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太空|TAIKONG 国际空间科学研究所 - 北京 ISSI-BJ Magazine No. 18 April 2020 IMPRINT FOREWORD

太空 | TAIKONG The relevance of for education the basis of its principles of international ISSI-BJ Magazine as well as for the investigation of collaboration and interdisciplinary License: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 unanswered scientific questions in an research. For this purpose, well-known agile and convenient way has steadily experts were invited to share their risen in the past decade, providing many profound experiences and valuable more opportunities for advancement thoughts and insights to train students Address: No.1 Nanertiao, in space science studies as well as for and researchers from member states on Zhongguancun, the training of the next generation of the use of small , and for the Haidian District, scientists and engineers. joint forum to discuss key scientific tools Beijing, China that can be developed for CubeSats Postcode: 100190 Given the numerous possibilities and Phone: +86-10-62582811 science missions. Website: www.issibj.ac.cn the great advantages deriving from the sharing of know-how and knowledge During three days, the APSCO training of these small satellites, CubeSats- course engaged 16 international based international and interdisciplinary students from its member states, who Authors collaboration currently assume a great finally joined 14 leading scientists from significance for the promotion of cross- 10 countries at the brainstorming forum See the list on the back cover country cooperation on joint studies and inaugurated on June 6, 2019. The event space missions. And it is exactly for all was thus attended by a total of 40 these reasons that the APSCO training scientists and engineers from numerous Editor course on CubeSats as well as the forum countries, including , China, on “Science Missions using CubeSats” Denmark, Finland, Germany, Iran, Italy, Laura Baldis, were convened by Mohammad Ebrahimi , South Korea, , Pakistan, International Space Science Seyedabadi (APSCO, China) and Peru, Switzerland, , and Turkey. Institute - Beijing, China Maurizio Falanga (ISSI-BJ, China) from June 3 to June 7, 2019, in Thailand. The opening ceremonies were held in the morning of June 3, 2019 (Training), and The Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation June 6, 2019 (Forum), at the Auditorium Organization (APSCO), as a multilateral of Sirindhorn Center for Geo-Informatics inter-governmental organization, (SCGI) located in the Space Krenovation not only promotes regional space Park (SKP). They were inaugurated by Dr. FRONT cooperation, but also enhances the Aorpimai Manop, Director General of COVER capacity building of its member states Department of Strategic Planning and in different disciplines. Such goal was Program Management of APSCO; Prof. perfectly coupled with ISSI-BJ's efforts Maurizio Falanga, Executive Director of CubeSats to advance space science studies on ISSI-BJ; Mr. Pierre Hagmann, Embassy of Image Credit: Universe Today

2 太空|TAIKONG Switzerland in Bangkok, and Dr. Tanita Suepa, a special slot for students’ presentations and Chief of Instructional Media and Curriculum discussions was ensured. Development Division of GISTDA, Thailand. The training program provided an overview of The two events were successfully concluded the importance, current practices, and future on June 7, 2019. During the final ceremony, Dr. perspectives for “Science Missions using Aorpimai Manop and Prof. Maurizio Falanga CubeSats” and the different generic categories gave the concluding speech and provided of instruments used to monitor a summary of the Forum. A cultural tour was from the ground. The experts Dr. Qamarul organized on June 8, which left the participants Islam (Institute of , IST), Dr. deeply satisfied with the content of the events Martin Langer (Technical University of Munich, as well as the arrangement of the leisure Germany), Dr. Muhammad Rizwan (Institute of activities. Space Technology, Aalto University, Finland), Prof. Leonardo Reyneri (Politechnico di It comes without saying that the two activities Torino, Italy), and Prof. Yu Xiaozhou (Shanxi provided brilliant insights, deep knowledge- Engineering Laboratory for Microsatellites) sharing, and unprecedented networking kindly contributed to this training program. opportunities to all participants, from the students to the teachers, much of which will be The Forum section, which began on June 6, presented in this Taikong magazine issue. successfully managed to reduce the distance between trainees and the scientific community, that gave them the opportunity to hear new ideas and be motivated towards a carrier in Mohammad Ebrahimi Seyedabadi, this field. After a brief introduction to ISSI-BJ, APSCO, and to the Forum, the participants were introduced to the history of CubeSats, to COSPAR Roadmap on Small Satellites for Director-General Space Science, as well as the APSCO’s current Department of Education and Training and future plans to use Cubesats as a tool for capacity-building and university cooperation. APSCO The first day of the Forum ended with a dinner that enabled the participants to enrich their Maurizio Falanga, social network and continue their discussions in a less formal environment.

The second half of the day was devoted to the Executive Director topic of using CubeSats for space sciences. ISSI-BJ After the talks given by international scientists,

太空|TAIKONG 3 1. INTRODUCTION

Since their inception, CubeSats have enjoyed such satellites can efficiently help overcome the widespread acceptance in the space science difficulties implied by a small research budget community, currently featuring a growing and little or no experience in the field of space developer list. In fact, CubeSats can help technology. Small satellites thus represent an reduce the costs of technical developments ideal opportunity for students, engineers, and and scientific investigations, therefore lowering scientists in different disciplines — including the entry-barriers to organizing space missions. software development for on-board and ground As a result, CubeSats’ popularity in countries computers, engineering, and management with less resources to be devoted to space of sophisticated technical programs — to science has grown exponentially in the past few work together on the agile development and years, adding enormous value to education, operation of space missions. In fact, as the researchers’ experience, and collaborative ‘build-to-operations’ cycle for CubeSats is less relationships. than three years, this allows university students to be involved in its development from its As of April 2018, over 800 CubeSats have been inception to the operating mission. launched worldwide, and for some countries this represented a considerable milestone, as For these reasons and in order to provide vital for some it meant the very first national satellites training and brainstorming ideas to the current sent into space. Producing one’s own satellites as well as to the next generation of space is evidently considered a national achievement experts, the Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation and a source of national pride by each country, Organization (APSCO) and the International and coupled with realistic and focused goals, Space Science Institute-Beijing (ISSI-BJ), have

Figure 1: CubeSats - Picture credits: NASA

4 太空|TAIKONG respectively organized the Training course the nowadays relatively limited but increasing and the forum on “Science Missions using application of these technology in science. The CubeSats”, whose main aim was to identify forum tried to follow this concept, suggesting suitable key sciences to be employed in that CubeSats embrace the technology CubeSats science missions as well as CubeSat that could potentially lead to breakthrough feasibilities for space development countries. discoveries.

Furthermore, the goals included also the The answers to the questions on how to design development of a CubeSats space education a CubeSat, why CubeSats are needed, and system to establish cooperative programs what is most important for a space mission can not only for the purpose of training, but also be all summarized in the fact that, according envisioning a collaboration based on scientific to the specificities of a mission, a personalized or application missions. manpower capability, mission-related financial resources, as well as a targeted organization Specifically, the two-day forum aimed to: management strategy are required.

