Lesson 3: Design for Remote
Sensing
Your Mission 1; just like a real CubeSat
Design for Remote Sensing
• Class structure:
– 1. Real satellite sensing equipment and relation to
Mission 1 sensors
– 2. Mission 1 sensor instructions
Real Satellite example and Mission 1
Measure
what?
Why?
Example Mission
Satellite
sensing
equipment
Your Mission 1
sensor how?
Force
Drag force leads to
satellite orbit decay
(falling towards
Earth)
Drag and
Atmospheric
Neutral Density
Explorer Satellite
(DANDE)
more info
Accelerometer Force Sensitive
& neutral mass Resistor 0.5”
spectrometer
Magnetic
field
For example to
understand Earth’s
interior: earthquake
prediction
ESA SWARM and
more info
Very precise
Reed switch
magnetometer
and magneto
torques.
Measure
what?
Why?
Example Mission Satellite
sensing
equipment
Your Mission 1
sensor how?
Infrared
signal
From infrared
temperature data the
sea temperature can
be estimated
The Ocean
Surface
Topography
Mission (OSTM)
on the Jason-2
satellite
Infrared
spectrometer
with
integrated
optics
Optical Detector /
Phototransistor
Attitude
Maintaining the
correct orientation is
extremely important
for either taking
images or collecting
solar power
OPS-SAT
Attitude
Tilt-ball switch
Determinatio
n and Control
System
Vibration /
Acceleration
Remote sensing
satellites need to
make sure there are
no vibrations in the
structure before
taking images.
Rosetta MicroImaging Dust
Analysis System
(MIDAS)
Piezo electric
sensors
Vibration sensor
Other value of Remote Sensing
• What would you measure to determine the optimal
location for solar panel placement?
Mission 1 Sensors
• Review the resources for more detailed
information on the Mission 1 sensors and how
they operate.