SNAP-1
| Mission type | Technology |
|---|---|
| Operator | University of Surrey |
| COSPAR ID | 2000-033C[1] |
| SATCAT no. | 26386 |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Manufacturer | University of Surrey |
| Launch mass | 6.5 kilograms (14 lb) |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 28 June 2000, 12:13:00 UTC |
| Rocket | 132/1 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Low Earth |
| Perigee altitude | 666 kilometres (414 mi) |
| Apogee altitude | 682 kilometres (424 mi) |
| Inclination | 98.1 deg |
| Period | 98.2 minutes |
SNAP-1 is a British nanosatellite in
University of Surrey. It was launched on 28 June 2000 on board a Kosmos-3M rocket from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northern Russia.[4] It shared the launch with a Russian Nadezhda
search and relay spacecraft and the Chinese Tsinghua-1 microsatellite.
Mission
The objectives of the SNAP-1 mission were to:[2]
- Develop and prove a modular commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) based nanosatellite bus.
- Evaluate new manufacturing techniques and technologies.
- Image the Tsinghua-1 microsatellite during its deployment (timed to occur a few seconds after the deployment of SNAP-1).
- Demonstrate the systems required for future nanosatellite constellations. For example: three-axis attitude control, Global Positioning System (GPS) based orbit determination, and orbital manoeuvres.
- Depending on propellant availability, rendezvous with Tsinghua-1 and demonstrate formation flying.
During deployment, SNAP-1 successfully imaged the Nadezhda and Tsinghua-1 satellites that accompanied it on the launch.[5][6][7] Once in orbit, SNAP-1 achieved three axis attitude control,[8] then demonstrated its orbital maintenance capability using its butane cold gas propulsion system.[9]
Architecture
The 6.5 kilograms (14 lb) SNAP-1 satellite contained the following modules:[10]
- Power System[11]
- VHFReceiver
- S-band Transmitter[12]
- Attitude and Orbit Control System (AOCS)[8]
- Cold-Gas Propulsion (CGP) System[9]
- On-Board Computer (OBC)
- VHFspread-spectrum communications payload
- UHFinter-satellite link
- Machine Vision System (MVS)[5][6]
References
- ^ NASA, "SPACEWARN Bulletin", Number 560, 1 July 2000
- ^ a b C Underwood, G Richardson, J Savignol, "In-orbit results from the SNAP-1 nanosatellite and its future potential", Philosophical Transactions of The Royal Society, 2003
- ^ P Fortescue, J Stark, G Swinerd, "Spacecraft Systems Engineering", Third Edition, Wiley - Section 18.7, pages 597-599
- ^ "SSTL satellites launched on board Cosmos 3M booster", Flight International 4–10 July 2000, page 22
- ^ a b R Lancaster, "An optical remote inspection system for the Surrey Nanosatellite Applications Program", University of Surrey MSc thesis, 2001
- ^ a b R Lancaster, C Underwood, "The SNAP-1 Machine Vision System", 14th AIAA / USU Conference on Small Satellites, 2000
- ^ "SpaceFlight News", Flight International 17–23 October 2000, page 33
- ^ a b W H Steyn, Y Hashida, "In-Orbit Attitude Performance of the 3-Axis Stabilised SNAP-1 Nanosatellite", 15th AIAA / USU Conference on Small Satellites, 2001
- ^ a b D Gibbon, C Underwood, "Low Cost Butane Propulsion Systems for Small Spacecraft", 15th AIAA / USU Conference on Small Satellites, 2001
- ^ C Underwood, G Richardson, J Savignol, "SNAP-1: A Low Cost Modular COTS-Based Nano-Satellite – Design, Construction, Launch and Early Operations Phase", 15th AIAA / USU Conference on Small Satellites, 2001
- ^ C Clark, K Hall, "Power System Design and Performance on the World’s Most Advanced In-Orbit Nanosatellite", 6th European Space Power Conference, Porto, Portugal May 2002
- ^ Z Wahl, K Walker, J Ward, "Modular and Reusable Miniature Subsystems for Small Satellites: An Example Describing Surrey’s Nanosatellite S-Band Downlink", 14th AIAA / USU Conference on Small Satellites, 2000
