience in all stages and aspects (both technical and
managerial) of a real satellite mission-from design,
construction, test and launch through to orbital
operation the universities can give their teachers and
students a knowledgeable experience.
Of course, such small satellites cannot cater for all
missions objectives-especially where large transmitter
powers, antenna arrays or optical apertures are required
for applications such as direct broadcast TV and mobile
voice communications from geostationary orbit, or for
very high-resolution Earth or astronomical imaging.
Nevertheless, as on-board processing capabilities have
advanced, many missions, hitherto only feasible with
large satellites, have become possible with
microsatellites at a fraction of the conventional mission
cost.
Remote Sensing
Microsatellites have really brought about a
revolution in Earth observation. Conventional Earth-
observation and remote-sensing satellite missions are
extremely costly. Thus, there are relatively few such
missions and the resulting data, while providing
impressive spatial and spectral resolution, yield poor
temporal resolution (revisit) of ground targets owing to
the small number of these spacecraft actually in orbit. A
new opportunity for remote sensing using inexpensive
small satellites has come with the availability of high
density two arrays, semiconductor charge-coupled
device (CCD), optical detectors (as used in consumer
video and digital still cameras) and low-power
consumption yet computationally powerful
microprocessors.
Communication
Satellite communications have become synonymous
with large geostationary satellites for transparent real-
time wideband services. Satellites in LEOs are closer to
the user and the consequent reduction in transmission
loss and delay time are attractive, holding out the
promise of less expensive ground terminals and regional
@
Co-author 1 University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, India, guru.velidi@live.in
#
Co-author 2 University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, India, samaksh.behl@gmail.com
GLEX-2012-12, 2, 2, x12447
frequency reuse. Nevertheless, the communications
characteristics associated with a LEO constellation pose
quite different and demanding problems, such as
varying communications path and links, high Doppler
shifts and handover from satellite to satellite.
II. ORBIT DESIGN
There are various types of orbits but to choose the
right orbit for the CubeSat for a specific mission is a
very important task. The polar orbit is selected for the
CubeSat described in this paper which is basically for
the remote sensing and educational purposes.
The polar orbits are the ones in which the satellite
passes the poles of the Earth on each revolution of the
Earth. These orbits have an inclination near 90 degrees.
This allows the satellite to see virtually every part of the
Earth as the Earth rotates underneath it. These orbits are
used for earth observation/remote sensing and for the
weather determination. The disadvantage of this orbit is
that the satellite cannot sense any one spot on the Earth
for a continuous period of time.
The second step in the design of the orbit was to
select the earth synchronous polar orbit or the sun
synchronous polar orbit. Since our satellite has payloads
which require huge amount of power, sun synchronous
polar orbit is designed which will provide the power
through solar panels. Hence it is very common for the
satellites orbiting in the polar orbit to have a sun
synchronous orbit.
The polar, low earth, sun synchronous orbit is
designed for the nanosatellite in this paper which helps
in performing the missions that are to be carried out by
the satellite once it is in the launched and deployed in
the orbit.
Fig. 1: Different types of orbits around the earth.
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Global Space Exploration Conference Washington, DC. Copyright 2012 by the International Astronautical Federation. All rights reserved.

The orbit has been designed as per the decided Fig. 2: The location of ground station where the uplink
altitude which is 705 km. and downlink of data will take place.
Based on Orbit Altitude (705 km) The satellite is designed to cross the location of
Max Angular 3080 km Dehradun, India where the ground station is being built
Altitude and the uplink and downlink of the information will
Maximum 14 minutes take place using Tetra Air Interface protocols.
Visibility Time
Max Angular 3080 km III. ATTITUDE CONTROL SYSTEM
Range The Cube Sat that is being discussed in the paper is
Max Surface 5676 km designed for remote sensing and for educational
Range purposes hence, the attitude of the satellite has to be
Satellite Orbit 7.5 km/sec controlled so that it can uplink and downlink the data
Velocity from the ground station via antennas. There are two
Orbit Revolution 98 minutes systems that are used for attitude control of the satellite.
Time The inertial wheel and the magnetic torque are used
to control the attitude.
Table 2: The Orbital elements of the satellite.
III.I Inertial Wheel
The inertial wheels or the momentum wheels are the
[1] actuator systems which accelerate a body inside the
spacecraft in order to create an equal but opposite force
Where, r = distance between the two bodies. on the spacecraft attitude. The wheels can be operated in
e = eccentricity either reaction wheel mode or as a momentum biased
system. The first one uses the wheel solely for a
reaction torque, the second one uses the wheel as a
[2] gyroscope in order to increment the rigidity of one
particular axis.
Where, v = velocity of satellite in orbit.
III.II Magnetic Torque
They are of two types: (1) the coil or (2) rod
[3] configuration. The magnetic torquers are essentially
induction coils which are used to create a magnetic
Where, T = period of the satellite. field. This induced magnetic field interacting with the
earths magnetic field creates a torque which is then
II.I Trajectory used to change the attitude of the system. This is system
The trajectory of the CubeSat in this paper is has the considerable advantage that it is solid state,
designed and analysed keeping in mind the orbital therefore avoiding the energy losses due to friction. The
distance of the satellite as 705 km and the orbital torque produced however, is proportional to the earths
inclination as 97. magnetic field which means that they are less effective
at higher orbits.
The rod configuration is a configuration that uses
wire wrapped around a long rod of ferromagnetic
material. The ferromagnetic material increases the
efficiency of the coil but greatly increases the weight.
The disadvantage of this method is that it depends on
the cross product between the vector normal of the coil
area and the magnetic field strength vector. This means
that if both vectors are aligned the produced torque is
null. It follows that in every time instant there will be
one direction of the CubeSat, the one parallel to the
magnetic field, where the magnetic torques will not be
able to produce a torque. The solution to this problem is
to introduce a secondary actuator, an inertial wheel,

