New Technology for Handling Small Satellite Controls Has Been Developed

The technology of effectively handling controls over small spacecrafts with solar cell panels was developed by scientists from Samara University. In their opinion, its application will improve the quality of the Earth remote sensing. The study results are published in the high-rank scientific journal “Technologies”.

Small spacecrafts are artificial satellites of the Earth, or interplanetary technical devices intended for performing various tasks in outer space and having a relatively small mass (compared to other spacecrafts).

The University’s scientists are developing new technologies for effectively handling controls over small spacecrafts, so that they could successfully perform tasks of the Earth remote sensing.

New technologies must consider various interfering sources affecting the satellite movement. For small spacecrafts with solar cell panels, one of these factors is temperature shock. Previously, researchers from Samara University has already developed the method for assessing the risk of thermal shock for small spacecraft.

According to Andrey Sedelnikov, Professor at General Designer D. I. Kozlov Department of Space Engineering, Samara University, the scientists have recently set the goal to develop a new technology for handling controls over such devices in conditions of temperature shock.

“We mathematically modeled the solar cell panel deformation in conditions of thermal shock and created the new technology for handling controls over the small spacecraft. And we also proved that applying this technology will improve performance of the Earth remote sensing”, said the professor.

According to Sedelnikov, solving the problem was participated by a team of young postgraduates and students from Samara University. In future, the researchers will have to develop a principle for handling controls over small spacecrafts, given thermal shock, for reducing its negative impact on the quality of images of the Earth to be taken from outer space.

Samara University is a participant in the Russian State University-Support Program “Priority 2030” of the National Project “Science and Universities”.

Source: RIA Novosti