CubeSat Systems for CANYVAL-C Formation Flying Mission: Lessons Learned from Development and Launch  CANYVAL-C 편대비행 임무를 위한 큐브위성 시스템: 개발 및 발사를 통한 교훈

Kim, Geuk-Nam ; Lee, Taeyang ; Kang, Dae-Eun ; Jeon, Soobin ; Kim, Namgyu ; Park, Yeon-Kyu ; Kim, Jung-Hun ; Park, Sang-Young

We present the development process and lessons learned from creating CubeSat systems for the solar coronagraph. The objective of the CANYVAL-C(CubeSat Astronomy by NASA and Yonsei using Virtual telescope ALignmeht - Coronagraph) mission is to capture solar corona images with two CubeSats operating formation flying: 1U CubeSat(Timon) equipped with a camera payload and 2U CubeSat (Pumbaa) equipped with sunlight-blocking payload. In order to establish a new concept for a separated solar coronagraph, we derived the mission requirements and then designed the concept of operations. To achieve precise formation flying, core technologies for RF inter-satellite link, GNSS-based relative navigation, time-synchronization, and relative orbit maneuver were developed. The integrated flight model of two CubeSats were thoroughly verified through end-to-end testing and space environment testing. Furthermore, a ground segment including the UHF ground station, FDS(Flight Dynamics System), MAPS(Mission Analysis and Planning System), and SOS(Spacecraft Operation System) were developed for on-orbit operations. Two CubeSats were launched on March 22, 2021, by Soyuz-2.1a. This study highlights the importance of thorough mission analysis, repeated systems-level testing, and the utilization of commercial ground station services. Additionally, it presents valuable insights derived from mission design, CubeSat systems development, as well as launch and operational experiences. The experience gained during the development and launch of CANYVAL-C CubeSat systems can contribute to improving the success rate of on-orbit operations for future CubeSat missions.

https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2024JKSAS..52..237K/abstract