The AprizeSat Spacecraft

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INTRODUCTION The AprizeSat spacecraft, built, owned, and operated by SpaceQuest, Ltd. are part of a constellation of micro- satellites with a primary Machine-to-Machine (M2M) mission. On 29 July 2009, SpaceQuest launched AprizeSat-3 (AS3) and AprizeSat-4 (AS4). Both spacecraft continue to perform their M2M and AIS missions in their sun-synchronous orbits. Design, integration, and testing of the next generation AprizeSat spacecraft began in September 2008. From then, SpaceQuest followed its characteristic rapid development process to produce three operational spacecraft – AprizeSat 5 is retained as a software test- bed and flight spare. AS3 and AS4 were launched into a sun-synchronous, 10:30 orbit aboard a Dnepr rocket (converted SS-18 Russian ICBM) by ISC Kosmotras. Automated commissioning of the spacecraft was accomplished in the first two orbits, even before contacting the ground station for the first time. MISSION The AprizeSat spacecraft have a dual-purpose mission: AIS and M2M. Both missions can be performed in tandem, without interfering with the other. The AIS mission has received the most attention since launch due to the payload’s unique capability to resolve message collisions and decode numerous ship radio transmissions in the same frequency channels. Machine-to-Machine – M2M The AprizeSat spacecraft are equipped with low-power UHF receivers and transmitters that communicate with ground-based asset-tracking “Tags.” The tags include a microprocessor, UHF transceiver, sensor interface, and long life battery. Various sensors inputs and/or outputs are integrated depending on the application, and an integrated GPS receiver is optional. an Earth station where signal analysis proved that A... ... middle of paper ... ...was pinched under a standoff. The harness was replaced and the GPS receiver was re- integrated to the tray. Testing showed that the GPS was now functioning well and the problem was resolved. The spacecraft was re-integrated and tested to show that no other systems had been compromised by the diagnostic activities. From detection of the problem, through the remedy and confirmation of a once-again- healthy spacecraft, the process took approximately 3 hours and the spacecraft was ready to be transported to the launch site in the morning. Mission Timeline Table 1 delineates the 10-month timeline of the recent AprizeSat mission from conception to launch. Though short and responsive, this AprizeSat program was actually longer than previous AprizeSat programs by several months, which is attributable to added design complexity and other on-going projects.

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