Is this project an undergraduate, graduate, or faculty project?
Undergraduate
Project Type
group
Campus
Daytona Beach
Authors' Class Standing
Luke Ritchie, Senior Isaac Rosenthal, Ben Mason, Nathan O’Hara
Lead Presenter's Name
Luke Ritchie
Lead Presenter's College
DB College of Engineering
Faculty Mentor Name
Dr. Berker Pekoz
Abstract
The Gravity Gradient Exploration Satellite (GGEOS) is a single-unit CubeSat technology demonstration being developed by a group of four undergraduate aerospace engineering students at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. The mission is designed to validate a controlled, motor-driven, semi-rigid space-tether and deployment system. Space tethers offer significant potential for gravity gradient stabilization and propellant-less electrodynamic propulsion, however past missions have frequently failed due to rebound and tangling from their spring-based deployment systems and elastic tethers. GGEOS mitigates these challenges using a semi-rigid, tape-measure-like tether, deployed with a stepper-motor-driven extrusion system enabling slow, controlled deployment and reduced post-deployment problems. The spacecraft architecture utilizes an ESP32 as the onboard computer, an off-the-shelf Iridium communications module paired with a custom in-house antenna, and a simplified in-house electrical power system, allowing development on an accelerated timeline with an emphasis on low cost and system simplicity. The system is designed for a 400 km low Earth orbit with a planned three-month mission lifetime, during which it will validate tether deployment performance, demonstrate a successful communications link, and transmit data indicating passive gravity gradient stabilization following tether deployment.
Did this research project receive funding support (Spark, SURF, Research Abroad, Student Internal Grants, Collaborative, Climbing, or Ignite Grants) from the Office of Undergraduate Research?
No
Included in
Astrodynamics Commons, Navigation, Guidance, Control and Dynamics Commons, Space Vehicles Commons
Gravity Gradient Exploration Satellite
The Gravity Gradient Exploration Satellite (GGEOS) is a single-unit CubeSat technology demonstration being developed by a group of four undergraduate aerospace engineering students at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. The mission is designed to validate a controlled, motor-driven, semi-rigid space-tether and deployment system. Space tethers offer significant potential for gravity gradient stabilization and propellant-less electrodynamic propulsion, however past missions have frequently failed due to rebound and tangling from their spring-based deployment systems and elastic tethers. GGEOS mitigates these challenges using a semi-rigid, tape-measure-like tether, deployed with a stepper-motor-driven extrusion system enabling slow, controlled deployment and reduced post-deployment problems. The spacecraft architecture utilizes an ESP32 as the onboard computer, an off-the-shelf Iridium communications module paired with a custom in-house antenna, and a simplified in-house electrical power system, allowing development on an accelerated timeline with an emphasis on low cost and system simplicity. The system is designed for a 400 km low Earth orbit with a planned three-month mission lifetime, during which it will validate tether deployment performance, demonstrate a successful communications link, and transmit data indicating passive gravity gradient stabilization following tether deployment.