Nanosatellite Technologies for Space Resiliency

超小型卫星（质量小于10公斤的航天器）和超小型卫星星座飞行任务在协调运作中利用多颗卫星方面取得了重大进展。在不久的将来，我们设想将纳米卫星用于更具挑战性的任务，如太空监视和深空探索。我们的研究团队为先进的纳米卫星开发纳米卫星技术。在这个发现计划中，我们建议扩展目前的研究，以研究三个关键领域，这些领域将使大规模星座任务能够用于天基监视，自主操作和可重构卫星系统。从长远来看，我们的目标是引入一种有效的方法来设计纳米卫星以实现空间弹性。纳米卫星尺度的星星跟踪器（为姿态确定而专门建造的摄像机）在包括分辨率、信噪比和图像大小在内的各个方面都受到严重限制。处理其图像以识别空间碎片（更一般地说，驻留空间物体或RSO）将是一项具有挑战性的任务。我们将研究使用这种商业照相机的超小型卫星监视使命概念的可行性。如果成功，将有真实的潜力大幅度提高加拿大的空间监视能力。第二，提出了几种方法来提供卫星运行的自主权，不仅避免昂贵的使命运行，而且提高空间使命的效率。我们将扩展目前的使命规划技术，纳入故障识别和避免功能，以提供强大和可靠的操作方案，从操作员的最低投入。最后，微系统（更具体地说，微机电系统）技术继续在卫星工程中发挥关键作用，因为它们为设计各种传感器、致动器、有效载荷和太阳能电池板提供了一种独特的工具，质量和功率要求都很低。我们将设计用于纳米卫星的MEMS控制力矩陀螺仪，片上光纤陀螺仪和天线，以进一步推进我们对空间环境中与MEMS相关的变化的理解。所有这些新组件在开发强大的纳米卫星方面发挥着重要作用，以提供弹性空间任务所需的可重新配置性，灵活性，适应性和弹性。超小型卫星功能的扩展对于加拿大空间工程的未来具有重要意义，因为超小型卫星正在全世界迅速出现，立方体卫星（超小型卫星类）已被公认为监测加拿大大片陆地、国家安全、天气预报和气候研究的平台。通过拟议的研究获得的专门知识和知识将转让给我们的工业和政府合作伙伴，以扩大加拿大未来民用和军事任务的纳米卫星能力。

There has been significant advancement in Nanosatellites (spacecraft with mass less than 10 kilograms) and nanosatellite constellation missions to utilize multiple satellites in a coordinated operation. In the near future, we envision nanosatellites in more challenging missions such as space surveillance and deep space exploration. Our research team develops nanosatellite technologies for advanced nanosatellites. In this Discovery program, we propose to extend the current research to examine three key areas that will enable large-scale constellation missions for space-based surveillance, autonomous operation and reconfigurable satellite systems. In the long run, we aim to introduce an efficient approach to engineer nanosatellites for space resiliency. Nanosatellite-scale star trackers (purpose-built cameras to image stars for attitude determination) are severely limited in various aspects including resolution, signal-to-noise ratio, and image size. Processing their images to identify space debris (more generally, resident space objects or RSOs) would be a challenging task. We will examine the feasibility of the nanosatellite surveillance mission concept using a such commercial camera. If successful, there is real potential to substantially increase Canada's space surveillance capability. Secondly, several methodologies are proposed to provide autonomy in satellite operation, not only to avoid costly mission operation, but also to increase the efficiency of the space mission. We will extend the current mission planning technique to incorporate functions for fault identification and avoidance to provide robust and reliable operation scenario with minimum input from operators. Lastly, microsystems (more specifically Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems, MEMS) technologies continue to play a key role in satellite engineering as they provide a unique tool to engineer various sensors, actuators, payloads and solar panels with low mass and power requirements. We will design MEMS control moment gyroscopes, on-chip Fiber optic gyroscopes and antennas for nanosatellites to further advance our understanding of changes associated with MEMS in space environment. All of these new components play an important role in developing robust nanosatellites to provide reconfigurability, flexibility, adaptability, and resiliency required for resilient space missions. The extension of nanosatellite functionality is important for the future of space engineering in Canada, as nanosatellites are rapidly emerging worldwide, and CubeSats (class of nanosatellites) are already recognized as a platform for monitoring Canada's large landmass, national security, weather forecasting and climate research. The expertise and knowledge gained through the proposed research will be transferred to our industry and government partners to expand Canada's nanosatellite capabilities for future civilian and military missions.