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DOSS

DOSS (side panels omitted) [Stanford University]

DOSS (Differential Optical Shadow Sensor) is a 3U CubeSat mission of the University of Florida (UFL), Stanford University, KACST and NASA to demonstrate the feasibility of a Gravitational Reference Sensor (GRS) with an optical readout for a drag-free CubeSat mission.

The Drag-Free CubeSat is designed to shield a 25.4 mm spherical test mass (TM) from external non-gravitational forces and to minimize the effect of internal generated disturbances. The position of the TM relative to the spacecraft is then sensed by the GRS with an advanced LED-based Differential Optical Shadow Sensor (DOSS). This position is used in a control system to command a micro-propulsion system and to constrain the CubeSat orbit to that of the TM. In principle, the TM is then freed of all forces but gravity and the hosting spacecraft also follows a purely geodesic orbit.

For the DOSS missions the areas of research are:

  • Drag-free control algorithm
  • In-orbit performance evaluation
  • Environmental modeling and optimization (thermal, electro-magnetic)

A precursor experiment was flown on the Saudisat 4 satellite.

The DOSS cubesat was apparently cancelled.

Nation: USA
Type / Application: Technology
Operator: University of Florida (UFL), Stanford University, KACST and NASA
Contractors: University of Florida (UFL), Stanford University, KACST and NASA
Equipment: DOSS
Configuration: CubeSat (3U)
Propulsion: None
Power: Solar cells, batteries
Lifetime:
Mass:
Orbit:
Satellite COSPAR Date LS Launch Vehicle Remarks
DOSS - with ?

References:

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