DESIGN OF A 1U CUBESAT PLATFORM FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES

A. O. Rêgo (*), M. C. Pereira(*), M. Greco (*), E. Peiró (**)

(*) Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais – Belo Horizonte, MG – Brazil(**) Unidad de Formación Superior CONAE/ UTN - Argentina

Objective:Develop and analyse an 1Upicossatellite platform forAerospace Engineering courses.Suggest two different internalconfigurations. Studies of typical launching

conditions to determineaccelerations and loads.

Develop a complete modelling ofthe structure in 3D CAD.

Methodology: Systemic analysis Environment and interfaces Conceptual development Need analysis Operational analysis Functional analysis Viability definition

Comparative Method Simulation using FEM

ConceptualDesign: Monocoque structure Preliminary modelling Basic components OBDS Reaction wheels Battery Solar sensor Transmitter

Structure assembly

Structural Analysis Aluminium alloy Al 7075 T6 Static Analysis von Mises tension

Dynamic Analysis Natural frequencies

Requirements: CubeSat Design Specification Tests Phylosophy Qualification Protoflight Admission

Mandatory tests

DesignModifications Modifications for mass reducing

and new simulations for structuralanalysis

Conclusions:In this paper the CubeSat was consideredas a system, the structure being onesubsystem, with expected behavior. CDSwas used for the requirements and testsphilosophy. A monocoque structure waschosen and simulations based on FEMwere performed, using Femap and NxNastran, both of the structure itself andwith components. Static load analysisshowed that inertial forces do notproduce significant tensions. Also theinfluence of each natural frequency onmass allocation was evaluated, showingthat only the 10 first natural frequenciesare relevant. Tests of alleatory vibrationwere performed, and, based on them, itis known that fatigue was not expectedfor the mandatory 3 minutes. Sinusoidalvibration and impact tests show that noplastic deformation or fatigue damage isexpected. The structure was optimizedfor mass reduction and all simulation wasperformed again, showing thatrequirements are met for the newstructure, that weights 114.4g.

Figure 1– Comparison betweentensions on the base – original and

modified structure

Figure 2: Initial suggested structure

Figure 3: Structure modification

Figure 4 – Modified structure levels of tension for spectral analysis