@
Co-author 1 University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, India, guru.velidi@live.in
#
Co-author 2 University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, India, samaksh.behl@gmail.com

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Global Space Exploration Conference Washington, DC. Copyright 2012 by the International Astronautical Federation. All rights reserved.

which does not depend on the direction of the magnetic

field.
IV. PAYLOADS
The payloads are decided by choosing the mission of
the nanosatellite. Since, the mission of this nanosatellite
is remote sensing and for educational purposes such as
seismic activity determination and therefore, different
payloads are selected. The first payload is the
magnetometer which will be used to detect small
fluctuations in magnetic field of Earth.

Fig. 4: Search coil magnetometer.

IV.II Charged-Coupled Device VGA Camera

As mentioned before, the charged-coupled device is
used for remote sensing since very high quality images
ELF (Extremely
low frequency)
are required which are provided by the CCD. The
device captures images through a lens with in turn are
transferred to a capacitor. The capacitor transfers this
image to the other neighbour capacitor and this process
continues until the last capacitor dumps the image to the
charge amplifier and a voltage is generated. These
continuous voltages are stored in the memory of the
digital device like a camera. This image will be received
Fig. 3: Detection of Extremely low frequency using by the ground station for analysis.
magnetometer.

IV.I Magnetometer
Many studies suggest that when the earthquake is
triggered it induces these extremely low frequencies
into the earths atmosphere and subsequently into
ionosphere. These extremely low frequencies can be
measured using a magnetometer and then the measured
data will be compared with the US geological survey
data for magnetic measurements to find a correlation
between them. The purpose of this payload is to detect
small magnetic measurements. The magnetometer relies
on the AC magnetometer. It is a search coil
magnetometer with multiple frequency bands. It is also
known as the induction magnetometer. The coil is
wounded around a core with high magnetic
permeability. This type of magnetometer was used since
it concentrates on the fluctuations which are to be
recorded for detection of seismic activity. Since it is an
AC magnetometer hence they measure the alternating
magnetic field which is a huge advantage because it can Fig. 5: VGA CCD Camera.
measure changes in the magnetic field many times per
second.

@
Co-author 1 University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, India, guru.velidi@live.in
#
Co-author 2 University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, India, samaksh.behl@gmail.com

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Global Space Exploration Conference Washington, DC. Copyright 2012 by the International Astronautical Federation. All rights reserved.

V. GROUND STATION
The ground station is very important since it is used
to uplink and downlinks the data from the satellite. The
whole idea of putting up a satellite is to record some
data which is useful in advancement of scientific
experiments. The ground station is developed which
uses the yagi antenna, stepper motor, receiver and data
processing unit to record the data from the satellite. The
measurements of the magnetometer i.e. the magnetic
fluctuations or the extremely low frequencies will be
received by the ground station.
The flow chart below shows how the ground station
will work using different components.
researches. It is also the hope of the authors that this
paper will be a guidance platform for newly
implemented nanosatellite projects.
VII. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We would like to thank University of Petroleum and
Energy Studies for their unwavering support.
VIII. REFERENCES
[1] Curtis, Howard D., Orbital Mechanics for
Engineering Students, Elsevier Butterworth-
Heinemann, MA, 2005.

[2] Matthew R. Long. A CubeSat Derived Design for

a Unique Academic Research Mission in
Earthquake Signature Detection. Aeronautics &
Astronautics., Stanford University, California.
Online:
http://www.quakefinder.com/SSC_PAPER_SSC02
-IX-6.pdf January 28th 2005.

[3] Fortescue, Peter, Stark, John, Spacecraft System

Engineering, Third Edition, John Wiley & sons
Ltd., England, 2003.

Fig. 6: Components of ground station.

VI. CONCLUSION
It is easily seen that the concept of nanosatellites
have made space travel and the use of space equipment
an easy possibility for educational institutions. Now the
power systems of spacecraft and satellites can be
examined and experimented with by using
nanosatellites. Moreover, the relative ease and the
relative affordability of nanosatellites also allow for
important technological breakthroughs as well as for
advancements in the design of space systems. In this
case study for a university nanosatellite, the orbit for
the satellite was designed with certain geometric
constraints. The different payloads for remote sensing
and for different educational purposes were studied. It
was concluded that nanosatellites can be easily
implemented in the universities R&D programme and a
lot of educational research can be done which will
benefit the students and the teachers of the university. It
proves to be an inexpensive solution to many expensive

@
Co-author 1 University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, India, guru.velidi@live.in
#
Co-author 2 University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, India, samaksh.behl@gmail.com

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