Mission Design for the CubeSat OUFTI-1

CHAPTER 6.STRUCTURE AND DEPLOYMENTAll the systems have an operating temperature between -40 ◦ C and +85 ◦ C.The mass balance is reported in the following table:Table 6.1: CubeSat Kit massSkeletonized Mass [g] Solid-Walls Mass [g]Cover plate assembly 37 49Base plate assembly 50 62Main structure 71 132Chassis screws (x4) 2 2Total structure 166 251Flight module 50 50Total 216 301The skeletonized structure results much lighter than the solid-walls one.Even if the mass balance won’t be the most critical problem for OUFTI-1 becausethere won’t be any added payload and we are not planning to use anyattitude control, we chose the skeletonized structure. In fact, one of the goals ofthe LEODIUM project is the development of a space platform that can be useby the future CubeSats for scientific experiments: we have to make it as lighteras possible in order to have a greater mass available for payloads and attitudecontrol in the next missions, even if it wouldn’t be necessary for OUFTI-1.The main advantages of this structure is that we are sure of its reliability astwo CubeSats are already flying with it: this is the key feature that make uschoose the CubeSat-Kit. The D-STAR system into space already represents infact a challenging technology demonstration, even if we haven’t any evidencethat it won’t correctly works: adding a possible structure failure to the alreadyexisting risks seemed us too much.Certainly some budget considerations have been done too, but they have neverbeen the driving requirements.6.2 ISIS structureSince one and an half year, ISIS, Innovative Solution In Space (Delft, AL, TheNetherlands), has developed a CubeSat structure based on the experience gainedwith the project of Delfi-C3. They also have some other products for CubeSatsand more in general for miniaturized satellites, as antennas and ground stationand they provide a launch service.The structure is entirely made of an aluminium alloy 6061-T6 with the sideframesblack hard anodised and the ribs and shear-panels black alodyned.Galli Stefania 59 University of Liège