Category: Target: Earth

The Challenge:

• Optical observations of resident space objects (RSOs) are typically conducted by leveraging ground and space-based telescopes as well as all-sky imagers
• Most observations are unresolved images – creating difficultly in determining RSO behavior such as pose estimation and health and de-conflicting closely-spaced objects
• Modelling and simulation (M&S) environments require validation and verification (V&V) to assert their usefulness à RSO dimensions and optical properties are not publicly available
• Algorithm development and atmospheric/orbital science would benefit from a calibrated optical target in orbit

Project Overview:

• Design and build a 12U CubeSat with optically calibrated panels for launch to geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO).
• Support the verification and validation of GTRI and government owned modeling and simulation environments.
• Collect multi-spectral data from Georgia Tech and government owned optical sensors such as OmniSSA and GT-SORT.
• Develop algorithims for pose determination, light curve inversion, and RSO identification and low-light detection and tracking.

Project Milestones:

• Complete: Initial modeling and simulation of OrCa light curves based on CAD model
• Complete: Sponsor approved design (27 Dec 2019)
• Complete: CubeSat assembly complete (10 Jan 2020)
• Complete: CubeSat testing & encapsulation (17 Jan 2020)
• Complete: OrCa launch (16 Mar 2020)
• Future: OrCa observations and data analysis

Deployment:

OrCa was launched on board of ULA Atlas V rocket and placed into a highly elliptical geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO).

Craft Overview:

ORCA is a 2 x 3 12U CubeSat. The CubeSat is solar-powered, and contains both solar cells and batteries.

Sources and Additional Information:

1. https://www.ae.gatech.edu/news/2020/03/all-eyes-cape-canaveral-latest-ae-cubesat-launch-march-26

Acronym	OrCa
Full Name	The Orbital Calibration Mission
Size	12U
Status	In Orbit
Launch Date	March 2020
NORAD ID
Principal Investigators	Brian GunterChris Valenta
Downlink Frequency

MISSE-12 is an external craft within the MISSE series aimed at testing various materials in the harsh environment of space. The crafts include ram, wake, zenith, and nadir exposures. (These are coordinate axes in the spacecraft-centered coordinate system.)

Craft Overview:

MISSE-12 was sent to the International Space Station (ISS) with three MISSE sample carriers (MSC’s). These are what house the different material samples which are to be tested in the vacuum of space. A total of 99 different samples were included aboard MISSE-11 to be tested. This increased the total number of MISSE samples to 349.

Results of the Mission:

The mission was a success. The ram and zenith MSC’s were returned to Earth aboard the SpaceX-20 Dragon capsule on April 7, 2020. The wake MSC was returned aboard the SpaceX-21 capsule on January 13, 2021.

Deployment:

MISSE-11 was taken to the ISS aboard Cygnus NG-11 on April 17, 2019. MISSE-11 was fastened onto the outside of the ISS on April 26, 2019. It was installed in the area known as the MISSE Flight Facility (MISSE-FF) near the ISS’s solar panels.

Sources and Additional Information:

1. https://www1.grc.nasa.gov/space/iss-research/misse/#introduction
2. https://www.nasa.gov/centers/armstrong/features/misse-11.html
3. https://spaceflight101.com/dragon-spx14/misse-ff/

Acronym	MISSE-11
Full Name	Materials International Space Station Experiment – 11
Size	12U
Status	Inactive
Launch Date	April 17, 2019
Principal Investigator	Jud Ready

MISSE-12 is an external craft within the MISSE series aimed at testing various materials in the harsh environment of space. The crafts include ram, wake, zenith, and nadir exposures. (These are coordinate axes in the spacecraft-centered coordinate system.)

Craft Overview:

MISSE-12 was sent to the International Space Station (ISS) carrying MISSE sample carriers (MSC’s). These are what house the different material samples which are to be tested in the vacuum of space. The MSC’s were deployed onto the ISS in either December 2019 or March 2020.

Results of the Mission:

The mission was a success. The MSC’s were returned to Earth aboard the SpaceX-21 mission on January 13, 2021.

Deployment:

MISSE-12 was taken to the ISS aboard Cygnus NG-12 on November 2, 2019. The MISSE-12 craft was fastened onto the outside of the ISS between December 2019 and March 2020. It was installed in the area known as the MISSE Flight Facility (MISSE-FF) near the ISS’s solar panels.

Sources and Additional Information:

1. https://www1.grc.nasa.gov/space/iss-research/misse/#introduction
2. https://www.nasa.gov/centers/armstrong/features/misse-11.html
3. https://spaceflight101.com/dragon-spx14/misse-ff/

Acronym	MISSE-12
Full Name	Materials International Space Station Experiment – 12
Size	12U
Status	Inactive
Launch Date	November 11, 2019
Principal Investigator	Jud Ready