From Satellite Systems Design, Verification and Testing to Spacecraft Operations

A special issue of Aerospace (ISSN 2226-4310).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2025 | Viewed by 705

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Aerospace Science and Technology, Politecnico di Milano, Via La Masa, 34, 20156 Milano, Italy
Interests: spaceflight mechanics; spacecraft guidance; dynamics and control; attitude determination and control; space system engineering; modelling of spacecraft dynamics; modelling of space systems; sensors and actuators
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The landscape of spacecraft engineering and satellite operations is rapidly evolving, driven by the increasing sophistication and demands of modern space missions. Today, the design and deployment of spacecraft involve a complex workflow—from initial concept development to in-orbit operations—that requires advanced methodologies and technologies to ensure the success of missions.

Our Special Issue, entitled "From Satellite Systems Design, Verification and Testing to Spacecraft Operations", seeks to explore the intricacies of this evolving field. We invite scholars and researchers to contribute their insights and innovations across the spacecraft lifecycle.

Satellites play a pivotal role in our daily lives, supporting communication, navigation, Earth observation, and scientific exploration. With advancements in technology, satellites are becoming more capable, compact, and autonomous. This evolution presents new challenges in the design, verification, testing, and operational management of this technology. From the conception phase, in which designs are refined to meet stringent mission requirements, to the critical phase of in-orbit testing and operational deployment, every aspect of spacecraft engineering demands precision and efficiency.

In this Special Issue, we welcome research focusing on the design of spacecrafts, encompassing not only the initial phases of satellite system design, but also extending to the verification and testing phases. We are particularly interested in submissions that explore innovative approaches to subsystems and on-board software design, and advanced methodologies for verifying and testing both hardware and software components. We encourage the submission of contributions that discuss digital twin facilities, processor-in-the-loop and hardware-in-the-loop test benches, software solutions that aim to automate and optimize spacecraft operations, as well as results from in-orbit testing activities.

The scope of this Special Issue includes spacecraft system modeling, the design and integration of subsystems, advanced verification techniques, software development methodologies, and operational optimization strategies. We welcome the submission of original research articles, short communications, and reviews that delve into theoretical studies and practical applications, utilizing both analytical, numerical, and experimental approaches.

By fostering collaboration and the sharing of knowledge in this multidisciplinary domain, we aim to advance the state of the art in spacecraft engineering and contribute to the success of future space missions.

We look forward to your valuable contributions to this exciting and transformative field.

Dr. Andrea Colagrossi
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • spacecraft design
  • satellite systems
  • verification and testing
  • in-orbit testing
  • spacecraft operations
  • on-board software
  • hardware-in-the-loop testing
  • digital twin
  • operational efficiency
  • autonomous spacecraft
  • software automation
  • mission readiness

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

15 pages, 7281 KiB  
Article
Implementation of a 6U CubeSat Electrical Power System Digital Twin
by Pablo Casado, Cristian Torres, José M. Blanes, Ausiàs Garrigós and David Marroquí
Aerospace 2024, 11(8), 688; https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace11080688 - 21 Aug 2024
Viewed by 383
Abstract
This paper presents the design of a digital twin for a 6U CubeSat electrical power system, including the solar arrays, solar array regulators, battery, power distribution unit, and load subsystems. The digital twin is validated by comparing its real-time outputs with those of [...] Read more.
This paper presents the design of a digital twin for a 6U CubeSat electrical power system, including the solar arrays, solar array regulators, battery, power distribution unit, and load subsystems. The digital twin is validated by comparing its real-time outputs with those of the physical system. Experimental tests confirm its feasibility, showing that the digital twin’s real-time outputs closely match those of the physical system. Additionally, the digital twin can be used for control-hardware-in-the-loop and power-hardware-in-the-loop tests, allowing the real-time integration of simulated subsystems with hardware. This capability facilitates testing of new subsystems and optimization during the project’s development phases. Additionally, to demonstrate the advanced capabilities of this model, the digital twin is used to simulate the CubeSat electrical power system behavior in real time throughout a complete orbital cycle in low Earth orbit conditions. This simulation provides valuable insights into the CubeSat operation by capturing the transient and steady-state responses of the EPS components under real orbital conditions. The results obtained indicate that the digital twin significantly enhances the testing and optimization process of new subsystems during the development phases of the project. Moreover, the capabilities of the digital twin can be further augmented by incorporating real-time telemetry data from the CubeSat, resulting in a highly accurate replication of the satellite’s in-orbit behavior. This approach is crucial for identifying and diagnosing failures or malfunctions in the electrical power system, ensuring the robust and reliable operation of the CubeSat. Full article
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