• identify suitable key sciences that can When it comes to the rationale behind the be developed for CubeSats science launch of a CubeSat, a good and stable team missions: What are the CubeSat s' represents an essential factor, together with a feasibilities for space development sound knowledge of CubeSat development countries?; engineering, subsystems of a CubeSat as well as of the experiments targeted. Last but not • develop CubeSats space education least, it is critical to be familiar with some other systems to establish cooperative important elements of the mission, such as the programs not only for the purpose launcher, frequency allocation, law, import and of training, but also in view of the export regulations. prospective collaboration in scientific or application missions; As a result of these reflections and observations on CubeSats, in the present magazine the • explore the reports from the training discussions held during the forum have been section. summarized in four main sections, i.e. the presentations given by the participants, the The organization of forums such as the main takeaways acquired on the topic, the one discussed here can create a fertile soil recommendations of researchers, engineers, for scientist, engineers, and institutions to and scientists to newcomers in the field, and combine their expertise with the goal of the relevance of international collaboration for growing ambitious ideas. The synergy between the development of CubeSats-based missions communities is the key to advertise and as wells as for an enhances international improve CubeSats’ capabilities, expanding equilibrium.

太空|TAIKONG 5 2. SCIENCE MISSIONS USING CUBESATS

2.1. Presentations and Analysis

The presentations elaborated during the the mission with the world is the key to creating forum concerning CubeSat activities were the perfect environment to achieve great highly country- and/or affiliation-focused. scientific discoveries. Three primary types of talks could be identified (with some occasional overlapping between Modularity as well as relatively low costs categories), i.e.: make CubeSats a great opportunity for institutions interested both in the scientific 1. physics-oriented; and engineering goals achievable with these small satellites’ technology, that is already 2. technology-driven; leading to the increase of small satellites developers. Compared to large satellites, small 3. education-driven; satellites entail low development costs and offer the opportunity to carry out scientific and 4. science-driven. technological tests over a short period of time.

CubeSats should be built on a close, synergistic Last but not least, in recent years small satellites and interdisciplinary collaboration between have also become a tool used to train students space scientists, engineers, and the space and give them a general understanding of industry, tied up by the cross-fertilization and systems. encouragement based on the realization of experiments, cost-containment and operations’ In the light of CubeSats' characteristics and timing. This way forward will be achieved by their application potential, a review of the four exploiting at most the Commercial off-the- approaches to CubeSats' studies which took shelf (COTS) components, currently under- shape during the Forum is presented in the performing in the space environment, but following sub-chapters. with the potential to provide high-impact and radical transformations in space application

Ambitious CubeSats projects must be based on international collaboration between institutes, national space agencies, as well as private companies. Sharing the scientific concepts of

6 太空|TAIKONG 2.1.1. Physics-oriented analysis

"CubeSats for Science Missions" from a physics possibilities in space science missions. With point of view: What can we do and when? a fixed-mass budget mission designer it may be possible to aim at a variety of mission The answer to the usage of CubeSats for approaches. The available mass may be split Science Missions from a different perspective, up into many small identical units and these i.e. the one of physics, was advanced by Prof. units may act as a swarm and cover a larger Fléron, from the National Space Institute at area or volume than a monolithic the Technical University of Denmark (DTU of equivalent mass. Alternatively, a fraction of Space), Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark, based on the mass budget could be reserved for small the results yielded from the COSPAR report advanced probes that could extend the base- “Small satellites for space science - A COSPAR line or reach of a larger spacecraft. The probes scientific roadmap” [10] and from the work may even be expendable allowing for more on mass reduction rates for space crafts as daunting missions. be 2 illustrates the different presented at the IAA-CU-17 in Rome “Will mission scenarios using CubeSats. CubeSats introduce a Moore’s law to space science missions” [3]. A typical argument against small spacecrafts is that the aperture size dictates the resolution As spacecraft subsystems become smaller, of detectors. From the Fraunhofer diffraction advanced studies may be performed with theory in the equation below, it is evident that ever-lighter spacecrafts. This opens up new a way around this issue is to go closer.

α is the angular resolution of a telescope with aperture size D, whereas λ represents the wavelength of the observed light. As an example, the resolution of the and a 3U Dove satellite from the Inc is compared. Figure 3 shows the resolution vs distance for both spacecrafts, with Didymos as a target example. Didymos closest approach to the (and Hubble space telescope) is roughly 10-2 AU or 1.5 million km. As seen Figure 2: Illustrations of mission scenarios using CubeSats

太空|TAIKONG 7 Figure 3: Optical resolution at 550 nm as function of distance for the Hubble space telescope and a Dove satellite from Planet Labs Inc.

the Dove satellite will surpass the best-case resolution of Hubble space telescope when the Dove spacecraft is closer than ~2*10-4 AU or 30,000 km. P0 is the mass required for a certain performance at time 0, Pt is the mass required for the same The study “Will CubeSats introduce a Moores performance at time t, n is the reduction rate. law to space science” [3] looks at the mass The study showed mass reduction rates of evolution of spacecrafts over time and it refers approximately 127 months (10.5 years) prior to the analysis of the capability and mass of to the introduction of CubeSats and a rate of similar class missions, used as a figure of merit. 36 months for Earth observation satellites after In other words, the mass required to obtain a the CubeSats have appeared. A much smaller certain performance is calculated for historic study conducted on beep sats, i.e. satellites missions, but not all mission classes that were that only emits a beacon, showed a mass studied revealed a mass evolution similar to reduction rate of 55 months. Moore’s law. However, the Earth observation missions operating in the optical band did show a mass reduction tendency similar to Moore’s law. The equation below shows the relation.

8 太空|TAIKONG 2.1.2. Science-driven projects

One of the approaches adopted to enter into • Temporal and spatial variations of space science is to answer science questions plasma trough during magnetic storms; with already available technologies, thus putting quite an emphasis on answering • Temporal and spatial variations of science questions. electron density and temperature in polar cap patches; The SNIPE (Small scale magNetospheric and Ionospheric Plasma Experiment) mission for • Measuring length of coherence for space weather research developed by the bubbles/blobs; Solar and Space Weather Group, KASI, Korea, is going to be launched in 2021 into a polar • EMIC waves at the top of ionosphere. orbit at an altitude of 500 km with an orbital high-inclination of (97.7°). The scientific goal Last but not least, this mission constitutes a of SNIPE is to identify temporal and spatial beautiful example to have a synergy with other variations of small-scale plasma structures in already existing space weather missions, such ionosphere and magnetosphere. as THEMIS, MMS, ERG, and GOES as well as ground observations like EISCAT and CARISMA SNIPE consists of four 6U-nanosatellites (~ 10 networks. kg for each spacecraft). This constellation is a formation flying, and slowly separated from The University of Cagliari, Department of tens to several hundreds of kilometers for six Physics, Italy, proposed a science-driven months, and the spacecraft design lifetime is motivated swarm CubeSat mission. With at least greater than one year (with a scientific the first detected Gravitational Waves event operation time of six months). The SNIPE (August 2017, GW170817) from merging mission is equipped with scientific , Neutron Stars - or merging of a Neutron Stars which can measure the following geophysical with a Black Hole, related to a short Gamma parameters: density/temperature of cold Ray Burst (GRBs), a new astrophysics era ionospheric electrons, energetic (~ 100 keV) has started, the so-called Multi-Messenger electron flux, and magnetic field vectors. All Astrophysics. The operation of an efficient the payloads will have high temporal resolution X-ray all-sky-monitor with good localization (better sampling rates than 10 Hz). capability will have a pivotal role in the next decade on multi-messenger Astrophysics. The The science targets are: mission submitted, called High Energy Rapid Modular Ensemble of Satellites (), • Spatial scale and energy dispersion of aims to detect and accurately localize GRBs electron microbursts; and other high-energy transients, such as

