Payload

Overview

This page contains all mission-specific ArcticSat payload information. The ArcticSat payload comprises a large deployable cylindrical antenna and a passive microwave radiometer which will be used for sea ice monitoring in the Arctic.  

Mission and Systems Level Requirements Impact Assessment

Mechanical

The driving mission and system-level requirements for the payload are shown below:

• R-ARC-MIS-001: The mission shall be capable of measuring novel ice data at TBD locations every TBD minutes.

  • R-ARC-BUS-174: The bus shall be capable of distinguishing between sea ice and open water from an altitude of 660km.

  • R-ARC-BUS-116: The bus shall have a pointing accuracy of at least TBD.

See Valispace for more information on requirements.

Electrical and Software

The payload for this mission is different than the Iris project and involves a new design with a large deployable radar antenna operating at 18.7GHz. With new payload design comes new architecture and requirements needed for the payload electronics and software. 

The driving mission and system level electrical and software requirements for the payload are shown below:

• R-ARC-MIS-011: The mission shall have a maximum payload data age of TBD.

• R-ARC-PLD-001: The payload shall contain a 18.70 GHz horizontal polarized antenna. 

• R-ARC-PLD-003: The payload shall contain a reflector dish with a minimum diameter of 30.00 cm.

See Valispace for more information on requirements.

Potential obstacles present with the electronics and software of the payload are:

• Construction of an antenna that will retrieve data that meets our goals and requirements.

• How much power will be needed for the payload and this specific new antenna. 

• Handling and transferring the data that the new antenna receives and sending it off to the CDH subsystem.

• Finding out and maintaining the correct maximum payload data age. 

Payload Block Diagrams

The following diagrams illustrate the functionality of the ArcticSat payload. The four main functions are deploying, pointing, sensing, and communication. These main functions are flowed down into actions performed by the payload.

The system block diagram shows how the different parts of the payload interact with each other and other subsystems to complete its functions. The payload's main interfaces will be with power, mechanical, thermal, and CDH.

The function of the deployment mechanism is outlined in the following diagram. 

The functional flow will be the similar regardless of the deployment concept. However, the actual components used will depend on which design concept is selected. The current design concepts under consideration include a cylindrical reflector antenna. 

Schematics

The schematics for the payload radiometer as designed in Altium are shown below

Payload BOM

The BOM for the payload radiometer board and antenna is shown below.

It should be noted that while the material contents of some electrical hardware are unknown, all electronic components will be conformally coated using Arathane 5750 (or equivalent conformal coating material), allowing compliance with outgassing from non-metallic components and hazardous materials that may not have been identified.

PCB Layout [Engineering Model]