Post-MISSION Updates
10.10.2017: D-Sat has concluded its mission, proving that D-Orbit Decommissioning Device (D3) is a flight-ready technology that can be integrated into the next-generation satellites. All subsystems, onboard sensors, and actuators have been working perfectly throughout the mission, and all three experiments — DeCAS, Atmosphere Analyzer, and SatAlert — produced remarkable scientific contributions.
In D-Sat’s design for redundancy, critical software, manufacturing, flawless orbital performance, and flight-worthiness of D3, we have achieved most of our mission's key objectives: the goal of a direct and controlled decommissioning, however, was not achieved.
During the final phase of the mission, D-Sat successfully fire-tested the onboard D-Orbit Decommissioning Device (D3). The satellite moved into an elliptical orbit with a different inclination, compliant with orbital debris regulations. All objectives related to motor ignition and operation process were achieved, and the change in orbital parameters confirmed that the motor produced the expected thrust. Our team was able to re-acquire the signal of the satellite after the maneuver, and collect further data for analysis.
According to a preliminary analysis, the cause for the missed reentry of the satellite is related to the interface between the D3 and the small satellite: the alignment of the motor with the spacecraft’s center of gravity resulted to be outside the designed tolerance. While we had put in place strategies to mitigate this outcome, we knew we had little margin to play with considering that the D3 installed onboard was designed for satellites one order of magnitude bigger.
As in any space mission we had to make a tradeoff that included a calculated risk, i.e. by not installing a thrust vector control for the solid propellant motor because it would have been not suitable for the volume available in such a small satellite. The same D3 installed into a bigger satellite would allow a sufficiently reasonable misalignment tolerance between the motor and the spacecraft’s center of gravity. The adoption of a thrust vector control will also remove the tolerance issue.
We are proud of the work of our team, which is currently collecting further data.
MISSION Updates
20.09.2017: D-Sat successfully completed of the orbital segment of the mission; it completed an eleven-week flight plan, during which D-Sat performed multiple iterations of SatAlert and DeCas experiments. For more information visit the section Experiments in The Mission page.
16.07.2017: So far, D-Sat has traveled more than 12 million km.
The satellite is performing two of the three independent experiments we have carried on board (SatAlert and DeCas experiment).
01.07.2017: The team is keeping its health in check through different LEOP (Launch and Early Operations Phase) tests and they will soon start testing the GPS and calibrating its sensors.
The team also was recently able to determine D-Sat's NORAD catalog number, which means that now Radio Hams as well will be able to acquire its signal.
29.06.2017: D-Sat completed its 100th orbits!
25.06.2017: Today the team was able to establish a link for 9 full minutes and download everything they needed to study D-Sat's behavior along the orbit. Here's a waterfall chart showing the intensity of the signal against frequency and time.
23.06.2017: During the first window of visibility, a few hours after launch, the team was already able to acquire the signal and receive the first telemetry. D-Sat is doing great... and it's quite chatty!
23.06.2017: The mission was successfully launched from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in India atop a PSLV rocket.
Below, you can watch the feed of the launch!