Research Summaries

Back Tinyscope: Tiny Agile Spacecraft for Earth Imaging Applications from LEO

Fiscal Year 2010
Division Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science
Department Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering
Investigator(s) Romano, Marcello
Newman, James H.
Sponsor National Reconnaissance Office (DoD)
Summary This proposal is for a third-phase follow-up of the ongoing TINYSCOPE project. In particular, the proposed effort aims at completing the Phase B/C detailed design for a nanosat spacecraft capable of 3.1 m ground resolution from an altitude of 500 km and having high attitude slewing agility. An Engineering Development Unit (EDU) of the spacecraft will be extensively used for conducting software and hardware integrated tests. A three-axis attitude control simulator will be used for lab testing of the attitude determination and control. Furthermore, the design of the optical payload will be completed, selected flight components will be acquired and tested, and mission and CONOPS design will be conducted. At the end of the proposed research, TINYSCOPE should be ready for construction, integration and testing of the first flight unit, which will be proposed for FY11, to be ready for launch in 2012.
The proposed research contributes to the education of the NPS students (of both the Space Engineering and Space Ops Curricula): seven students are currently involved in the project, while two students recently graduated. The proposed research is intended to significantly contribute to the following four Key Functional Capabilities, among the NRO priorities: Persistent Surveillance, Monitor Known Threats, Innovative Capabilities, and Information On-Demand.
Keywords
Publications Publications, theses (not shown) and data repositories will be added to the portal record when information is available in FAIRS and brought back to the portal
Data Publications, theses (not shown) and data repositories will be added to the portal record when information is available in FAIRS and brought back to the portal