Space Segment

Project lead: SERC

Researchers: Benjamin Sheard, Liam Smith, Mike Petkovic, Andrew Bish

Participants: SERC, Lockheed Martin 

Non Participants: UNSW Canberra, The Solution Centre

The system engineering work for the M1 payload resulted in the development of a prototype sensor and beacon assembly which successfully passed vibration testing. Improvements to the design were identified and implemented, and the project moved towards the manufacture, assembly, integration and test phase for the flight payload.

The system engineering for the Faraday-1 payload has resulted in a stand-alone payload computer to interface with the Faraday-1 satellite on-board computer, and a sensor and beacon assembly. The payload consists of beacon assembly to enable tracking and assessment of the adaptive optics system; and a pair of photodiodes to measure laser irradiance on-orbit.

Project lead: SERC

Researchers: Benjamin Sheard, Mike Petkovic, Andrew Bish, 

Participants: SERC

Non Participants: UNSW Canberra, The Solution Centre

The M1 payload, consisting of a main PC-104 card with analogue to digital converter (ADCs) and inertial measurement unit (IMU) successfully passed vibration and environmental testing with no critical issues identified. Flight payload software to interface the SERC payload to the M1 on-board computer (OBC) was finalised in preparation for launch.

The flight sensor and beacon assemblies were completed with spectral calibration of the photodiodes undertaken at the National Measurement Institute in Sydney in preparation for the planned M1 solar calibration experiments. 

One of the limitations of the M1 payload was that it relied on the RAAF M1 OBC for operation; limiting its usability to only the M1 satellite. To remove this constraint, SERC developed a payload with its own OBC for the Faraday-1 payload.

The Faraday-1 payload, consisting of the SERC Payload Interface Board (SPIB) with integrated payload computer, IMU and temperature sensors, as well as the Sensor and Beacon Assembly (SBA) successfully passed vibration and environmental testing.

Project lead: SERC

Researchers: Benjamin Sheard, Matthew Bold, Craig Smith, Yue Gao, James Mason, Hiroo Kunimori

Participants: SERC, EOS Space Systems, Lockheed Martin, National Institute for Information and Communications Technology (Japan)

This program combines the outputs of active tracking, orbit computation and beam propagation through the atmosphere to make small but measureable changes to the orbit of a space object. The aim of the program was the demonstration of a practical active collision avoidance system using photon pressure. 

SERC has developed a high-rate single photon counting detector for characterisation of debris objects to facilitate manoeuvre detection. This detector is a follow-on development to overcome some of the limitations of the Lumini detector system. The photon counting detector system is being replicated for location across a telescope network extending from Europe, Asia, North America and Australia. 

The UNSW team failed to make contact with the M1 cubesat after launch. Despite repeated attempts to communicate with the cubesat, the cubesat remained unresponsive and the mission was terminated. Unfortunately, the RocketLab launch with the Faraday-1 mission failed to reach orbit. This was the first failure for RocketLab after 12 successful launches.

SERC held discussions with NICT regarding the use of the optical communication satellite, RISESAT, as a backup should Faraday-1 also fail. Though not designed specifically for photon manoeuvre, AO and laser system calibration, RISESAT does have a detector with sufficient quantum efficiency at the laser wavelength. 

On-sky experiments with RISESAT began in Q4 2020. Given the lack of an on-board beacon to assist with tracking, illumination was timed to coincide with terminator mode. However, equipment issues prevented tracking of LEO objects, including RISESAT. Further attempts are planned post-SERC when the satellite is visible.

Project lead: SERC

Researchers: Benjamin Sheard, Mike Petkovic, Andrew Bish

Participants: SERC

Non Participants: UNSW Canberra, The Solution Centre

After integration of the SERC payload into the M1 CubeSat the payload was tested for its spatial response and successfully passed a thermal vacuum (TVAC) test campaign. The spacecraft with the SERC payload underwent a successful acceptance vibration test and operation of the photodetectors and light emitting diodes (LEDs) were confirmed. 

Similarly, the SERC payload was integrated into the Faraday-1 cubesat and successfully passed vibration and environmental testing with no critical issues identified as previously mentioned. Photodetector and beacon assemblies also passed acceptance testing. 

Project lead: SERC

Researchers: Benjamin Sheard, Mike Petkovic, Andrew Bish

Participants: SERC

Non Participants: UNSW Canberra, The Solution Centre

The M1 satellite with the SERC hosted payload was launched on 3 December 2018 by SpaceX as a part of a dedicated rideshare mission, SSO-A SmallSat Express. Operations did not commence as the satellite failed on-orbit. 

SERC has been recognised as a scientific/educational organisation for the purpose of the Act for an Overseas Launch Certificate. SERC was granted the overseas launch certificate necessary for the launch of the Faraday-1 mission. 

Faraday-1 was integrated by InSpace Missions Limited from the UK for a planned launch by RocketLab from New Zealand. The launch for this mission took place in July 2020 however the rocket failed to reach orbit. Calibration experiments for the AO and laser system were planned to commence after the post launch spacecraft checkout had been completed.