太空|TAIKONG 9 Figure 4: HERMES mission - Credits: hermes.dsf.unica.it

the counterparts of GW events (merging of astrophysics of high-energy transients can lead compact objects, supernovae), that can be to breakthrough discoveries in at least other deployed in a few years, thus bridging the gap four broad areas: between the aging, past generation of X-ray monitors (Swift, INTEGRAL, Agile and Fermi) a) GRB inner engines; and the next ones. b) GRB jet composition; Arcmin localization of most GRB with flux of a few photons/cm2/s is therefore the final goal of c) GRB radiative processes; the HERMES project. The HERMES concept is based on relatively small but innovative X-ray d) the granular structure of space-time. detectors (collecting area in the band between a few keV to a few hundred keV of 50-100 cm2), The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, hosted by 3U CubeSats (10x10x30 cm, weight Lausanne, Switzerland (EPFL) together with 5-6 kg), launched in equatorial the Paul Scherrer Institute in Switzerland (PSI), (LEO). The transient position is obtained by presented a joint mission concept called studying the delay during the arrival times of CHESS (Constellation of High Energy Swiss the signal upon different detectors, placed Satellites), a student mission whose goal is to hundreds/thousands of km away. This large launch a constellation of 4 CubeSats for high- increase of the discovery space on the physics/ energy astrophysics studies in late 2021. It

10 太空|TAIKONG Figure 5: The CHESS 3U CubeSat constellation - Credits: CHESS mission intends to bring together Swiss universities into of this writing and presented here, may have a collaborative national project for scientific changed]. research. The four identical nanosatellites will embed a Hard X-Ray polarimeter developed Some science driven projects were presented at PSI, which is a novel, miniaturized detection also by the College of Astronautics, system developed for precise observations of Northwestern Polytechnical University, China, the , the , and even fundamental where CubeSats are used as a new platform for astrophysical processes occurring in distant Deep , like “Deep space and galaxies. It will enable the simultaneous study asteroid research” and “Beyond Atlas project of gamma-ray bursts and solar flares, including for Asteroid”, a low-cost deep space project Space weather phenomena. that will use a 12U CubeSat to research the asteroid 2016HO3. Mendorn AB will initiate it With a carefully-synchronized timing between in collaboration with Ericsson, OHB Sweden, the CHESS CubeSats, it will be able to KTH, etc. and a “Deep Space Observation determine the direction of the detected mission”, which will use several CubeSats Gamma-Ray Bursts and correlate the event with and femosatellites for an asteroid mission. potential Gravitational Waves measurements This mission constitutes one of the piggyback [please note that since the project is work in payloads of Chinese asteroid mission. progress, some aspects of it, valid at the time

太空|TAIKONG 11 2.1.3. Engineering-driven presentations

Several participants focused the topic of satellite to reduce its orbital energy and their researches on the engineering behind eventually insert into synodic resonant libration CubeSats. point orbits near the second Lagrangian point of the Earth- system. From this privileged Some recent activities at ISAS/JAXA, Japan, outpost, the spacecraft will study the lunar involving deep- with flash impacts that occur on the far side of CubeSats and/or platforms the Moon and help characterize the size and were expounded. Specifically, the mission distribution of Near-Earth Asteroids with data requirements and trajectory design of two 6U and statistics impossible to make with ground- Japanese CubeSat missions that will fly as a based telescopes. EQUULEUS will also study piggyback project of NASA’ Space Launch the cislunar dust environment and test key System during its maiden mission Artemis-1 technology for future deep-space CubeSat were reviewed. The two CubeSats are named missions, like a water resisto-jet propulsion EQUULEUS and OMOTENASHI and they system capable of delivering up to 80 m/s of differ greatly in terms of mission life span Delta V. and objectives. OMOTENASHI is equipped with a solid rocket motor to decelerate its The Mahidol University of Thailand introduced relative velocity with respect to the Moon and a space exploration for a CubeSat. carry out the first lunar semi-hard landing (by The payload aims to detect the high-energy requirement, the touchdown speed shall be particles in space, , which will enable less than 100 m/s). Key technologies are being us to understand the behavior and origin of the developed and will be proven to enable cheap particles. However, the key challenges include and fast access to the surface of the Moon. the development of a payload to observe the particles, their direction and energy. The main EQUULEUS is another technology mission is a 3U CubeSat at an altitude of 600 demonstrator that will fly by with the natural km in a polar orbit with an energy detector

Figure 6: The EQUULEUS satellite - Picture Figure 7: External view of the deployed Credits: JAXA EQUULEUS nanosatellite - Picture Credits: ISSL, JAXA

12 太空|TAIKONG optimized between the 2-200 MeV energy the Academic Challenge of Knowledge range. Hence, the space exploration mission is SATellite activities in Thailand. The first the technological demonstration of Cosmic-ray entirely built in Thailand 1U CubeSat is called electron/positron detection in space. KNACKSAT, developed in the context of

Figure 8: The KNACKSAT satellite

Also, more engineering work was put forward the educational space technology program by CONIDA, Peru, i.e., the microstrip antenna of Thailand. The university team of five staff showing two models with circular polarization members and 25 students launched the 1U in the S & C band to be applied to the 3U CubeSat via the ’s SSO-A (Sun CubeSat, including the technology of the UHF Synch Express) mission in September 2018. and VHF transceiver board an S-band down- The students’ activities and process learning converter kit for Ground Satellite stations included satellite design review, space as well as the installation and maintenance environment testing, satellite integration, of satellite receiving stations L, X band for , and the signal elaboration weather forecast satellites AQUA, TERRA, received from the satellite, among others. Two METOP, NOAA. other peculiar goals of this CubeSat were the Amateur Radio Linear Transponder as well as The GISTDA, Department of Electrical space pictures. Engineering, Prince of Songkla University, Thailand, presented the first 1U CubeSat Another example of a CubeSats' based developed by King Mongkut's University of project is to be found in the Institute of Space Technology North Bangkok (KMUTNB) within Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan, as it brought

太空|TAIKONG 13 Figure 9: (Left) The Mongolian engineers who developed “ satellite”, a 1-unit CubeSat launched on June 3, 2017, as part of the SpaceX CRS-11 mission.

Figure 10: (Right) Its deployment from the ISS. This satellite was sent to ISS through the SpaceX CRS-11 mission and launched in a Dragon spacecraft on the rocket from NASA . The satellite was in orbit around the Earth at an altitude of approximately 400 km and at an inclination of around 51 degrees, completing an orbit every 92. Unfortunately, Mazaalai was deorbited on May 12, 2019.

forward the CubeSats engineers’ works related For what concerns the Mazaalai satellite, to the design of the Magnetometer Unit for a Figure 9 shows the Mongolian engineers who university Microsatellite and a design of Power developed i, while Figure 10 shows the its subsystem for 3U CubeSat. deployment from the ISS. This satellite was sent to ISS through the SpaceX CRS-11 mission and The Mongolian space technology history was launched in a Dragon spacecraft on the Falcon also one of the topics of the forum, including 9 rocket from NASA Kennedy Space Center. the BIRDS interdisciplinary satellite project, the Mazaalai is a 1-unit CubeSat launched on June Mongolian team participation in these projects, 3, 2017, as part of the SpaceX CRS-11 mission. and Mazaalai, the first Mongolian satellite. The satellite was in orbit around the Earth at an altitude of approximately 400 km and at an The BIRDS project is a multinational joint inclination of around 51 degrees, completing satellite plan for non-space faring countries an orbit every 92. Unfortunately, Mazaalai was supported by Japan and joined by four deorbited on May 12, 2019. countries, i.e. , Mongolia, , and Bangladesh. Under this project, three The Department of Astronautical Engineering, Mongolian students have participated in the University of Turkish Aeronautical Association, design, development, and operation of the Turkey) put forward the five in-orbit CubeSats country’s first-ever satellite. The BIRDS project’s of Turkey. Two of these CubeSats are included fourth phase is ongoing. in the QB50 project and involve science

