Mission Objectives

The University of Hawai’i CubeSat will incorporate the following experiments as its payload:

 

Active antenna - CubeSat communications currrently operate at VHF/UHF frequencies.  However, to support increased data rates, higher frequency communications are desired.  Thus, an active antenna will be flown to determine its feasibility for use in space.  The active antenna that will fly is a compact, lightweight, state-of-the-art component known as a grid oscillator.  This will be the first grid oscillator in space.  Compared to conventional CubeSat antennas, grid oscillators do not require deployment, are tolerant to single-point failures, and facilitate long-link communications at microwave frequencies – important advantages in satellite design, and necessary design features for future CubeSat missions.

Thermal sensors - This is the job of the Analog/Digital Sensors (ADS) team. These sensors will be used to monitor the environment of the CubeSat, as well as to provide data for verification of the MSA’s Thermal group analysis.

Attitude stabilization - In order to get the maximum power out of the satellite's solar cells, the rate of spin of the satellite must be kept at a relatively slow rate (accomplished with the use of hysteresis rods).  In addition, in order to make sure that the active antenna faces towards the Earth (for maximum gain), magnets will be used to align the satellite with the Earth's magnetic field.  The Science (SCI) team is in charge of the passive stabilization system.