Michael Dax Garner

The purpose of the thesis is to tailor NASA's systems engineering processes for a student-based flight project, and explicitly show how to implement these processes for a current mission design project at UT Austin.

The Texas 2-STEP (2-Satellite Targeting Experimental Platform) mission is the University of Texas at Austin's (UTAustin) entry into the University Nanosat-5 (UNP-5) competition, a program sponsored by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), NASA and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. The 2-STEP mission is to perform an autonomous rendezvous and formation flight demonstration using an innovative and inexpensive GN&C system. Two vehicles will be launched in a joined… Show more

The Texas 2-STEP (2-Satellite Targeting Experimental Platform) mission is the University of Texas at Austin's (UTAustin) entry into the University Nanosat-5 (UNP-5) competition, a program sponsored by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), NASA and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. The 2-STEP mission is to perform an autonomous rendezvous and formation flight demonstration using an innovative and inexpensive GN&C system. Two vehicles will be launched in a joined configuration but will perform a separation maneuver on-orbit to drift apart to a distance of 3 kilometers. When commanded, the larger, actively controlled Chaser nanosatellite will autonomously maneuver back to within 100 meters of the smaller, passively controlled Target. The Target vehicle is designed based on the CubeSat platform, a design solution that merges the Nanosat and CubeSat programs in a unique collaboration that has not been previously demonstrated. A standard CubeSat platform has been designed using commercial hardware which can be adapted for a 1U (1-Unit), 2U or 3U CubeSat mission. Use of the CubeSat standard is a responsive space solution that incorporates a modular vehicle design for use in multiple university missions. Adoption of this standard also promotes collaboration between Satellite Design Laboratory programs at UT-Austin. This paper will review the Texas 2-STEP mission and highlight how the Target vehicle is bridging a gap between the Nanosat and CubeSat communities. Elements of vehicle design as well as Chaser-Target team cooperation will also be covered. Show less