Bus & Payload

ABCS is a small 3U CubeSat of about 10x10x30 cm in dimensions and a weight of approximately 5 kg.

ABCS will will spend a significant part of the orbital period within the internal Van Allen belt, close to its maximum, where it will be affected by a very high flux of charged particles. This have deadly effects on electronics in terms of accumulated dose effects and single events.

In order to guarantee ABCS operation for the time required to perform the payload experiments, a shielding is integrated in the satellite structure. Moreover, an inner pressurized box hosts the experiments and the main subsystems.

Primary Payload

The Lab-on-Chip (LoC) inserted in a readout board, an interface board containing pumps and drivers for pumps, RADFETs (radiation field effect transistors) and pressure/temperature sensors. The objective of the primary payload is to make use of Lateral Flow Immunoassay (LFIA) to assess light detection of immobilized target molecules within the chip exploiting chemiluminescence reactions. The readout board measures currents from the Lab-On-Chip sensors. Pumps are controlled by drivers and they inject fluid in the LoC. RADFETs measure the radiation dose, and the sensors measure pressure and temperature to ensure experiment’s proper conditions.

Ancillary Radiation Dose Sensors (ARDS)

Degradation of different kinds of electronic components is investigated by exposing them to the harsh environment found in this orbit. The exposed devices have twin components protected by established radiation screens, kindly provided by Thales Alenia Space Italia and by CESI, so that degradation can be assessed on the basis of the difference between the observed currents.

Electrical Power System (EPS)

The EPS is based on a photovoltaic primary source of electrical energy, and a multibus configuration, consisting of a main unregulated bus at 7 V, and regulated 5V and 3.3V secondary busses. Power is distributed to single loads via dedicated Latching Current Limiters.

Thermal Control System (TCS)

Both active and passive control. Passive control includes Multi Layer Insulation (MLI), while active control features a heather in proximity to the battery.

On-Board Data Handling (OBDH)

Managed by Abacus OBC, iteceives science data packages from both payloads (currents readings from both primary and secondary payloads), commands and controls payload data acquisitions, telemetry, data storage, beacon and science data package scheduling for transmission.

Telemetry, Tracking & Control (TT&C)

Composed of ABCS radio and antenna, it communicates with the ground station at the School of Aerospace Engineering in Rome, which receives telemetry and data and send uplink commands, and with radio amateurs, which receives telemetry and data.

All the mentioned subsystem are allocated in the pressurized box.