Extragalactic Background Light (EBL), the cumulative light from outside the galaxy, is a crucial observational target for understanding the history of the universe. We are developing a CubeSat; VERTECS (Visible Extragalactic background RadiaTion Exploration by CubeSat) with a 6U size (approximately 10 × 20 × 30 cm), equipped with Solar Array Wings (SAW). Our mission is to conduct extensive observations of the visible EBL. The satellite is designed to operate in a sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 500-680 km (approximately 15 orbits per day) and observe the EBL on the shadow side to avoid stray light from the Sun and Earth. To observe EBL, a high-performance CMOS sensor, attitude control devices, and high-speed communication equipment X-band are essential. We should note that these components these components consume a significant amount of power. Therefore, some strategic operational plans are necessary to operate this CubeSat within the limited power resources. In addition, VERTECS needs to meet its mission requirements, conducting 10 observations, 4 data downlinks, and 1 command uplink within a day. We have constructed some operational scenarios utilizing attitude control and SAW to meet these requirements, and we also constructed a power budget simulation for VERTECS. In this presentation, we describe how we plan to operate VERTECS utilizing the subsystems and the results of the power simulation during the operation.
KEYWORDS: Satellites, Electron beam lithography, Analog to digital converters, Galactic astronomy, Satellite communications, Control systems, Visible radiation, Stars, Engineering, Optical filters
The Visible Extragalactic background RadiaTion Exploration by CubeSat (VERTECS) is designed for observing Extragalactic Background Light(EBL). VERTECS mission requires attitude control stability better than 10 arcsec (1σ) per minute, pointing accuracy better than 0.1 deg, and the slew rate faster than 1 deg per sec. We discuss the software-in-the-loop (SIL) attitude simulator simulation to verify whether the current Attitude Determination Control System (ADCS) design and the planned orbit can meet the requirements for EBL observations. We simulate the attitude control system with the simulation software, taking into account the attitude control commands, the parameters of the ADCS hardware, and the expected attitude disturbances in the assumed orbit. This simulation shows the sequence of attitude maneuvers needed to meet the requirement. The simulation results indicate that the current observation sequence is feasible.
We describe scientific objective and project status of an astronomical 6U CubeSat mission VERTECS (Visible Extragalactic background RadiaTion Exploration by CubeSat). The scientific goal of VERTECS is to reveal the star-formation history along the evolution of the universe by measuring the extragalactic background light (EBL) in the visible wavelength. Earlier observations have shown that the near-infrared EBL is several times brighter than integrated light of individual galaxies. As candidates for the excess light, first-generation stars in the early universe or low-redshift intra-halo light have been proposed. Since these objects are expected to show different emission spectra in visible wavelengths, multi-color visible observations are crucial to reveal the origin of the excess light. Since detection sensitivity of the EBL depends on the product of the telescope aperture and the field of view, it is possible to observe it with a small but wide-field telescope system that can be mounted on the limited volume of CubeSat. In VERTECS mission, we develop a 6U CubeSat equipped with a 3U-sized telescope optimized for observation of the visible EBL. The bus system composed of onboard computer, electric power system, communication subsystem, and structure is based on heritage of series of CubeSats developed at Kyushu Institute of Technology in combination with high-precision attitude control subsystem and deployable solar array paddle required for the mission. The VERTECS mission was selected for JAXA-Small Satellite Rush Program (JAXA-SMASH Program), a new program that encourages universities, private companies and JAXA to collaborate to realize small satellite missions utilizing commercial small launch opportunities, and to diversify transportation services in Japan. We started the satellite development in December 2022 and plan to launch the satellite in FY2025.
KEYWORDS: Cameras, X band, Transmitters, Interfaces, Data transmission, Satellites, Design, Data communications, Astronomical imaging, Power consumption
Due to advances in observation and imaging technologies, modern astronomical satellites generate large volumes of data. This necessitates efficient onboard data processing and high-speed data downlink. Reflecting this trend is the Visible Extragalactic background RadiaTion Exploration by CubeSat (VERTECS) 6U Astronomical Nanosatellite. Designed for the observation of Extragalactic Background Light (EBL), this mission is expected to generate a substantial amount of image data, particularly within the confines of CubeSat capabilities. This paper introduces the VERTECS Camera Control Board (CCB), an open-source payload interface board leveraging Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) components, with a Raspberry Pi Compute Module four at its core. The VERTECS CCB hardware and software have been designed from the ground up to serve as the sole interface between the VERTECS bus system and astronomical imaging payload, while providing compute capability not usually seen in nanosatellites of this class. Responsible for mission data processing, it will facilitate high-speed data transfer from the imaging payload via gigabit Ethernet, while also providing a high-bitrate serial connection to the payload x-band transmitter for mission data downlink. Additional interfaces for secondary payloads are provided via USB-C and standard 15-pin camera connectors. The Raspberry Pi embedded within the VERTECS CCB operates on a standard Linux distribution, streamlining the software development process. Beyond addressing the current mission’s payload control and data handling requirements, the CCB sets the stage for future missions with heightened data demands. Furthermore, it supports the adoption of machine learning and other compute-intensive applications in orbit. This paper delves into the development of the VERTECS CCB, offering insights into the design and validation of this next-generation payload interface, to ensure that it can survive the rigors of space flight.
Wildfires burn millions of hectares of land every year globally. Most of them are caused by humans, while only 10-15%
occur naturally due to the climate change. The hotter weather dries out forests and plants, making them more prone to
fire. The “frontline wildfire defense” has fully utilized satellite imagery to monitor, map, and control the fire spread and
damage. However, there are three major challenges of using traditional satellite data: (1) the spatial resolution, (2) the
temporal resolution, and (3) the downlink and analyzing data on the ground. In recent technology, the satellites are
developed into small-size CubeSats that supporting the resolution issues. By exploiting the deep learning (DL) technique,
the CubeSat can become sufficiently “intelligent” to detect wildfire events. This paper discusses a potential approach for
implementing a Convolution Neural Network (CNN) onboard a CubeSat to sense wildfire. The DL model has been
tested on the Camera Controller Board (CCB) embedded with Raspberry Pi Compute Module (RPi CM3+), that
interfacing with the imaging mission of a 6U CubeSat named KITSUNE. In addition, the space environment test of
radiation Total Ionizing Dose (TID) with functional tests of the board has been discussed. The results have shown no
anomaly observed on the RPi while the DL model achieved a 94% overall accuracy with 16 minutes of learning time and
32 seconds of classification time. Hence, the state-of-art processing images onboard CubeSat will improve the valuable
downlink data as the limited time window passes through the ground station.
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