14 太空|TAIKONG payloads of multi-needle Langmuir probe in for CubeSat applications, it is easy to addition to an X-ray detector in one of the a CubeSat mission devoted to the study of satellites. Furthermore, the science mission gravitomagnetic effects, such as the frame-

Figure 11: QB50 Project - Credits: www.qb50.eu

plans of the University of Turkish Aeronautical dragging effect due to Earth’s rotation. This Association (UTAA) using CubeSats were effect creates a difference in the signal rotating discussed. The main science focus at UTAA is in the direction of Earth’s rotation and in the placed on gravitational physics and in accord opposite one. A mission concept proposal with this target, the mission ideas concern can be the one described in Ruggiero and general relativity, especially gravitomagnetism. Tartaglia, 2009, where three satellites in GEO orbits creates electromagnetic signals rotating Following a formal analogy between around Earth in opposite directions and time electromagnetism and linearized Einstein’s the rotation of these signals [12]. gravity, gravitomagnetism represents the kinetic effect of gravity just like the magnetic effects for a moving electric charge. The tests of gravitomagnetism were carried out with some past satellite missions such as LAGEOS and Gravity Probe B. Nevertheless, there is always a definite need for tests of gravitomagnetism with improved accuracy. With the advancement of chip scale atomic clocks, which are suitable

太空|TAIKONG 15 2.1.4. Education-driven presentations

Miniaturization of modern electronics and disruption and gives a valuable to the sensor technology has induced large-scale countries and teams who find themselves on democratization of space access, as satellites a similar path. The presentation showed the can be built and launched with only a fraction efficacy of well-channeled education to create of the former multimillion costs. This disruption economic activity and boost science outcomes. has brought new opportunities to smaller and developing countries around the world to build The Foresail-1 CubeSat designed in Aalto national capacities to advance and run their own University, Finland, carries interesting science space assets. Affordable satellites bring also payloads and technology demonstrators to viability to large scale commercial constellation deorbit the spacecraft. The mission objective projects and bring new opportunities for is to measure radiation belt losses using education and science. particle telescope, demonstrate coulomb drag propulsion (CDP) for deorbiting, test an During the Forum, the “Foresail satellites for ultra-sensitive magnetometer, and prepare space science by Finnish Centre of Excellence for high radiation missions. The Particle in Sustainable Space” was presented as a Telescope payload has the requirement to beautiful example of the development path orient its detector with shorter collimator from the first student-built spacecraft to the towards the Sun, while the detector with longer booming New Space economy and national collimator serves to scan the environment. science satellite programs in Finland. The The CDP requires spin control for deploying development took less than ten years and and maintaining the tension of the tether to thus, the Finnish example exemplifies the most demonstrate the deorbiting. important benefits of current space technology

Figure 12: Foresail-1 is a satellite mission of the Finnish Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Space, and its main payload is the Particle Telescope (PATE), developed by the University of Turku – Picture Credits: Aalto University, Finland

16 太空|TAIKONG Another analysis of the educational advantages University and Jordi Puig-Suari of California of CubeSats was explored by the Technical Polytechnic University [15], have evolved to University of Munich, Germany, as three main become accepted platforms for scientific points were put forward: and commercial applications. This trend has accelerated, and a 2016 report from the Space • Architectural and Engineering - Overview Studies Board of the US National Academies of University-built CubeSats; of Sciences (NAS) found that over 80% of all science focused CubeSats were launched • CubeSat deep space exploration - between 2010 and 2016 and more than 80% targets and missions; of peer-reviewed papers reporting science on CubeSats were produced from 2010 on [11]. • CubeSat deep space exploration - This acceleration is fueled by the miniaturization design considerations. and increased utilization of commercial off- the-shelf (COTS) parts and led to a more or While the second and third presentations less Moore’s Law equivalent growth of ground focused on deep space exploration with sampling distance (GSD), data rate, and data CubeSats — a goal pursued by more volume of small satellites between 1990 and experienced teams and/or national space 2010 [11]. organizations — the first talk described the main lessons learned during 13 years of Over the past 13 years, three CubeSats were CubeSat development at TUM. successfully developed and launched at TUM. The endeavor started in 2006 with the CubeSats, once invented for educational development of First-MOVE (see Figure 13 purposes in 1999 by Bob Twiggs of Stanford on the left). The main goal of First-MOVE, as

Figure 13: First-MOVE (left) and MOVE-II (right), both 1U-CubeSats from LRT

太空|TAIKONG 17 in many CubeSat programs of that time, was by the Bearden rule: Complexity in missions the hands-on education of undergraduate increases cost and development time, with a and graduate students and the ambitious linear relationship for schedule and exponential design and build of a 1U CubeSat verification for costs. If we demand too much complexity platform [2][4]. The First-MOVE was operated out of a limited budget and schedule, it will successfully during one month after its launch in lead to failures. This is especially worthwhile late 2013. Until then, more than 70 students of to consider for interplanetary missions, as the different faculties had participated successfully launch opportunities are rare and thus the in the project, with numerous educational and demand for more experiments on one specific programmatic lessons learned [5]. Starting mission are usually high. Looking at the results in April 2015, the second CubeSat of TUM, found by the Aerospace Company for SmallSat called MOVE-II (see Figure 13 on the right) missions [1], a zone with impaired and failed was developed and launched into space in late missions, thus an area in which complexity is 2018 [7]. too high with respect to schedule and cost can be seen in Figure 14. Besides hands-on education, a scientific experiment dedicated to novel solar cells is The last couple of years showed that CubeSats flown on this satellite mission [13]. CubeSats, are a feasible tool for conducting scientific in discrepancy with their bigger counterparts, experiments, both in the Earth orbit but also in can be built, tested, and launched very fast. A the interplanetary space. The upcoming launch clone of MOVE-II, called MOVE-IIb was build of will deploy 13 CubeSats [8] with and tested within six months, and launched a broad variety of planned experiments into into space in July 2019, within a year from the interplanetary trajectories and many future start of the project. deep space launches will have reserved volume for scientific CubeSats. Independently from the The most important lesson learned regarding mission, CubeSat developers should also keep university-built CubeSats (and also commercial the Bearden rule in mind when planning their missions) is the relation between complexity scientific missions. and cost/schedule. As stated by McCurdy [9], the aggregation of failures can be by explained

Figure 14: Successful, failed and impaired SmallSat missions analyzed by the Aerospace Company. Source: [1]

18 太空|TAIKONG Figure 15: The DUT-1 Satellite developed by Dalian University of Technology, Changguang Satellite Technology Co. Ltd., Tsinghua University, Wuhan University, and Xinjiang Institute of Physics and Chemistry - Credits: DUT

