Nanosatellite Sensor Suite

Nanosatellites by their nature have low inertias and hence are prone to high angular rate motions. Many projected nanosatellite missions also need high pointing accuracy. SPEC’s approach to developing a Nanosatellite Sensor System (NSS) is to highly integrate an optimal mix of low-cost, low-power, miniature sized sensors into a package capable of high accuracy and high bandwidth attitude/position determination. External interfaces have been configured to accommodate open standards and “plug-and-play” system architectures. The optimal set of sensors chosen was a combination of MEMS accelerometers and a magnetic field sensor for high bandwidth, short term attitude tracking, and a GPS sensor and dual star tracker assembly for low bandwidth, high accuracy pointing and position capability. The GPS sensor is used in a unique configuration to provide both position and angular attitude determination when combined with the magnetic field sensor data. Requirements for this enhanced performance have been confirmed based on expressions of interest in using NSS from both major aerospace primes and government users. The results of this program will be a flight ready prototype NSS system capable of immediate follow on flight test.