Plug and Play Small Satellite Solutions with Large Satellite Implications

Transcription

1 USU Small Satellite Conference 2008 SSC08-III-8 Plug and Play Small Satellite Solutions with Large Satellite Implications Lee Thienel Guy Robinson Dale Stottlemyer Rus Burgess Libration Systems Management, Inc Albuquerque, NM Scott Clough Vantage Systems Inc Lanham, MD

2 Agenda Introduction Modular Satellites TacSat II Plug N Play Sat Applicability to Midsize to Large Satellites Conclusions

3 Introduction Modular satellites are coming of age with projects such as AFRL s Plug and Play Satellite (PnPSat) PnPSat is using standardized interfaces, interface plates, and self realization to minimize development time and assembly, integration and test (AI&T) schedules.

4 The history of modular satellites In the 1970 s NASA developed the Multimission Modular Spacecraft (MMS) to be serviced using the space shuttle. The first MMS was Solar Max which launched in Today AFRL is building PnP Sat

5 Multimission Modular Spacecraft (MMS) Bus consists of 3 modules mounted to the Module Support Structure (MSS) Control & Data Handling Attitude Control System Power System Propulsion module added from underneath as needed Payload mounts to the CTA

6 MMS Projects and MMS Module Use Adapted from: Falkenhayn, E, Jr. Multimission Modular Spacecraft (MMS), AIAA , AIAA Space Programs and Technologies Conference 1988, Houston, TX.

7 The end of the MMS era As advances came in the 1980 s and 1990 s MMS technology became outdated For example the NSSC-I was no longer competitive Flexibility was not built into the design Standardization was on the module level not the component level

8 Responsive Space Connection to Plug and Play Satellite Development TacSat II AI&T 11 payloads/instruments Month AI&T program was the goal AI&T was 18 months and 2 days Small I&T Teams Working multiple aspects concurrently QA and CM built into the team not added on Use of a FlatSat for pre-integration check out Reduced integration times by 15 to 25%

9 Responsive Space Connection to Plug and Play Satellite Development TacSat II AI&T (continued) Integration flexibility minimized the impact of late deliveries Individual delays did not create greater delays Average payload or instrument was 5 ½ months late, impact on program was limited to 2 ½ months A 50% reduction in the top four AI&T activities would bring in the AI&T at under 12 months Mechanical, Interface Testing, System Level Testing, and Troubleshooting & Repair The use of standard interfaces should allow this to be achieved

10 Percentage of Time for Integration by Activity Type

11 Plug and Play Satellite Based on Self realizing components and modules Works similar to your computer Standardizing bus component and instrument interfaces allows: Established mechanical interface predetermined hole pattern Simplified harness design all interface connectors are the same P/N and pin out Harness fabrication with fewer errors becomes standard builds Safer integration Every identical connector is identically wired Shorter Assembly, Integration, and Test (AI&T) cycle

12 MID-SIZE AND LARGE SATELLITE APPLICABILITY Hubble Space Telescope: Used standard interfaces for the 4 axial instruments Used MMS heritage C&DH components for SI C&DH

13 Large Satellites Benefit from simplified harnesses Probably necessary to separate out the power lines from the interface connectors (contact size) Result is a data connector and a power connecter for each component AI&T benefits from accelerated schedule and reduced cost Safer integration Every identical interface connector interchangable Faster time to launch Reduced interface errors well defined and heritage

14 Conclusions The technologies being introduced in the Plug and Play Satellite have far reaching applications across the industry Components become interchangeable Reduces harness size The ability to reduce integration time represents a significant savings Shorter project development cycles will result in reduced per mission budgets allowing a fixed budget to cover more projects By standardizing interfaces and protocols innovation is possible and new higher capacity components can be used as they become available