NPS-SCAT : Systems Engineering and payload subsystem design, integration, and testing of NPS' first CubeSat

Abstract

The Naval Postgraduate School's first CubeSat, the NPS Solar Cell Array Tester (NPS-SCAT), demonstrates the capability of the CubeSat form factor as a technology test bed by implementing a single experiment--a solar cell tester. The need to validate solar cell performance on orbit, in the harsh space environment, is recurring with the continued development of advanced, untested solar cells. By using a relatively inexpensive platform, the CubeSat, such solar cells can be tested and the risk for larger satellites mitigated with this experiment. This thesis discusses the design and construction process of the solar cell array tester payload along with its integration with the remaining satellite subsystems (command and data handling subsystem, communications subsystem, and electrical power subsystem) including the problems encountered along the way and the chosen solutions. In addition, the systems engineering and testing procedures developed for and conducted on the satellite engineering design unit will be described in detail.