As an example of CubeSats-based endeavors • the importance of good and exhaustive that also function as a students’ educating documentation, which is often a quite tool, the DUT-1 (Small Bright Eye) mission is the difficult task for students; result of the joint efforts of Dalian University of Technology, Changguang Satellite Technology • the relevance of interdisciplinarity as co. ltd., Tsinghua University, Wuhan University, students are typically focused on their and Xinjiang Institute of Physics and Chemistry specific field and often neglect other with the participation of more than 100 students less known effects during the design of in the development. DUT-1 is the first 20 kg CubeSats; sub-meter high-resolution remote sensing 12U CubeSat and it includes three main payloads, • the significance of environmental i.e. a high-resolution camera (PAN/Multispectral conditions in the selection of parts; low-cost and high-resolution camera), electric propulsion (μCAT micro-electric propulsion • the lack of appropriate redundancy or, system), and a space radiometer to monitor the even worse, the use of redundancy in an real-time dose rate in space. By means of state- appropriate way; of-the art, innovative technology — 3D printing structure, 3D printing launch pod, integrated • the unavailability of parameters of ADCS, and reflect-array antenna — and quality several components (e.g. rechargeable features, such as a pointing accuracy of <0.05° batteries); and a transmission rate of 400 Mbps, DUT-1 will be launched around June 2021. • the lack of fault propagation effects in a complex design; Last but not least, the lessons learnt during the ten-year experience teaching the development • the simpler, the better: Often, simple of CubeSats to students at Politecnico di Torino procedures or circuits are more effective can be summarized in the following points, than complex ones; which are often overlooked by students: • the huge impact of the harness.

太空|TAIKONG 19 In practice, from the education point of • improvement of the primary structure of view, much was learned rather during the CubeSats by using the empty volume design phase than during the launch and on lateral surfaces between lateral rods, operationSome of the lessons include: increasing structural robustness, getting rid of useless items, and improving heat • interdisciplinary team set-up; transfer;

• ability to build a complex system; • taking advantage of modern model- based design in the development of • huge amount of knowledge and subsystems to decrease the complexity capabilities taught to students; of student tasks to make them accessible to master students and to improve the • students faced with the complexities of quality of the documentation as well as practical tasks. testing and qualifications;

Since design, manufacturing, test, • the embedding of most spacecraft documentation account for 90% of the efforts functions inside the lateral surfaces of a and benefits with only 10% of the costs, while CubeSat and make them also structural launch and operations account for 10% of and thermal elements; the efforts and benefits with 90% of the costs (mostly for the sat-launch), some questions the • the improvement of the heat transfer of necessity of launching for teaching. mechanical interconnections between removable structural elements; Moreover, students should face a degree of complexity which is compatible with their • the embedding of electromechanical knowledge; therefore, they should be assigned subsystems (e.g. , with sub-subsystems only. It is utterly important reaction wheels, batteries) inside the for students to understand well the mission lateral skins of the spacecraft, making and its requirements in order to develop the them thin enough; subsystem handed to them, while system-level tasks should belong to permanent staff’s duties • the description the operation and (teachers or PhD). optimization of on-board telescopes (tutorial); Further details discussed in the presentation concerning the Politecnico di Torino include: • the concepts of attitude and optics required to understand the principles of • the current activities on the development operation of a telescope, both reflective of “smart structures” promoted by the and refractive; university;

20 太空|TAIKONG • the performance parameters of a • the optimization of geometrical telescope (e.g. field of view, resolution); parameters to improve telescope parameters given some mission- • the formulas to compute focal length dependent constraints; of telescopes and the relationships with telescope parameters; • the introduction of a panel on technological capabilities of modern and • the physical phenomena leading to future CubeSats with a short introduction image aberrations; of state-of-the-art technologies.

3. MAIN TAKEAWAYS ON CUBESATS TECHNOLOGY AND CUBESATS-BASED MISSIONS

The great efficiency resulting from high level based on CubeSats constellation missions. productivity at lower costs and lower energy- Specifically, scientists were able to acquire usage ensured by CubeSats (‘or small more knowledge on the following aspects: satellites’) technology is deemed to outperform traditional satellites in these primary aspects. 1. CubeSats highlights: Efficiency, As a matter of facts, even though CubeSats constellation missions, deep-space were first developed at university level for exploration: educational purposes, they do now represent an advantageous solution also for commercial CubeSats are a convenient, light-weight, missions led by space agencies as well as for joint sustainable solution for space science missions projects across countries. For these reasons, as their production and launching costs are the forum aimed to provide all participants significantly lower than in traditional satellites. with the opportunity to learn more about Their reduced dimensions come with several CubeSats’ architecture, their development, benefits not only in terms of reduced costs, but structure and characteristics, their launching also in terms of risks and reachability. In fact, and deployment techniques, design criteria, while large satellites can only cover a relatively space engineering, as well as the current status limited portion of space, a constellation of of several countries’ advanced studies and CubeSats can work on a larger area at the same missions based on Cubesats. time, thus expanding the potential of space missions. Furthermore, researchers and engineers were also given the chance to inquire about potential While Earth-bound satellites remain vital for collaboration opportunities at international educational and scientific activities, CubeSats

太空|TAIKONG 21 interplanetary trajectories and many future deep space launches will have reserved volume for scientific CubeSats. Even with a small 10x10x10 cm3 CubeSat and with 3U CubeSat it is possible to carry out important missions involving inter-sat communication, remote sensing, Bio Science missions. used in CubeSat to deorbit it was also an interesting mission.

2. CubeSats beyond universities:

CubeSat is still used for what it was first created for, i.e. education at universities and they are indeed a great tool for education, while for some countries they also often represent the very first launched satellite at country level (e.g. Switzerland's first CubeSats launch in 2009).

Nevertheless, this rapidly developing field of CubeSat offers new opportunities for numerous space research areas. Using miniaturized, low- power instrumentation developed for cube- satellites it is possible to reduce time from the mission concept to real measurements in ARTEMIS-1 Satellite - Picture Figure 16: space. CubeSat is also a cost-effective mean to Credits: NASA get a payload into space to perform research and develop new technologies. and small satellites in general still represent an invaluable asset for deep-space exploration 3. Technical knowledge: (even though some questions remain on their feasibility for interplanetary missions). In terms of technical knowledge and takeways, they can be summarized in the following points: The last couple of years showed that CubeSats are a feasible tool for conducting scientific • Hardware and Software Reliability: experiments, both in Earth orbit but also in Design and Testing interplanetary space. The upcoming launch • Software Reliability of Artemis 1 will deploy 13 CubeSats [11] with a broad variety of planned experiments into

22 太空|TAIKONG • Modular approach and it’s benefits • Engineering Overview of Foresail CubeSats • Compact design subsystem • Aoxiang series CubeSats, development • COTS, Rad Hardening and Reliability and trends relation • Aalto University and its vision of a • State of Art Sensors used on CubeSat “Finnish Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Space” • Statistical trends of CubeSat • General application of the sequence: • Know-how development CubeSat Development by integration of tested modules – Development by 4. Fostering know-how development and integration of tested modules and sharing is a key strategy to improve skills design/implementation of subsystem and capabilities, and in this regard, the – Development by full custom design following aspects where considered: • Management of Development Team • MOVE I Mission: Overall design and the challenge of knowledge considerations. management when working with students • Choice of Communications Bands (IARU/UIT) • Korean SNIPE, use of IRIDIUM as backup Communication • Italy’s experience on teaching university and formation flight strategy students how to use CubeSats: It’s worth it even if not launched

