WUSAT-2 CubeSat Mission
WUSAT-2 Modified 1U Platform
1U CubeSat + Ejection Module on Launch Vehicle
WUSAT-2 CubeSat
Years of Operation: 2013 - 2015
Client: Prof Don Pollacco, Warwick Physics
Mission: 1U CubeSat carrying a light spectrometer payload to estimate the density of certain gasses in the Earth's upper atmosphere. Experimental data to be returned via radio transmission system, customised to cope with high-speed (~Mach 2) returning Spacecraft in upper atmosphere.
ESA Mission Codename: - WUSAT-SOLSPEC
Partners:
- European Space Agency (ESA Academy),
- German Space Agency DLR (via MORABALink opens in a new window),
- Swedish Space Corporation, SSCLink opens in a new window
- Company Partners:
- RS ComponentsLink opens in a new window
- HarwinLink opens in a new window
- ESATAN TMSLink opens in a new window
- SolidworksLink opens in a new window
- ThalesLink opens in a new window
- National InstrumentsLink opens in a new window
- Roke Manor ResearchLink opens in a new window
- LyncolecLink opens in a new window
- ProctorLink opens in a new window
WUSAT-2 Background
WUSAT-2 was designed as a non-standard 1U CubeSat to meet the requirements set by our client, Prof. Don Pollacco, who proposed the concept of a CubeSat that could estimate the density of critical gases (e.g Na and O2) in the Earth's upper atmosphere. This would be achieved by the WUSAT-2 light spectrometer payload, sampling filtered light frequencies during entry into the atmosphere of a planet and estimating the density of each gas at specific altitudes. The presence of such gasses can allow an assessment of a planet's evolutionary history, and would demonstrate that similar CubeSats could be released by a Spacecraft visiting a planet in order to carryout such an investigation. Note: WUSAT-2 is a non-standard CubeSat because the light sensor domes on two external sides of the CubeSat (see above) do not meet CubeSat specification standards, hence, a customised ejection module (above) also had to be produced in order to launch WUSAT-2 from the REXUS launch rocket.
Mission Objectives
- To design, manufacture, test, launch and operate a CubeSat via approved ESA Space Systems Engineering methodology standards and to meet client payload needs.
- To successfully complete all European Space Agency phase review requirements
- In operation - to establish contact with a ground station via a communications link customised to cope with transmission during atmospheric re-entry conditions.
- To record and estimate atmospheric levels of Na and O2 gasses in Earth's upper atmosphere.
Mission Outcomes
- To successfully apply a rigorous Space Systems Engineering approach to the development of WUSAT-2 and to meet approval for all ESA revision stagesLink opens in a new window up to and including launch.
- To work with, and meet the requirements of, multiple partners across Europe.
- To achieve a successful launch and operation of WUSAT-2 including the recovery of payload data via customised radio link during a high-speed (~Mach2) transition in Earth's upper atmosphere. (At the time, the first successful operation of an ejected unit from a REXUS launch in 17 such launches!)
- To understand and apply other important Space standards required to gain ESA approval for review stages
WUSAT-2 Team 1 2013-14
L-R: Oli Beard, Oliver Vavasour, CJ Hanbury-Williams, Levs Kodners, Matti Konsala, Sarah Iddles, Jess Lomath, Dr Bill Crofts
2013-14 Team Achievements
- Successfully negotiate WUSAT-2 payload requirements with client, Prof Don Pollacco, and hence develop WUSAT-2 platform requirements.
- Successfully submit WUSAT-2 mission proposal to ESA Academy and gain entry to 2015 REXUS Sounding Rocket launch campaign.
- Successfully complete early phase mission requirements to approved ESA standards.
- Hand over mission documentation and attainment at all disciplinary levels to incoming 2014-15 WUSAT team.
WUSAT-2 Team 2 2014-15
L-R: Dr Bill Crofts, Matt Havard, Izzy Ferguson, Frank Austin, Francis Eckersley-Carr, Sam Tucker-Harvey, Dom Burr, (inset - Rich Gold).
2014-15 Team Achievements
- Successfully completed later stage phase reviews including some very extensive re-design/manufacture to obtain ESA approval.
- Completed final phase approval to obtain WUSAT-2's 'flight ticket' for launch.
- Spent two weeks at the Sweden Space Centre (ESRANGE) in order to complete launch and obtain operational data.
- Produced and presented a conference paper WUSAT-SOLSPEC REXUS 17 EXPERIMENT: MEASURING ATMOSPHERIC QUANTITIES OF OXYGEN AND SODIUM; Proc. '22nd ESA Symposium on European Rocket and Balloon Programmes and Related Research', Tromso, Norway, 7 - 12 June 2015 (ESA SP-730, Sept 2015)