Paper Category: Engineering
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Robust Trajectory Optimization and Control for Autonomous Small Satellite Terminal Proximity Operations under Uncertainty
This research presents a robust guidance and control architecture for SmallSat terminal proximity operations, focusing on the transition from rendezvous to final docking. As autonomous in-space servicing and assembly become mission-critical, GNC systems must maintain centimeter-level accuracy while respecting strict hardware and safety constraints in the presence of state and model uncertainties. The methodology utilizes…
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Influence of Porosity Distributions on the Thermal Snap Response of Functionally Graded Sandwich Solar Panels in Low Earth Orbit
Traditional satellite aluminum or solid laminates solar panels are susceptible to significant thermal distortion and thermal snap during rapid temperature fluctuations in orbit. For modern lightweight satellite architectures, a critical design constraint arises from the inherent risk of thermal snap phenomenon where high-aspect-ratio flexible structures undergo dynamic instabilities due to rapid transitions in heat flux.…
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BOREALIS: Phase-B Results of a Dual-Orbit 6U CubeSat for In-Orbit Biofilm Radiation Experiments
BOREALIS (Biofilm Onboard Radiation Exposure Assessment Lab In Space) is a 6U CubeSat mission developed under the Italian Space Agency (ASI) ALCOR program, aimed at enabling controlled biological experimentation across multiple radiation environments in space. The mission adopts an innovative dual-phase orbital concept, performing biofilm exposure experiments first in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and subsequently…
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Ensuring Orbital Safety from T-0: The Critical Imperative for Immediate Post-Launch Collision Avoidance
As the density of the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) environment increases, driven by frequent rideshare missions and the deployment of mega-constellations, the initial phase of satellite operations has emerged as a period of heightened orbital risk. Historically, collision avoidance (COLA) processes have relied on established tracking by Space Situational Awareness (SSA) providers. However, this study…
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Component-Level Polymer Composite Spot Shielding for Radiation and Thermal Management in SmallSats
The increasing use of commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) electronics in SmallSat platforms offers significant advantages in cost, performance, and development speed; however, radiation tolerance and thermal constraints often force conservative spacecraft-level shielding strategies. Bulk aluminum enclosures introduce substantial size, weight, and power (SWaP) penalties and frequently require entire subsystems to be over-shielded based on the most radiation-sensitive…
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ALIGN Mission: Radio Intersatellite Link Feasibility Demonstration for Hybrid Free-Space Optical Communications
The ALIGN (Autonomous Laser-based Intersatellite Gigabit Network) mission comprises a pair of 6U CubeSats equipped with FOCUS (Free-space Optical Communications Unit for Space), an experimental payload demonstrating high-data-rate optical intersatellite links in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and advanced hybrid optical/radio intersatellite communications. Each satellite implements a dual RF-link architecture: the Radio Ground-to-Satellite Link (RGSL) for…
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Evaluation of Heterogeneous Data Fusion for Real-Time Agricultural Stress Monitoring in Small-Scale Farming Ecosystems
Smallholder agricultural systems represent a critical frontier for climate resilience strategies, yet they are often underserved by traditional remote sensing frameworks due to fragmented land parcels and low-frequency reporting. This research investigates an autonomous geospatial framework designed to synthesize multi-source satellite data, specifically Sentinel-2 MSI optical imagery and CHIRPS precipitation datasets, to detect and characterize…
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Decentralized Operational Framework for Autonomous Space Traffic Management in High-Drag VLEO Environments
The rapid expansion of Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) constellations introduces significant complexities in orbital maintenance due to non-conservative forces, primarily stochastic atmospheric drag. Traditional centralized Space Traffic Management (STM) architectures, which rely on batch-processed updates and human-in-the-loop decision making, are increasingly incapable of managing the high-frequency station-keeping maneuvers required in these altitudes. This paper…
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Enabling Secure Maritime Connectivity: MAIV of the MICE-1 CubeSat Mission
The increasing reliance of Maritime IoT and Internet of Vessels (IoV) applications on satellite connectivity places stringent requirements not only on system architecture and communications performance, but also on the robustness, manufacturability, and verification of spaceborne platforms operating in demanding environments. In this context, nanosatellite missions targeting maritime services must balance tight mass, volume, and…
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Securing Small Satellites: Integrating Cybersecurity into CubeSat Architecture through MBSE
The growing use of CubeSats across industry and student-led university projects has expanded the cyber threat surface of space systems, making cybersecurity a critical design consideration. Historically, satellites were expensive, state-owned assets, limiting access to space and reducing the number of potential threat actors. Today, CubeSats offer a low-cost, widely deployable alternative, enabling broader participation…