LIST launches nanosatellite to display power harvesting in area
by Robert Schreiber
Berlin, Germany (SPX) Jun 18, 2024
The Luxembourg Institute of Science and Expertise (LIST) has launched its CubeSat undertaking, LIST-SAT-01, marking the primary Luxembourgish nanosatellite initiative with an in-house scientific experiment. This undertaking goals to check and advance applied sciences developed at LIST, growing their Expertise Readiness Degree (TRL) and reaching flight heritage for on-board applied sciences.
On the core of the CubeSat undertaking is a nanosatellite weighing 1.2 kilograms, that includes a thermal power harvester with pyroelectric supplies developed by LIST. This expertise not too long ago acquired the European Analysis Council (ERC) Superior Grant.
“The scientific targets of the CubeSat undertaking revolve round demonstrating the expertise of an power harvesting system,” mentioned Olivier Bouton, undertaking supervisor. “The satellite tv for pc will harvest power from temperature cycles induced by its orbit.” Because the satellite tv for pc orbits Earth, its orientation will range, inflicting temperature fluctuations that will likely be used to reap power.
The CubeSat will embody three applied sciences developed by LIST:
– Pyroelectric Vitality Harvester: Produces electrical energy from warmth modulation in area.
– Tremendous Black Coating: Absorbs and emits thermal radiation effectively.
– Inkjet Printed Sensors: Thermal gauges to observe the payload experiment in area.
The undertaking goals to display the system’s efficiency of those three applied sciences working collectively. The black physique absorbs photo voltaic radiation effectively, heating up throughout solar publicity and emitting warmth throughout eclipses, enhancing total power seize. This technique goals to enrich conventional photovoltaic panels and mitigate sensitivity to radiation-induced degradation and ballistic impacts of orbiting particles.
Analysis Collaboration
The CubeSat undertaking is a collaboration amongst 4 companions, with LIST because the coordinator and CSUM (College House Middle Montpellier, France) as the principle contributor. The undertaking additionally entails radio beginner golf equipment F8KGY ARRT (Thionville, France) and ADRAD Kayldall LX9AK (Rumelange, Luxembourg) for radiocommunication between the CubeSat and the bottom station.
CSUM has experience in designing, growing, testing, and working nanosatellites. The satellite tv for pc will likely be primarily based on their current space-qualified platform.
The CubeSat launch is scheduled for January 2026, with the undertaking initiated in September 2023. The timeline contains system definition and specification in 2023-2024, manufacturing and debugging in 2024-2025, qualification assessments in late 2025, and operation in area after the early 2026 launch, lasting a minimum of one yr.
“This undertaking brings collectively complementary experience and abilities of various groups throughout the division of Supplies (MRT) of LIST,” mentioned Jerome Polesel, Expertise and Innovation Supervisor at LIST. “It’s the first time that such power harvesting expertise will likely be carried out in a satellite tv for pc, aiming to synergize our totally different know-hows.
This flagship undertaking is really a giant supply of motivation for our technical workers.” The CubeSat undertaking additionally goals to create alternatives for additional improvement of payload expertise and pave the best way for future demonstration missions of different LIST applied sciences. “As one of many first scientific Luxembourgish nanosatellites, the initiative aligns completely with the supplies division’s strategic initiative’s ‘Flagship demos’ goal, which focuses on extremely formidable real-scale demonstrations of superior end-products,” added Jerome Polesel.
Associated Hyperlinks
Luxembourg Institute of Science and Expertise
House Expertise Information – Functions and Analysis
