CaLeMPSat

CaLeMPSat [Nano Avionics]

CaLeMPSat (Cathode-Less Micro Propulsion Satellite) is a 12U Cubesat developed by SpaceSATS, Plasma Innovation Labs (PILS) and the Plasma Source and Application Center (PSAC) at the National Institute of Education (an autonomous institute of Nanyang Technological University) to demonstrate miniature Hall effect thrusters (HETs).

The CaLeMPSat mission will test miniature HETs that operate at power classes far below the 100W-class thrusters of today’s satellite industry. The research payload will consist of a 60 W HET, an integrated 30 W HET (in a 1.5U volume), and two 10 W Hall Effect Micro Jets (HEM-Jets). A 3-axial, 5-nozzle cold gas thruster will round out the experimental thruster payload.

The consortium will test additional miniaturized systems for plasma propulsion including:

• 8-channel gas feeding unit,
• plasma diagnostic unit,
• power processing and control unit,
• Earth magnetic field measurement unit.

Miniaturized HETs will allow nano-satellites to perform high-impulse maneuvers such as orbital maintenance or formation flying as well as the decommissioning maneuvers needed to minimize space debris.

NanoAvionics will provide its flight-proven nano-satellite bus in a 12U configuration, of which CaLeMPSat will occupy more than 9U of payload volume. To support that payload, the nano-satellite bus will provide an average orbit power generation exceeding 20W as well as UHF and S-band communications. The spacecraft’s orientation will be managed by NanoAvionics’ Attitude Control and Determination System which includes reaction wheels, magnetorquers, an IMU, GPS, solar sensors, and a star tracker.

NanoAvionics has committed to deliver the satellite bus before the end of February 2020 and SpaceSATS and its partners are targeting launch of CaLeMPSat in late 2020.