Figure 17: The South Korean SNIPE Satellite – Credits: KASI

太空|TAIKONG 23 5. The importance of interdisciplinary costs and development time, with a linear research on CubeSats: relationship in terms of schedule, while it is exponential for costs. Such relationship is The combination of physics, relativity, a particularly significant for interplanetary and astronomy together with engineering missions, as the launch opportunities are rare knowledge is a win-win interdisciplinary and thus the demand for more experiments on approach. Physics-based presentations one specific mission are usually high. were particularly useful to understand the challenges associated with operating more 7. CubeSats’ main challenges: than one satellite at a time as well as with finding optimal trajectories that would fulfill Among the main challenges faced by the mission objectives. Nevertheless, it was developers, researchers and engineers clear that, without access to small satellite of CubeSats we enumerate the lack of technologies, high-energy or general relativity- standardization in terms of interface, which based missions would be overly costly and may complicate the collaboration among unfeasible. Scientists, especially those who different actors. Furthermore, the deal with abstract topics such as relativity problem was also suggested, a nowadays small and astronomy, are more deeply involved in but still rapidly growing problem. Even though CubeSat missions than expected by common CubeSats are not the main concern in this sense. Furthermore, also theoretical physicists regard — only 800+ of them launched up to have expressed deep interest in the CubeSat now — a solution still needs to be found, and business, and in a similar token, participants EPFL is working on it through CleanSpace One. expressed an enhanced interest in missions Another topic was the need for improvement which do not prioritize technology but rather in CubeSat structure. Finally, even though the science questions, such as the Korean SNIPE interface standardization is a change needed mission. In fact, even though this mission does to simplify CubeSats-based collaboration, not have revolutionary and state-of-the-art the standardization of the CubeSat deployer technologies, it puts emphasis on ionospheric reduced the flexibility left to developers to and magnetospheric science questions, as adjust the shape and volume of a CubeSat. it was also the case of some other missions driven by science questions. 8. Insights from operating missions (Hermes, CHESS, etc.): 6. Complexity–costs relation: The HERMES and CHESS mission discussions One of the most important lesson learned of provided insights on an inspiring science university-built CubeSats (and also commercial application of CubeSat platforms. Both missions) is the relation between complexity missions aim to study the electromagnetic and cost/schedule. As stated in the previous counterparts of the gravitational waves, paving section, missions’ complexity increases both the way to multi-messenger astronomy. The

24 太空|TAIKONG Figure 18: Cleanone Space satellite - Credits: EPFL talks of “COSPAR Roadmap on 4S” and presentation on the “CubeSat Technology (in) “Using CubeSats for Science Missions seen capabilities” brought forward the lessons learnt from a physics point of view. What can we do for university-level CubeSat developments. and when?” gave a general perspective on the future science missions with CubeSats. In 9. Cross-country collaboration particular, the swarm explorations of a solar system body and the vision for a visit to Alpha As outlined in the last section of this magazine Centauri with very tiny chip size satellites (‘International collaboration'), despite are promising perspectives on solar system the evident financial benefits guaranteed explorations and interstellar visits. by CubeSats, the development and implementation of space science missions can In addition to these visionary discussions, the still represent a tedious challenge in terms of presentations on the ongoing CubeSat science financial, technical and technological resources mission developments offered insights on for many countries. Less developed countries the current capabilities of doing science with nowadays have the capability to launch their CubeSats. These missions are the Japanese own scientific CubeSat, but they may face some Moon exploration missions with CubeSats, difficulties in terms of funding and governments’ which are EQUULEUS and OMOTENASHI, the willingness to support the projects. Moreover, Korean CubeSat constellation mission for small the cooperation between teams under the scale magnetospheric and ionospheric plasma form of exchange of students and staff would studies, that is SNIPE, and the FORESAIL help differentiate the experience among teams missions of Finland for studying space and improve future missions. environment at LEO and GTO. Furthermore, the

太空|TAIKONG 25 10. Overall knowledge on many topics Model, Wideband Model, Two satellite Model, acquired: Mobile-Satellite Channel Model, Radiometry missions, Atmospheric Radiometry, Deep Applied Plasma Physics, Electric Propulsion, Space Missions, Design optimization of Experimentation, Design, and Development CubeSat telescopes and imagers for Earth and Process. Also, come to know some Experimental space observation, Classification of satellites, Study of Effects of Electric and Magnetic Field future tend of CubeSats technology, High on Plasma, Propulsion System about satellite, Gain Microstrip Antenna Design for CubeSats, cold gas, liquid, resistors, rf ion, electrospray, COSPAR Roadmap on Small Satellites for pulse plasma, and vacuum arc thrusters, Space Science(4S) Engineering overview rain fade prediction software, some models of Foresail satellites, PharmaSat, GraviSat, affiliated with Megacells such as Loo Model, SporeSat, EcASat and BioSental, Small scale Statistical Model, Corazza Model, Lutz Two state Magnetospheric and Ionospheric Plasma Channel Model, Physical-Statistical Models, Experiment(SNIPE) Solid State Telescope, Time Share of Shadowing Models, Time Series Magnetometer, several Ground Stations.

4. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR NEWCOMERS IN CUBESAT MISSIONS

4.1. CubeSats for interdisciplinary, multi-layered collaboration

CubeSats provide the largest single standard CubeSats also constitute a very affordable launch market available at the moment, creating platform for hands-on learning of space a rapidly developing ecosystem around it. technology and it has so far shown a strong They ensure easy access to a wide range of capability to incubate new business ideas. It is innovative ideas to any country that enters the also an affordable instrument for developing field, as CubeSats do not simply represent a space science and scientific missions and rise standard spacecraft but rather a collaboration, overall awareness in global technology topics. innovation, and education platform. A single CubeSat launch is not necessarily a big Moreover, they can be developed fast and breakthrough in space technology, but it cheap. As such, CubeSats make space research prompts the community and young teams accessible for universities all around the world around to build the national capacity to launch and put space research in high gear, leading and operate national space missions. to amazing possibilities. Perhaps future

26 太空|TAIKONG planetary missions could also include one or to be successful, the CubeSat developments two student-led CubeSats that would operate should always involve a novel element in independently of the main spacecraft, limiting order to start partnerships with other industry the cost impacts to the primary mission. It is players. A CubeSat is legislatively equal to a undeniable that the possibility to build one’s large spacecraft and therefore a single national own spacecraft to make measurements on CubeSat can lead to significant developments or on a comet or anywhere else in the solar in the national legislation as well as in the system could energize the next generation organization of space activities at higher level. of planetary scientists and engineers. These scientists and engineers can get involved in Last but not least, they are a very good option the entire life cycle of the satellite, thereby for engineers to work in collaboration with facilitating and maximizing technology transfer. other engineering departments. A CubeSat- based project can involve electronics, Moreover, countries that are setting foot in communication, mechanics, aerospace, and the CubeSat industry should consider the system engineers, who can all commit to the community aspect and enable their young mission to polish their skills and gear up for big CubeSat teams to visit conferences and satellites and big projects. workshops to develop connections. In order

4.2. Key lessons for newcomers in the CubeSats industry

Newcomers in the CubeSat missions have projects. While building and operating a the opportunity to work on a wide range of satellite in space remains a key activity missions. Nowadays researchers are running for educational and social purposes, it numerous important projects by means of is true that some interesting scientific CubeSats technology, including remote experiments could be made “along the sensing, communication, Earth-imaging, space way” while developing the necessary exploration, inter-sat communication, air traffic protocols and know-how to design and management, ship tracking, and there are operate a CubeSat. A clear scientific many other missions which could be carried purpose would widen the impact of their out by means of CubeSat technology corresponding spacecraft project as well as attract the interest of the international Therefore, newcomers in CubeSat missions are community; encouraged: • to focus on intersystem tests, i.e. a test • to focus on and be creative with the program that should evolve around scientific motivations beyond their sub-system interactions. A rudimentary

