Rubin 2 (AATiS-OSCAR 49, AO 49)

Rubin 2 [AATiS]

Rubin 2 is a small satellite for technology demonstration, privately owned and developed by Fuchs Group (OHB System and Carlo Gavazzi Space). Rubin 2 will be placed in a circular orbit, with an inclination of 65°, at a height of 650 km. The gyroscopic stability is obtained spinning the S/C. The satellite is sun-pointing, with the solar panels placed on the upper face of the S/C. The OCE (in-Orbit teChnology Experiment set), designed and developed by Carlo Gavazzi Space, leading a number of industrial and university partners, is one of the technological payload for the RUBIN-2 mission. It has in charge to validate a group of technological experiments, and to test an experimental propulsion subsystem, that would be used for orbit and/or attitude control of a small satellite. In this mission, it will be used to increase the spin rate of the spacecraft.

To achieve the mission objective the OCE system is composed by:

• GPS (receiver and antenna) for precise orbit determination.
• Propulsion Subsystem for the spin maneuver.
• Data handling (based on ADSP21020 processor) for the overall experiment monitoring and control.
• Lithium-Ion battery, to provide the required energy to the experiment.
• High Voltage section, to provide the thruster with its required voltage level.

In addition, other four technological experiment will be part of OCE / Rubin 2:

• The ORBCOMM transponder, used for the OCE telemetry and telecommand.
• SAFIR-M, a VHF Radio-Amateur transmitter as backup TM-TC equipment.
• Experimental solar cells, based on a "not-space-qualified" technology.
• A deployment mechanism, based on a SMA (Shape Memory Alloy) wire as actuator, to be tested as an alternative to pyrotechnics.

The SAFIR-M payload is also designated AATiS-OSCAR, AO-49 or OSCAR 49.