Research Summaries

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

Fiscal Year 2009
Division Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science
Department Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering
Investigator(s) Romano, Marcello
Sponsor National Reconnaissance Office (DoD)
Summary This proposal is for an eighteen months follow-up of the currently ongoing TINYSCOPE (Tactical Imaging Nanosat Yielding Small-Cost Operations for Persistent Earth-coverage) research project, which is investigating the concept of using a nanosat-class three-axis stabilized spacecraft for Earth imaging applications. In particular, the proposed phase II effort aims at developing a Phase BIC detailed design for a nanosat spacecraft capable of three meter ground resolution from an orbital altitude of500 km and having high attitude slewing agility. A fully functional Engineering Developed Unit (EDU) of the spacecraft, at scale 1:1, will be designed and integrated, using both COTS and custom made components. In addition, a new and unique three-axis attitude control simulator will be developed in order to test in a lab environment the attitude navigation and control of TINYSCOPE and other nanosat spacecraft. The conceptual design for an optional enhanced resolution system (one meter from 500 km) will also be conducted, as well as the conceptual mission design for a constellation of several TINYSCOPE spacecraft with the goal of reaching a very short «1 hour) revisit-time. The proposed research is intended to bring TINYSCOPE close to a flight ready condition. Building upon the proposed research, we expect to develop a flight ready TINYSCOPE unit and conduct an orbital test during a phase III follow-up project. The proposed research is intended to significantly contribute at a low cost-high return level to the following four functional capabilities among the NRO priorities: Persistent Surveillance, Monitor Known Threats, Innovative Capabilities, and Information On-Demand.
Keywords
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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