Operational Concept of a Picosatellite Release from a LEO Satellite

Abstract

The Berlin InfraRed Optical System satellite, which is scheduled for launch in 2016, will carry onboard the picosatellite BEESAT-4 and release it through a spring mechanism. After separation, it will perform experimental proximity maneuvers in formation with the picosatellite solely based on optical navigation. In order to start the experiment it is important to create certain initial conditions which assure, that the relative orbit is passively safe and stable, and the Picosatellite is in the field of view of the camera. This is especially challenging, since several design constraints, like a fixed delta-v of the spring mechanism and a limited maximum delta-v of the thrusters, have to be considered. A major design driver is the performance uncertainty of the release mechanism and the on-board thrusters. The developed strategy starts with two maneuvers: the separation itself and a drift reduction maneuver of the Berlin InfraRed Optical System satellite after half a revolution. This is followed by a relative orbit determination performed by on-ground radar tracking. Necessary maneuvers to establish the initial condition will be computed based on the orbit determination and executed. The selected maneuver parameters are validated in a Monte Carlo simulation and the development of an operational plan is presented.