CANYVAL-X1 & X2 (Tom & Jerry)

Launch data: Designation  18004G? Launch date  12 Jan 2018 - 03:59 UT Launch site  Sriharikota, FLP Launch vehicle  PSLV-XL Mission  Technology experiment Earth orbit: Perigee / Apogee  195 x 508 km Eccentricity   Inclination  97.6 ° Period   min

Canyval-X 1 & 2

Spacecraft data: Prime manufacturer  Yonsei University, NASA Platform  CubeSat (2U) (#1); CubeSat (1U) (#2) Operator  Yonsei University (Seoul) Mass at launch  2.7 kg (#1); 1 kg (#1) Dry Mass   kg Basic shape   Dimension (m)   Equipment  Visible Light Camera (NanoCam) (#1); 3 Laser Diodes (#2) Solar array   4 deployable fixed solar arrays (#1); solar cells (#2) Stabilization   Propulsion  1 DOF mCAT x4 (#1); none (#2) DC power   Design lifetime  3-6 months

Canyval-X 1 & 2

Description:

• CANYVAL-X is a two-satellite CubeSat mission aiming to demonstrate a Vision Alignment System that could enable a virtual telescope with very long focal length for application in cutting-edge heliophysics and astrophysics missions. The mission consists of a 2-Unit CubeSat, nicknamed Tom, and a 1-Unit satellite “Jerry” that will maintain optical alignment over a distance of ten meters for time frames sufficient for astronomical observations.
• CANYVAL-X stands for CubeSat Astronomy by NASA and Yonsei using Vision ALignment eXperiment and involves NASA′s Goddard Spaceflight Center, Korea′s Yonsei University and the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI). Under the international collaboration, Yonsei and KARI are building and testing the 2U and 1U CubeSats while Goddard provides the µCAT micropropulsion system.
• The mission′s primary objective is demonstrating alignment between two satellites along an inertial line of sight to a distant celestial target over periods of time sufficient for an astronomical observation. Although tandem-flying experiments have already been conducted, the feat of keeping two satellites in alignment to observe a target will be a first and would enable virtual telescopes with extremely high focal lengths to become a reality.
  
  

  Canyval mission principe, Credit: NASA

  Canyval-X mission. Credit: Yonsei

  
  
• One application of the technology demonstrated by CANYVAL-X is a two-satellite solar chronograph comprising an occulter satellite that is placed in the line of sight of the sensor-craft and the sun so that the bright sunlight is blocked and the spectrographic sensor can complete studies of the much fainter coronal structure. Presently, spaceborne chronographs house the occulter and spectrograph within the same telescope assembly at very close distances which imposes limits on their scientific performance.
• To achieve a vision alignment between the two satellites, the system needs to be able to complete relative orbit determination and control as well as relative attitude control in order to maintain vision alignment for durations of several minutes.
• The CANYVAL-X mission architecture calls for one of the two satellites to be actively controllable (Tom) to follow the the orbital progression of the other member of the system which lacks a propulsion system but is capable of coarsely setting its three-axis orientation in space. Per the mission concept, Tom employs a micro-propulsion system to follow Jerry’s orbital progression and the two use a laser-guided optical navigation system to set the proper relative geometry once they are at the proper distance with Jerry holding its attitude relative to the sun and Tom moving onto the vector joining Jerry and the sun.
• The Relative Orbit Determination System employs GPS-based orbit determination systems on both satellites and an inter-satellite communications link to provide the GPS information from the passive craft to the propulsive member of the combo. As such, Jerry constantly calculates its orbit and transmits it every five minutes via a 435.020 MHz UHF link to Tom which then calculates the propulsive inputs required to link up with Jerry.
• CANYVAL-X, a 3U technology experiment from Yonsei University (Seoul): Cubesat Astronomy by NASA and Yonsei using Virtual Telescope Alignment.

Mission details:

• Launch and deployment was successful, but the satellite apparently failed to work.

External links:

• NASA: Satellite Information