ENG 4360 - Payload Design

1.2 Introduction to Space Missions

Dr. Jinjun Shan, Associate Professor of Space Engineering
Department of Earth and Space Science and Engineering
Room 255, Petrie Science and Engineering Building
Tel: 416-736 2100 ext. 33854
Email: jjshan@yorku.ca
Homepage: http://www.yorku.ca/jjshan
Earth, Moon, Mars, and Beyond
Introduction to Space Missions 2
Spacecraft
A spacecraft is designed to leave Earth's atmosphere and
operate beyond the surface of the Earth in outer space.
Spacecraft may either be unmanned or manned vehicles.
Spacecraft are designed for a variety of missions which
may include communications, earth observation,
meteorology, navigation, planetary exploration, scientific
research, and so on. The term spacecraft is also used to
describe artificial satellites.
Dr. Jinjun Shan, Associate Professor of Space Engineering
Introduction to Space Missions 3
Spacecraft Typical Subsystems
Attitude control
Guidance, navigation, and control (GNC)
Communications
Command and data handling
Power
Thermal control
Propulsion
Structures
Payload
Ground system
Launch vehicle
Dr. Jinjun Shan, Associate Professor of Space Engineering
Introduction to Space Missions 4
Subsystem Attitude Control
Spacecraft need an attitude control subsystem in order that they
may be correctly oriented in space and respond to external torques
and forces properly. The attitude control subsystem consists of
sensors and actuators, together with controlling algorithms. The
attitude control subsystem permits proper pointing for the science
objective, sun pointing for power to the solar arrays and earth-
pointing for communications.
Sensors:
Inertial guidance system, Orbital Gyrocompassing, Sun sensor,
Star tracker, Earth horizon indicator
Actuators:
Thrusters, Momentum wheels, Precession, Solar sails, Mass
distribution or gravity gradient, Spin stabilization, Magnetic field
coils or permanent magnets, Pure passive attitude control
Dr. Jinjun Shan, Associate Professor of Space Engineering
Introduction to Space Missions 5
Subsystem GNC
Guidance refers to the calculation of the commands (usually done
by the CDH subsystem) needed to steer the spacecraft where it is
desired to be. Navigation means determining a spacecraft's orbital
elements or position. Control means adjusting the path of the
spacecraft to meet mission requirements. On some missions, GNC
and Attitude Control are combined into one subsystem of the
spacecraft
Navigation methods:
GPS, Space Sextant, Landmark Tracking, Earth and Star Sensing,
and so on.
Dr. Jinjun Shan, Associate Professor of Space Engineering
Introduction to Space Missions 6
Subsystem Communications
The communications subsystem, sometimes called the Telemetry,
Tracking, and Control (TT&C) subsystem serves as an interface
between the spacecraft and the ground system, or between the
spacecraft and other spacecraft. The communication subsystem
receives telecommands from the ground subsystem, and transmits
telemetry from the spacecraft.
Dr. Jinjun Shan, Associate Professor of Space Engineering
Introduction to Space Missions 7
Subsystem Command and Data Handling
The CDH subsystem receives commands from the communications
subsystem, performs validation and decoding of the commands,
and distributes the commands the appropriate spacecraft
subsystems and components. The CDH also receives
housekeeping data and science data from the other spacecraft
subsystems and components, and packages the data for storage
on a Solid State Recorder or transmission to the ground via the
communications subsystem. Other function of the CDH include
maintaining the spacecraft clock and state-of-health monitoring
(colloquially "watchdog").
Dr. Jinjun Shan, Associate Professor of Space Engineering
Introduction to Space Missions 8
Subsystem Power
Spacecraft need an electrical power generation and distribution
subsystem for powering the various spacecraft subsystems. For
spacecraft near the Sun, solar panels are frequently used to
generate electrical power. Spacecraft designed to operate in more
distant locations, for example J upiter, might employ a Radioisotope
Thermoelectric Generator (RTG) to generate electrical power.
Electrical power is sent through power conditioning equipment
before it passes through a power distribution unit over an electrical
bus to other spacecraft components. A battery (or batteries) are
typically connected to the bus via a battery charge regulator, and
the battery is used to provide electrical power during periods when
primary power is not available, for example when a Low Earth Orbit
(LEO) spacecraft is eclipsed by the Earth.
Dr. Jinjun Shan, Associate Professor of Space Engineering
Introduction to Space Missions 9
Subsystem Thermal Control
Spacecraft must be engineered to withstand transit through the
Earth's atmosphere and the space environment. They must operate
in a vacuum with temperatures potentially ranging across hundreds
of degrees Celsius. Depending on mission profile, spacecraft may
also need to operate on the surface of another planetary body.
Dr. Jinjun Shan, Associate Professor of Space Engineering
Introduction to Space Missions 10
Subsystem Propulsion
Spacecraft may or may not have a propulsion subsystem,
depending upon whether or not the mission profile calls for
propulsion. The Swift spacecraft is an example of a spacecraft that
does not have a propulsion subsystem. Typically though, LEO
spacecraft include a propulsion subsystem for altitude adjustments
(called drag make-up maneuvers) and inclination adjustment
maneuvers. A propulsion system is also needed for spacecraft that
perform momentum management maneuvers. Components of a
propulsion subsystem include fuel, tankage, valves, pipes, and
thrusters. The TCS interfaces with the propulsion subsystem by
monitoring the temperature of those components, and by pre-
heating tanks and thrusters in preparation for a spacecraft
maneuver.
