The Curium 5 project is designed around the development of 6U CubeSats, using components primarily sourced from commercial manufacturers. We utilize a launch opportunity from the DLR microlauncher competition 2022. The mission aims to foster a profound technical comprehension and open development environment, instrumental in the creation of high-quality components at prices significantly below market rates. The knowledge and expertise gained from this endeavor will benefit future open-source satellite missions.
Lastly, deploying commercial hardware of consumer and industrial quality can demonstrate the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of these components for space missions. We are also considering involving external stakeholders in payload development. A collaboration with the German Aerospace Center and the University of Vienna will facilitate the integration of a novel, laser-based quantum computer, marking its inaugural deployment in space.
PCB assembly & dispenser design
Mechanical prototype
The Curium 5 CubeSat mission aims at pushing the limits of what's achievable in CubeSat development and production within a cost-effective framework. The project's key objectives include:
- Acquiring experience in designing and producing CubeSat buses with commercial components of consumer and industrial quality.
- Leveraging mostly passive gravity gradient attitude stabilization and active magnetorquers.
- Demonstrating the ability to generate and process data onboard.
- Using hardware and software based on UpSat, but customized to suit our needs.
- Utilizing the SatNOGS ground station network for uplink and downlink.
We are a student team of six: Paul (space engineering, TU Berlin), Jakob (space engineering, TU Berlin), Johann (business, HU Berlin), Johannes (engineering, TU Berlin), Toni (computer science, DLR & university of vienna), Marcus (computer science, Hasso-Plattner-Institue), Pujan (mechanical engineering, TU Berlin).
In cooperation with HPI operating system and middleware chair the project will include research for a master thesis. In cooperation with University of Viennas walther group and DLR remote sensing institute a laser-based quantum computer will be developed as satellite payload and part of an PHD.
Based on on Upsat, Qubik designs.
- Size: 4x 6U CubeSats (113 x 226 x 340mm)
- Weight: <8 Kg
- Every subsystem is independent and computer-controlled (modularity)
- Solar cells: Monocrystalline Si cells mounted on the satellite body, which supply the CubeSat's systems and payloads with power.
- Power: minimum 2-5 W average for payload, higher burst loads possible
- Energy storage: Temperature-resilient Lithium-Titanate or Lithium-Iron-Phosphate Battery
- Magnetorquer for detumbling
- Amateur radio bands for uplink and downlink, with a data transfer rate of up to 9.6 kbps
- Usage of ground station network SatNOGS
- Antenna: simple monopole antennas with orthogonal radiation patterns to achieve quasi-isotropic radiation properties.
- Computer: STM32H7 based
- Sensors:
- Temperature sensors
- Cameras
- IMU
- Further scientific payload from DLR for the investigation of the behavior of a single-photon-based quantum chip
- Launch vehicle: Vega 5 & RFA ONE
- Launch dates: December 23 & July 24
- Estimated lifespan: >3 months, targeted at multiple years depending on payload
- Design of a proprietary satellite deployer (ejection after rocket launch).
- Based on a reliable electromechanical system
- Deployer for RFA rocket