Assembly Integration and Verification Activities for a 2U CubeSat EIRSAT-1

Abstract

The Educational Irish Research Satellite, EIRSAT-1, is a project developed by students at University College Dublin that aims to design, build, and launch Ireland's first satellite. EIRSAT-1 is a 2U CubeSat incorporating three novel payloads; GMOD, a gamma-ray detector, EMOD, a thermal coating management experiment, and WBC, a novel attitude control algorithm. The EIRSAT-1 project is carried out with the support of the Education Office of the European Space Agency, under the educational Fly your Satellite! programme. The Assembly, Integration and Verification (AIV) plan for EIRSAT-1 is central to the philosophyand the development of the spacecraft. The model philosophy employed for the project is known as the 'prototype' approach in which two models of the spacecraft are assembled; an Engineering Qualification Model (EQM) and a Flight Model (FM). The payloads, GMOD and EMOD, and the Antenna Deployment Module (ADM) platform element warrant a Development Model (DM) in addition to an EQM and a FM, as they have been designed and developed inhouse. The engineering qualification model serves as both a FlatSat for electrical integration testing and as a representative model for testing of software code, patching and operational decisions during the active mission. The EQM is tested to qualification levels and durations during the environmental test campaign. The flight model contains the flight versions of the payloads, ADM platform element and the procured hardware elements. It undergoes acceptance level testing and it is the final spacecraft to be delivered to ESA for flight. After successful completion of the Critical Design Review (CDR) and Ambient Test Readiness Review (ATRR) phases of the project, the EQM of EIRSAT-1 will be assembled and integrated in University College Dublin. After assembly and integration of the EQM, the project will begin the ambient test campaign, in which the EQM undergoes ambient functional and mission testing. This work details the preparation and execution of the assembly, integration, and verification activities of EIRSAT-1 EQM.

Design, development and testing of flight software for EIRSAT-1: a university-class CubeSat enabling astronomical research

“…Two versions of the EIRSAT-1 spacecraft-an engineering qualification model (EQM) and a near-identical flight model (FM)-are being built as part of this project to reduce the level of risk arising from the team's initial lack of experience with spacecraft development as well as the complexity of the mission's payloads/objectives. 34…”

“…In addition to HIL tests performed during the software development process, the main flight software was also tested with the spacecraft's hardware as part of test campaigns during which the mission's requirements were formally verified. 34 Although these tests were primarily focused on the mission's performance as a whole, their success required the reliable performance of the main flight software. The following tests were included.…”

“…The remainder of the spacecraft consists of COTS components supplied by AAC Clyde Space, including the battery, electrical power system (EPS), solar cells, radio transceiver, attitude determine and control system (ADCS), and onboard computer (OBC). Two versions of the EIRSAT-1 spacecraft—an engineering qualification model (EQM) and a near-identical flight model (FM)—are being built as part of this project to reduce the level of risk arising from the team’s initial lack of experience with spacecraft development as well as the complexity of the mission’s payloads/objectives 34 …”

Development, description, and validation of the operations manual for EIRSAT-1, a 2U CubeSat with a gamma-ray burst detector

“…The project aims to reduce risk and demonstrate a reliable spacecraft (S/C) by following, similar to the Aalto-1 mission, 10 a prototype model philosophy. The EIRSAT-1 engineering qualification model (EQM) has been built, 11 and the flight model (FM) is currently being tested. Rigorous system level testing has been performed with the EQM being subject to a full functional test, 11 mission test (MT), 12 and environmental testing 13 to qualification levels.…”

“…The EIRSAT-1 engineering qualification model (EQM) has been built, 11 and the flight model (FM) is currently being tested. Rigorous system level testing has been performed with the EQM being subject to a full functional test, 11 mission test (MT), 12 and environmental testing 13 to qualification levels. The FM will undergo the same suite of testing to acceptance levels.…”