Dr. Jinjun Shan, Associate Professor of Space Engineering
Introduction to Space Missions 11
Subsystem Structures
Spacecraft must be engineered to withstand launch loads imparted
by the launch vehicle, and must have a point of attachment for all
the other subsystems. Depending upon mission profile, the
structural subsystem might need to withstand loads imparted by
entry into the atmosphere of another planetary body, and landing
on the surface of another planetary body.
Dr. Jinjun Shan, Associate Professor of Space Engineering
Introduction to Space Missions 12
Subsystem Payload
The payload is dependent upon the mission of the spacecraft, and
is typically regarded as the part of the spacecraft "that pays the
bills". Typical payloads could include scientific instruments
(cameras, telescopes, or particle detectors, etc.), cargo, or a
human crew.
Dr. Jinjun Shan, Associate Professor of Space Engineering
Introduction to Space Missions 13
Subsystem Ground System
The ground system, though not technically part of the spacecraft, is
vital to the operation of the spacecraft. Typical components of a
ground system in use during normal operations include a mission
operations facility where the flight operations team conducts the
operations of the spacecraft, a data processing and storage facility,
ground stations to radiate signals to and receive signals from the
spacecraft, and a voice and data communications network to
connect all mission elements.
Dr. Jinjun Shan, Associate Professor of Space Engineering
Introduction to Space Missions 14
Subsystem Launch Vehicle
The launch vehicle is used propel the spacecraft from the Earth's
surface, through the atmosphere, and into an orbit, the exact orbit
being dependent upon mission configuration. The launch vehicle
may be expendable or reusable.
Dr. Jinjun Shan, Associate Professor of Space Engineering
Introduction to Space Missions 15
Space Mission Types
Earth Science
Communication
International
Domestic
Direct broadcast
Miltary
Earth observer
Weather
Navigation
Astronomy
Military
Surveillance
Early waring
Nuclear detection
Intelligence
Anti-satellite
Planetary & Lunar Exploration
Lunar
Mercury
Venus
Mars
Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
Neptune
Comet
Asteroid
Manned
Unmanned
Flyby
Probe
Orbiter
Lander
Rover
Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
Medium Earth Orbit (ICO or MEO)
Geosynchronous Orbit (GEO)
Geostationary Orbit (GSO)
High Earth Orbit (HEO)
Dr. Jinjun Shan, Associate Professor of Space Engineering
Introduction to Space Missions 16
Countries with satellite launch capability
First launch by country, from Wikipedia
Dr. Jinjun Shan, Associate Professor of Space Engineering
Introduction to Space Missions 17
Some Space Missions
Sputnik 1 - 4 October 1957 - 1st Earth Orbiter
Luna 1 - 2 J anuary 1959 - 1st Lunar Flyby
Vostok 1 - 12 April 1961 - 1st Manned Space Mission
Mariner 2 - 27 August 1962 - 1st Venus Flyby
Mariner 4 - 28 November 1964 - 1st Mars Flyby
Voskhod 2 - 18 March 1965 - 1st Person to walk in space
Gemini 6 & 7 - December 15, 1965 - 1st Space Rendezvous
Luna 9 - 31 J anuary 1966 - 1st Lunar Lander
Zond 5 - 15 September 1968 - 1st Lunar Flyby and Return to Earth
Apollo 11 - 16 J uly 1969 - 1st Manned Lunar Landing
Luna 17/Lunokhod 1 - 10 November 1970 - 1st Lunar Rover
Mars 3 - 28 May 1971 - 1st Mars Lander
Salyut 1 - April 19 1971 - 1st Space Station
Pioneer 10 - 3 March 1972 - 1st J upiter Flyby and 1st to leave solar system
Anik 1 - 9 November 1972 - 1st geostationary communications satellite
Columbia - April 12 1981 - 1st Space Shuttle, destroyed in 2003
Mir - February 19 1986 - Space Station with longest in-orbit operation
Galileo - 18 October 1989 - 1st Asteroid Flyby
Hubble Space Telescope - April 24 1990 - Most Important Telescope
Mars Pathfinder - 4 December 1996 - Mars Lander and 1st Mars Rover
Dr. Jinjun Shan, Associate Professor of Space Engineering
Introduction to Space Missions 18
Canadian Role in Space Technology
Alouette
Anik
RADARSAT
Canadarm
Canadarm2
Many Canadian successes in payload design Canadarm,
Canadarm2, Radarsat 1 and 2, MOST.
In fact, governmental investment in space industry largely focused
on payload systems since early 1970s.
Most commercial activity also focused on payload and information
services.
Dr. Jinjun Shan, Associate Professor of Space Engineering
Introduction to Space Missions 19
1.3 Akins Laws of Spacecraft Design
Dr. Jinjun Shan, Associate Professor of Space Engineering