Arcsecond Pointing Stability on a CubeSat Platform

In this proposal, Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems LLC (Tyvak) will improve the state-of-the-art in low-jitter CubeSat platforms to one arc-second pointing stability. This platform will address the increasing attitude control performance requirements of CubeSats to enable commercial and scientific missions previously restricted to larger and more expensive satellite platforms. Reducing jitter in attitude determination and control systems (ADCS) CubeSat platforms has typically been an after-thought. Miniaturizing large satellite ADCS to CubeSat size has resulted in relatively poor attitude stability due to inexpensive reaction wheels and high noise IMU?s. In the past five years, the CubeSat industry has seen a huge increase in customers with miniaturized payloads seeking high capability platforms. Arcsecond attitude stability is an enabling technology for many optical missions, including optical communication, space based optical inspection, and exoplanet imaging.