control operations by providing active onboard imaging capability to
assess spacecraft damage from human-made or environmental
threats, monitor satellite early orbit testing operations, and augment
servicing operations. MEPSI was developed through a series of 4
preflight missions, each of increasing complexity and each improving
overall satellite performance over the previous version. In December
2002, MEPSI completed its third development mission with a
successful launch from the Space Shuttle Endeavour, which was its
first shuttle mission. Improvements from the 2002 version were
included in this payload, which was deployed in December 2006 from
STS-116.
EARTH BENEFITS
Improvements in orbit calculations produced by data from ANDE may
generate advancements in the fields of mathematics and physics.
RAFT provides students the opportunity to design and build
picosatellites and helps prepare the next generation for careers in the
aerospace industry through the application of mathematic,
engineering, and scientific concepts. The advancements in miniature
imaging and relay technology resulting from MEPSI are applicable in a
variety of settings from medicine to public safety.
SPACE BENEFITS
Density data gathered by ANDE will be used to better characterize the parameters that are used
to calculate the drag coefficient of a satellite and improve orbit determination calculations of
resident space objects. Results from RAFT support the development of an improved system to
track an increasing population of picosatellites. MEPSI technology will lead to an image
inspection capability for low-cost survey of spacecraft while on orbit.
RESULTS
The ANDE satellite re-entered the atmosphere on December 25, 2007, over a year after
deployment. Its orbital decay was tracked by the Maui Laser Ranging Tracking Station. Because
the satellite carried packet radio communications systems operating in the Amateur Satellite
Service, ham radio volunteer ground stations were critical for telemetry feeds that included
temperature and battery life. RAFT was deployed on December 20, 2006, and deorbited on May
30, 2007, after 5 months in space. The deployment resulted in an applied torque to the
satellites (see image). Several subsystems on the satellite, including solar panel and thermal,
were monitored. Volunteer ground stations were used to track the satellites (Bruniga 2002).
PUBLICATION(S)
Bruninga RE, Smith B, Boden D. PCsat auccess! and follow-on payloads. 16th Annual AIAA/USU
Conference on Small Satellites, Logan, Utah; 2002.
This investigation is complete; however additional results are pending publication.
The sequence of images
shows the 2 RAFT satellite
cubes being deployed from
the space shuttle (STS-116).
The bottom photo shows the
onset of tumbling of the
satellites. Department of
Defense image.