The UNISAT program, an educational project with the aim to involve students, researchers and professors in designing, manufacturing and operating in orbit small microsatellites, has been established at Scuola di Ingegneria Aerospaziale of Università di Roma “La Sapienza” in early nineties. In the framework of this project three microsatellite have been launched from Baikonour cosmodrome. The fourth one, UNISAT-4, is scheduled for launch in December 2005. Most of the UNISAT satellites components are based on commercial off the shelf (COTS) components. This paper describes the UNISAT microsatellites power system, based on terrestrial technology solar arrays. An experiment using terrestrial solar arrays in orbit was hosted on UNISAT-1. Based on the experience matured, improvements have been introduced in the development of the UNISAT-2 and UNISAT-3 solar arrays. The procedures developed to make low cost solar array, based on terrestrial technology, withstand launch and space environment loads are described. In particular UNISAT-3 hosts a number of solar arrays based on different technologies, including mono-crystalline silicon high efficiency solar cells and multi-junction solar cells, in order to compare their behavior in orbit. Data collected for the on-orbit tested solar cells are discussed. Moreover a general overview of the UNISAT-3 microsatellite power subsystem is reported and the on orbit functioning is described.
F. Piergentili, M. Ronzitti, F. Santoni (2005). Unisat Microsatellites Power System. VOLTERRA : s.n.
Unisat Microsatellites Power System
PIERGENTILI, FABRIZIO;
2005
Abstract
The UNISAT program, an educational project with the aim to involve students, researchers and professors in designing, manufacturing and operating in orbit small microsatellites, has been established at Scuola di Ingegneria Aerospaziale of Università di Roma “La Sapienza” in early nineties. In the framework of this project three microsatellite have been launched from Baikonour cosmodrome. The fourth one, UNISAT-4, is scheduled for launch in December 2005. Most of the UNISAT satellites components are based on commercial off the shelf (COTS) components. This paper describes the UNISAT microsatellites power system, based on terrestrial technology solar arrays. An experiment using terrestrial solar arrays in orbit was hosted on UNISAT-1. Based on the experience matured, improvements have been introduced in the development of the UNISAT-2 and UNISAT-3 solar arrays. The procedures developed to make low cost solar array, based on terrestrial technology, withstand launch and space environment loads are described. In particular UNISAT-3 hosts a number of solar arrays based on different technologies, including mono-crystalline silicon high efficiency solar cells and multi-junction solar cells, in order to compare their behavior in orbit. Data collected for the on-orbit tested solar cells are discussed. Moreover a general overview of the UNISAT-3 microsatellite power subsystem is reported and the on orbit functioning is described.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
