Paper Category: Experimental
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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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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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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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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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Passive Spin-Stabilised Solar Sailing for CubeSat Heliocentric Escape
Project Svarog is a student-led initiative at Imperial College London aiming to reach the heliopause using a CubeSat-class spin-stabilised solar-sail demonstrator. Small spacecraft are increasingly being considered for missions to extreme heliocentric distances, including NASA’s Solar Gravitational Lens concept at a starting 550 AU focal line. Recent missions have also highlighted the difficulty of maintaining…
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In-Orbit Demonstration of OrbFIX: a High-Accuracy PNT Device for LEO Satellites
OrbFIX is a high-accuracy positioning device designed for small satellites operating in LEO, and is developed by Romanian InSpace Engineering under a series of ESA contracts. It integrates a multi-band, multi-constellation GNSS receiver tracking all available signals with a Precise Point Positioning (PPP) algorithm that implements Galileo High Accuracy Service (HAS) corrections to provide a…
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WAVE-XS: Water-Based Micropropulsion for Smallsats
Europe’s rapid smallsat scaling is increasing demand for propulsion that is safe to handle, simple to integrate, and operationally useful across the full mission lifecycle—including collision-avoidance maneuvers and end-of-life deorbit. This paper presents WAVE-XS, a water-centered micropropulsion architecture for CubeSats and small spacecraft that uses stored liquid water as the only consumable and converts it…
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In-Orbit Experimental Validation of Autonomous Operations within the AIX Satellite-as-a-Service Framework
As Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellations continue to scale, traditional ground-centric operational paradigms struggle to meet increasing demands in latency, flexibility, and operational cost. The AIX (AI-eXpress) mission series addresses these limitations by introducing a service-oriented satellite architecture that enables dynamic in-orbit resource usage and application deployment. This paper presents the in-orbit experimental activities performed…
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A Data Fusion Framework for Real-Time GNSS Availability Assessment Under Combined Space Weather and Terrestrial Interference
Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) have become critical infrastructure for autonomous platforms across space, maritime, and ground domains. Historically, GNSS accuracy degradation was primarily attributed to natural phenomena—ionospheric disturbances, scintillation, and solar activity. However, modern operational environments increasingly face terrestrial threats including intentional jamming, spoofing, and regional denial zones. Current mission planning tools address these…
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Mission-level differential drag control for formation flying of 6U CubeSats through automated management of rule-based and power-budget modes.
The operational success of inter-satellite laser link (ISL) missions in CubeSat constellations depends on the strict management of conflicting requirements: energy harvesting, high-precision payload targeting, and orbital maintenance. This paper presents an automated onboard mission logic designed to manage the relative distance of a two-satellite 6U in formation flight (ranging from 100 km to 1000…