Ground target tracking (attitude control) system for next generation greenhouse gas monitoring nanosatellite demonstrator

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The proposal addresses the challenge of enabling low-cost dedicated satellites to monitor and confirm compliance of greenhouse gas (GHG) emitting sources worldwide, and specifically the use of nanosatellites (satellites under 25kg) to perform space-based applications that require precise ground target tracking - a capability that does not yet exist. The data collection needs to be focused for timely response and the overall cost model must be right for commercial success. Nanosatellite platforms are potentially a cost effective means to achieve these goals, however, key technologies need to be developed, including an attitude control system that allows for accurate and precise targeting and target tracking. Once enabled, the use of nanosatellites for space-based monitoring and tracking of GHG emitters would make it financially feasible and commercially viable to provide these GHG monitoring services internationally. The proposed technology is a compact, high performance attitude control system that enables accurate and precise target tracking on a nanosatellite platform. This attitude control system would be flown and verified on a demonstration satellite called GHGSat-D that will be developed over the next two years. Sinclair Interplanetary and the Space Flight Laboratory (SFL) at UTIAS will collaborate to develop the system, leveraging Sinclair actuators and sensors and developing SFL's attitude control algorithms, computing equipment, and simulators. A prototype system will be built and tested and verified in simulation. This prototype will then be incorporated by GHGSat Inc. into GHGSat-D which will be launched to verify the performance of the attitude control system in an operational environment. The proposed solution will enable the use of ultra-low-cost platforms for pinpoint GHG monitoring services and other ground target tracking applications, thereby reducing the entry barrier to space-based data collection for industry. To date, this capability on nanosatellites does not yet exist.