太空|TAIKONG 27 standard function test of each sub- and the process of learning about a system is naturally mandatory before CubeSat mission. It is necessary to learn system integration, but letting the from commercial CubeSats and focus systems perform with each other will only on the payload design to make assure full functionality and at the the first mission a success. One should same time give sub-system developers learn the whole process that leads to the a deeper understanding of their own CubeSat launch to acquire know-how; system. Although the space environment is different from a lab setting and it is • to note that redundancy is the key for a hostile to satellites, the major reasons successful CubeSat mission. However, for CubeSat failures built by new-comers one needs to be careful about the trade- are inter-system failures; off between complexity and redundancy, as every redundancy introduced makes • to keep the Bearden rule in mind the system more fault-tolerant, and at when planning a mission. This does the same time it makes it more complex not necessarily imply the reduction or to manage the system; resizing of the scientific outputs and goals of the mission, it rather means to • to have real science objectives and reduce the complexity of experiments to produce real data. Nowadays, it and of the satellite itself. This can be is getting harder and harder to get deeply enhanced by the already available funded for an education-only CubeSat subsystems or products on the market, mission. Indeed, one cannot forget that also coming from terrestrial applications, a CubeSat mission is not only about which can be reused in CubeSat building a CubeSat and launching it, but missions. At the end of the day, CubeSats also about getting data and analyzing have to be fast-to-build and relatively them. Nevertheless, for a newcomer cheap – but both characteristics can be who has no prior experience with aligned with the scientific objectives of CubeSats and space missions in general the mission, as proven by the successful and who cannot resort to the help of Lunar and Mars Pathfinder experienced people, it might be better (and Sojourner) missions of the Faster- to focus on a small 1U mission or to Better-Cheaper program; gather experience in other ways. Also, it comes without saying that if a CubeSat • to lay out the concrete mission goals is built by students, the likelihood to before actually building the CubeSat. It is have numerous mistakes is much higher nowadays easier to enter the field since than with a full-time team. Therefore, one can learn from the lessons that other being vigilant and debugging frequently missions have provided. However, the are two must-do. For what regards a critical issue is the project management university’s concerns, the most important

28 太空|TAIKONG thing is the balance between costs and limited but increasing application performance. Furthermore, a good of this technology in science. With performance always means higher costs. projects like HERMES (High Energy However, it must be noted that not all Rapid Modular Ensemble of Satellites), missions need a high performance, as we could try to follow this concept, the performance of the CubeSat should suggesting that CubeSats incorporates not exceed the requirement of the the technology that could potentially mission; lead to breakthrough discoveries. The HERMES mission established • to start understanding the solutions on a novel close and synergistic of other teams and to learn from their collaboration between astrophysics, lessons. Make things simpler and fundamental physics, engineering, and avoid aiming at designs which are too the industry, where all these fields are complex: Ambitious goals are directly cross-fertilized and encouraged by the proportionate to experience increase and realization of an extremely ambitious the modernity of the design techniques, experiment, containing the costs and such as model-based design. Last but the time dedicated to operations. This not least, effective team building and ambitious goal will be achieved by experienced people retention are also a exploiting at most the Commercial off- key for success. All the work done should the-shelf (COTS) components, which are be properly documented in order to currently under-performing in the space further reduce delays; environment, but with the potential to provide high impact and radical • to be aware that the synergy between transformations in terms of its space communities is the key to promote application. and improve CubeSats’ capabilities and to expand the nowadays relatively

4.3. Conclusions

It is important to highlight that joining the yield useful scientific results. This community of experts’ community and directly interacting veterans and newbies may be right at the first with scientists who have developed a stage of their collaboration, where the former successful mission surely helps the newcomers can help the latter learn and accumulate in formulating new CubeSat missions. This kind experience on CubeSats. However, it should of collaboration, if done carefully, can be very encompass the participation of intermediate- helpful in framing future satellite missions to level players, who are neither newbies nor

太空|TAIKONG 29 senior researchers. The participation of studying at university. However, a hands-on those mid-level players may help effective workshop including practice at the AIT lab can communication between the two groups, a sort sometimes be more useful than theory. Small of intermediate actor for the best results. satellites missions will be a good opportunity to train students and provide knowledge about In joining the scientific community, we will satellite technology. understand the potential and progress of each player, seizing the chance to explore the As missions and experiments carried out in progress and type of researches being carried the outer space are becoming a more and out by each country, the recent trends of small more essential to solve many earthly problems, satellites technology, the latest studies, and such as resource management, environmental some other noble projects. problems and disaster management, CubeSats can benefit humanity and therefore, young At the same time, it is essential not to lose scientists and engineers should be motivated sight of the importance of the trainings. to research and develop new CubeSat missions. Students mostly focus on theory when

5. CUBESATS-BASED INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION

5.1. CubeSats advantages for cross-country cooperation

The beneficial impact of CubeSats-based joint the help international experts as well as to efforts can positively affect the international share costs and risks. relations between countries of different kinds — from regions with less financial and Cross-border collaboration made it possible technological means and expertise up to for countries such as Thailand, Bangladesh, nations which stand at the forefront of space Pakistan, and Mongolia, to make the most out science innovation — as well as between of the cross-border know-how sharing network Eastern and Western territorial sovereignties. and, in some cases, it even led to pioneering In regard to less-developed territories, the projects and achievements. This is for example relevance of global ties depends on multiple the case of Mongolia, which launched its factors, as it enables them to learn faster with first Mazaalai satellite into space in 2017 in the framework of the Birds-1 constellation

30 太空|TAIKONG of satellites which involved also Japan, • Higher contribution for scientific Bangladesh, Ghana, and Nigeria. purposes rather than unnecessary technological show-off; Therefore, the overall benefits of CubeSats- based international collaboration include: • Strengthened global ties through scientific collaboration. • Improved productivity as know-how and scientific concepts of space missions are Given the favorable corollary of international shared between different actors striving collaboration, CubeSats currently represent together toward greater scientific a highly attractive point of collaboration for discoveries; international institutions, universities, space agencies, and in general, for those who are • Less chances of failure when knowledge committed to space science studies. Many and risks are shared [6] [14]; countries around the globe are still looking for technological and scientific cooperation • Countries will less resources can advance opportunities, such as the Department of and learn faster from CubeSats experts; Astronautical Engineering of the University of Turkish Aeronautical Association (Turkey), • No more need to work from the ground which is gearing up to work on the High up as lessons learned from past mistakes Energy Rapid Modular Ensemble of Satellites are shared; mission (Hermes) together with many other international actors.

