TechSat-1

1.1 Program Objective

The program objective is to increase the power available on Cubesat‐like platforms and demonstrate the technology necessary to develop nanosats with significant and consistent power available to operate high‐capacity payloads. The specific goal is to develop a CubeSat platform that generates  50  Watts of power and has the capacity to store and control  75w/min/orbit. Morehead State University and Kentucky Space have partnered with Radiance Technologies, I‐3,  Tethers  Unlimited and  Honeywell to develop a  demonstration of related subsystems and ultimately a flight system. The deliverables of the initial phase include capabilities demonstration of sufficient maturity to warrant follow‐on development for space flight.

1.2 Background

Small, tactical nano‐scale satellites (TacSats) can provide mission coverage capabilities that are unique,  including access to uninvited territories,  pre‐hostility coverage of theaters of interest supporting operations preparations, coverage that is beyond the range of most third-world force application countermeasures, highly predictable platform access timeline, broad fields of regard and view from orbit, coverage when air superiority/supremacy over enemy territory does not exist,  and relatively long‐lived platforms that are continuously operating. Nanosats (<10 kg) may enable tactical responsive space operations but they currently generate limited power available for payloads which restricts their utility. CubeSats are highly standardized nanosats utilizing a form factor of 1U – 10 cm x 10 cm x 10 cm and 1 kg mass. This program targets the development of a 3U CubeSat configuration with deployable solar arrays and innovative power generation and control systems designed to meet the power generation and storage objectives defined above. During the initial design and planning phases,  SMDC  intervened and re‐directed the program.

During the Army Space Experiments Review Board (SERB) hearing, TechSat‐1 was selected for a flight  opportunity  and  combined with two payloads  (a  dependable  multi‐processor  produced by Honeywell and an innovative power generation system—the Canfield joint—produced by Tethers Unlimited and Tennessee Tech.)

Phases

The  program  defined  herein  to  design,  develop,  and  demonstrate  this  capability  will  be  accomplished in three phases:

• Phase 1: Subsystems demonstration of increased nanosat power technologies.
• Phase  2:   Flight hardware developed to support space flight demonstration of increased power available on a nanosat.
• Phase 3: Operational phase of flight demonstration (one‐year on‐orbit demonstration).