i-INSPIRE and Related Instrument and Spacecraft Projects at the University of Sydney

Iver Cairns and Joe Khachan *

1. i-INSPIRE

2. Instruments & devices (thrusters) developed for payloads & projects

3. QB50 and INSPIRE-2

4. Status & Summary

* and C. Betters,J. Bland-Hawthorn, L. Fogarty, J.Funamoto, S.Leon-Saval, A.Size, X.Wu

1. Status of i-INSPIRE : initial – INtegrated SPectrograph, Imaging, and Radiation Explorer

• An Australian sole University space project

• To develop capability & interest (first images of Aust. from Aus.SC?) • Demonstrate: spacecraft d/b/t/o capability novel spectrograph for space,

Astro, Earth observations … global radiation & space weather spectrograph radiation testing imaging for location, rotation,

& PR

• Launch with US startup InterOrbital Systems but date unknown.

i-INSPIRE Building & Testing

• Breadboard Flat Sat test: July 2012

• PCB Flat Sat test: 4 Sept 2012

• Integration tests: 18-25 Sept 2012

• Balloon launch: Adelaide, 25 Nov. 2012, Project Horus.

• Radio licenses – provisional (IARU) • Educational /Scientific Declaration &

Overseas Launch Certificate: underway (started July 2012).

3

Balloon launch 25 November 2012: near Adelaide with Project Horus

4

2. Instruments & Devices

• Originating with i-INSPIRE payload– Nanospec – A photonic spectrograph– Radiation counter– Imaging camera

• Plasma thruster

• Plasma wave receiver

• .....

Dedicatedpayload

QB50 or other

QB50 or other

i-INSPIRE instruments

(a) NANOSPEC – A photonic spectrograph

(b) Geiger Counter

Imaging Camera (commerical off shelf)

a) Nanospec

[C. Betters, S. Leon-Saval, L. Fogarty, & J. Bland-Hawthorn]

Nanospec details

• Essentially diffraction limited in Visible (400-715 nm).

• Measured resolving power ( / ) of R >1400.𝜆 𝛥𝜆• Spatial resolution looking at Earth is ~40km2. (note:

there are no coupling optics yet)– Simple field of view from single mode fibre.

• Relatively cheap construction– << $1000 total cost for prototype

[C. Betters, S. Leon-Saval, L. Fogarty, & J. Bland-Hawthorn]

(b) Radiation Counter for i-INSPIRE

• < 14 g , about 5 x 2.5 x 1 cm• Measures radiation levels ... also helps constrain orbit & location

[J. Khachan]

(c) Plasma Thruster for propulsion, stationkeeping ...

– Invention documents agreed & signed with DSTO– DSTO license agreement signed– Patent application submitted

([J. Khachan – David Dall vital]

(d) Plasma Wave Instrument

• Thermal motions thermal Langmuir waves ne & Te

• Upper hybrid & whistler waves B

• Well established for weakly magnetized space plasmas

• Idea: do Thermal Noise Spectrometry for constellation of cubesats disentangle spatial & temporal variations of ne, Te, B for the ionosphere

• Space weather, SSA ....11

[I.Cairns, J. Khachan, N. Wallace, R, Maj, et al.]

3. INSPIRE-2

• Passed Critical Design Review (CDR). • U. Sydney: 2 U spacecraft with QB50 Langmuir Probe package• Includes: Nanospec, Plasma Thruster, Radiation Counter, active

control (magnetotorquers), wave experiment,

12

4. Summary & Status

• i-INSPIRE – designed & balloon-tested to 27 km– being re-integrated for full testing & flight (IoS date?)

– cubesat version (c-INSPIRE) next highest priority.

• Instruments & Devices (currently main effort)– Nanospec & Radiation Counter in dedicated payload for

Delta-V, QB50, or other opportunities– Plasma thruster – looking for opportunities– Plasma wave receiver – QB50, SSA. & other

opportunities

• INSPIRE-2 passed QB50’s Critical Design Review (CDR) ... 2016 / 2017 launch.