Overview of the NPS Spacecraft Architecture and Technology Demonstration Satellite, NPSAT1

Abstract

This paper describes the overall design of NPSAT1, a low-cost, technology demonstration satellite which hosts a number of experiments. The command and data handling (C&DH) subsystem is built on commercial, desktop PC architecture, and standards-based specifications. Combining PC hardware and a PC/104 interface bus with the robust Linux operating system software offers a means of addressing the uncertainty and difficulty of managing space systems software. NPSAT1 will also demonstrate the use of nonvolatile ferroelectric RAM which is inherently radiationtolerant. Lithium-ion polymer batteries are another state-of-the-art technology that will be employed offering high energy density for space applications. A novel, low-cost, low-power attitude control subsystem providing coarse, three-axis stabilization will also be implemented using only magnetic torquers as actuators and a three-axis magnetometer for sensor input.