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The ILSE laboratory satellite model is the first step of the
Small Satellite Program at the University of Stuttgart.
The program's long term goal is the launch and operation
of small satellites in orbit for evaluation of new technologies
and Earth Observation. The completion of several micro-satellites
is planned by the end of the decade. The first satellite, Flying Laptop,
should be placed in orbit by the end of 2006 to be used in a 'rent-a-sat' mode.
ILSE's first hardware was designed by three graduate students:
A cubical laboratory satellite, named ILSE, with an edge
length of about 50 cm was developed for testing purposes.
ILSE is a full working model with similar functionality
as the future flying prototype. To allow a development timeframe
of less than one year, mostly standard commercial off-the-shelf
components (i.e. non-space-qualified parts) are used. Since
the laboratory satellite needs to be fully autonomous and
without any external connection it has to contain its own
power source. The power source consists of three solar panels
of which two are deployable. Furthermore the satellite is
equipped with three video cameras (visible, NIR and TIR)
and a high resolution digital CCD photo camera for Earth
Observation. ILSE is controlled from its on-board computer
and communicates with the ground via a telemetry and telecommand
radio link. For acquisition of image sequences the video
signal can be recorded. The transmission is conducted with
the ground station via a separate high bandwidth analog
radio link. To simulate target pointing and attitude movement
in general, ILSE is capable of being fully rotated around
the azimuth axis and up to ±30° in elevational
direction.
The laboratory satellite ILSE was completed in Sept. 2003
and was demonstrated during the 54th IAF Congress in Bremen
showing full functionality.
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