LIST launches nanosatellite to show power harvesting in area
by Robert Schreiber
Berlin, Germany (SPX) Jun 18, 2024
The Luxembourg Institute of Science and Expertise (LIST) has launched its CubeSat challenge, LIST-SAT-01, marking the primary Luxembourgish nanosatellite initiative with an in-house scientific experiment. This challenge goals to check and advance applied sciences developed at LIST, growing their Expertise Readiness Degree (TRL) and attaining flight heritage for on-board applied sciences.
On the core of the CubeSat challenge is a nanosatellite weighing 1.2 kilograms, that includes a thermal power harvester with pyroelectric supplies developed by LIST. This expertise just lately obtained the European Analysis Council (ERC) Superior Grant.
“The scientific objectives of the CubeSat challenge revolve round demonstrating the expertise of an power harvesting system,” stated Olivier Bouton, challenge supervisor. “The satellite tv for pc will harvest power from temperature cycles induced by its orbit.” Because the satellite tv for pc orbits Earth, its orientation will differ, inflicting temperature fluctuations that will probably be used to reap power.
The CubeSat will embrace three applied sciences developed by LIST:
– Pyroelectric Power Harvester: Produces electrical energy from warmth modulation in area.
– Tremendous Black Coating: Absorbs and emits thermal radiation effectively.
– Inkjet Printed Sensors: Thermal gauges to observe the payload experiment in area.
The challenge goals to show the system’s efficiency of those three applied sciences working collectively. The black physique absorbs photo voltaic radiation effectively, heating up throughout solar publicity and emitting warmth throughout eclipses, enhancing total power seize. This technique goals to enrich conventional photovoltaic panels and mitigate sensitivity to radiation-induced degradation and ballistic impacts of orbiting particles.
Analysis Collaboration
The CubeSat challenge is a collaboration amongst 4 companions, with LIST because the coordinator and CSUM (College Area Heart Montpellier, France) as the principle contributor. The challenge additionally includes radio newbie golf equipment F8KGY ARRT (Thionville, France) and ADRAD Kayldall LX9AK (Rumelange, Luxembourg) for radiocommunication between the CubeSat and the bottom station.
CSUM has experience in designing, creating, testing, and working nanosatellites. The satellite tv for pc will probably be based mostly on their present space-qualified platform.
The CubeSat launch is scheduled for January 2026, with the challenge initiated in September 2023. The timeline consists of system definition and specification in 2023-2024, manufacturing and debugging in 2024-2025, qualification checks in late 2025, and operation in area after the early 2026 launch, lasting at the least one 12 months.
“This challenge brings collectively complementary experience and expertise of various groups inside the division of Supplies (MRT) of LIST,” stated Jerome Polesel, Expertise and Innovation Supervisor at LIST. “It’s the first time that such power harvesting expertise will probably be applied in a satellite tv for pc, aiming to synergize our completely different know-hows.
This flagship challenge is really a giant supply of motivation for our technical employees.” The CubeSat challenge additionally goals to create alternatives for additional growth of payload expertise and pave the best way for future demonstration missions of different LIST applied sciences. “As one of many first scientific Luxembourgish nanosatellites, the initiative aligns completely with the supplies division’s strategic initiative’s ‘Flagship demos’ goal, which focuses on extremely bold real-scale demonstrations of superior end-products,” added Jerome Polesel.
Associated Hyperlinks
Luxembourg Institute of Science and Expertise
Area Expertise Information – Purposes and Analysis