5.2. Current joint CubeSats-based projects and missions

Below are some examples of successful • The mission proposal “Deep Space international collaboration experiences as Observation Forerunner (DSOF)” well as of commitment to CubeSats-based was recently submitted to the China knowledge-sharing models: National Space Administration (CNSA). Co-sponsored by Dalian University of • Nations such as China, Turkey, and Technology, Tsinghua University, Wuhan African countries sent their first CubeSats University, Xinjiang Technical Institute of into space in the context of the QB50 Physics and Chemistry, Belarusian State international network of CubeSats which University, and Chang Guang Satellite also involves several European countries; CO.,Ltd., the project is based on two CubeSats, a CubeSat deployer, and four femtosatellites to target the near-Earth

太空|TAIKONG 31 asteroid 2016 HO3 and the main-band • Aalto University (Finland) has comet 133P. The aim of the DSOF mission implemented the Erasmus Mundus is to conduct scientific research – among Space Masters as well as the Masters in others space radiation measurement, Cold Climate Engineering; asteroid landing, CubeSat visible/ hyperspectral image acquisition – as the • The Japan Aerospace Exploration piggyback payload of the main asteroid Agency (JAXA) is committed to national detector developed by the CNSA; and international transfer of knowledge among universities and space agencies • Thanks to international mutual support, worldwide; Mongolia launched its first Mazaalai CubeSat into space on June 3, 2017; • Switzerland and EPFL (Switzerland) actively participate in chosen programs • CONIDA (Peru) continuously participates of the (ESA); in several projects worldwide, such as the Student Small Satellite, and it also • GISTDA (Thailand) has created Space collaborates with Peruvian universities Inspirium, a modern science museum working on CubeSats; focusing on space technology & the science of the universe, for knowledge • In Pakistan, the Space System Lab (SSL) sharing. of the Institute of Space Technology (IST) is fully focused on CubeSats research Given the proven multilateral interest and and hitherto, IST is the only and first benefits of international collaboration in institute in Pakistan to have launched its CubeSats development and application, many own CubeSats; actors are looking forward to further foster and enhance this kind of cooperation model to • The SSS-2A Project is part of APSCO create international space missions and tighten Student Small Satellite program and is the ties between countries worldwide. being jointly developed by Shanghai Jiaotong University (China) and the Institute of Space Technology (IST, Pakistan);

• The SSS-2B Project is also part of the same program and is being jointly developed by Tubitak-Uzay (Turkey) and GISTDA (Thailand);

32 太空|TAIKONG 6. CONCLUSIONS

The relevance and importance of CubeSats for actors involved in the process, from satellites the development of space studies, for advanced developers to countries with less resources, scientific results, and for the success of space as it decreases the chances of mission missions has grown to represent a critical focus failure. Furthermore, great benefits in terms in space science studies widely recognized of scientific progress can derive from a by international scientific communities for technology-oriented cooperation. In fact, given multiple reasons. the great complexity of space science-related questions and challenges, global technology In the first place, the marked efficiency collaboration can serve as a springboard for of CubeSats in comparison to traditional deeper scientific research and as a determinant satellites lies in its affordability both in terms to achieve competitive scientific outcomes. of technological development as well as of scientific investigations. Moreover, the financial For these main reasons, CubeSats currently competitiveness of CubeSats implementation constitute a valid, highly efficient option is also paired with the agile and time-saving which allows scientists to fully focus on technological and technical development CubeSats’ potential scientific and engineering of this kind of satellites, which can also be applications, rather than on their preliminary employed to complement the tasks carried out development and project. As a matter of fact, by traditional probes. the technical development of CubeSats bears no secrets as big as the “mysteries of science”, As a general rule, CubeSats positively which, on the other hand, do still need joint differentiate themselves from traditional efforts to be properly unlocked. In order to satellites thanks to the following features: do so and thanks to the favorable common ground provided by CubeSats’ shareable • affordability; advantages, international actors of different kinds are prompted to work together, decrease • less time-consuming in terms of technical international competition, and get rid of any development as well as of scientific eventual “CubeSats race” for the sake of investigations; science.

• complementary to traditional probes;

• overall improved efficiency.

Evidence has shown that CubeSats technology- sharing entails multiple advantages for all

太空|TAIKONG 33 7. REFERENCES

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[3] R.W. Fléron, "Will CubeSats introduce a MOORE’s Law to Space Science Missions?", Adv. . Sci. 163 (2018) 677–694.

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[5] M. Langer et al., "Results and lessons learned from the CubeSat mission First-MOVE", in: Small Satellite Missions for Earth Observation, R. Sandau, H.-P. Roeser und A. Valenzuela, Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 2015.

[6] M. Langer, J. Bouwmeester, "Reliability of CubeSats – Statistical Data, Developers’ Beliefs and the Way Forward", Proceedings of the 30th Annual AIAA/USU Conference on Small Satellites, Logan, UT, 6-11 August 2016, Paper SSC16-X-2.

[7] M. Langer et al., "MOVE-II - The Munich Orbital Verification Experiment II", IAA-AAS- CU-17-06-05, Proceedings of the 4th IAA Conference on University Satellite Missions & CubeSat Workshop, Rome, Italy, December 2017.

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34 太空|TAIKONG [11] National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2016. Achieving Science with CubeSats: Thinking Inside the Box. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https:// doi.org/10.17226/23503.

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[15] B. Twiggs, “Origin of CubeSat” in Small satellites: Past, present, and future, H. Helvajian, Ed., El Segundo Calif.: Aerospace Press, 2008, pp. 151–173.

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LIST OF PARTICIPANTS AND CONTRIBUTORS

Mohammad Ebrahimi APSCO, Beijing, China Nicolas Martinod Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), Seyedabadi Switzerland

Maurizio Falanga ISSI-BJ, Beijing, China Muhammad Rizwan Institute of Space Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan/Aalto Mughal University, Finland Manop Aorpimai Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization (APSCO) Muhammad Noman Institute of Space Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan

Jaeheung Park Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute, Republic of Korea Muhammed Azam Bangladesh Space research and Remote Sensing Organization, Bangladesh Ammarin Pimnoo Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency, Thailand Uugantsetseg Baatar Standing Committee on Economic Policy, Secretariat of the State Great Hural of Mongolia Jaan Praks Department of Electronics and Nanoengineering, School of Electrical Engineering, Aalto University, Espoo, Finland Nicola Baresi Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Institute of Space Wongsa Pranpriya GISTDA, Thailand and Astronautical Science (ISAS) Apirat Prasit National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand Mina Bayat , Iran Leonardo Reyneri Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy Taweeporn Boonsup GISTDA, Thailand Andrea Sanna Università degli studi di Cagliari, Department of Physics, Italy

Enes Dag Institute of Applied Mathematics, TÜBİTAK Space Jagobandu Some Bangladesh Space Research and Remote Sensing Organization, Technologies Research Institute, Turkey Bangladesh

René Fléron Technical University of Denmark, Denmark Tanita Suepa GISTDA, Thailand

Qamarul Islam Space Systems Lab(SSL), Institute of Space Technology, Saensuriwong GISTDA, Thailand Islamabad, Pakistan Suriyaphon

Hadi Jalili Naeim Abadi Researcher, Iranian space research center, Iran Sihirunwong Sutinee GISTDA, Thailand

Vasan Jantarachote GISTDA, Department of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Sisman Tahsin Çagri Department of Astronautical Engineering, University of Turkish Electrical Engineering, Prince of Songkla University, Thailand Aeronautical Association, Turkey

Vladimir Adolfo Juarez CONIDA, Peru Peerapong Torteeka National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand Ortiz Tuguldur Ulambayar National University of Mongolia

Juan Jose Julca Yaya CONIDA, Peru Vongsantivanich GISTDA, Thailand Natthaphong GISTDA, Thailand Wasanchai Khaengkhan Yu Xiaozhou Shaanxi Engineering Laboratory for Microsatellites, China (during Martin Langer Technical University of Munich, Germany the forum)/ Dalian University of Technology, China (new position)

Xiaohui Liu China Academy of Space Technology, China Rusheng Zhang China National Space Administration, China Laura Baldis ISSI-BJ, Beijing, China Shariff Manuthasna Mahanakorn University of Technology, Thailand