LIST launches nanosatellite to show vitality harvesting in area
by Robert Schreiber
Berlin, Germany (SPX) Jun 18, 2024
The Luxembourg Institute of Science and Expertise (LIST) has launched its CubeSat mission, LIST-SAT-01, marking the primary Luxembourgish nanosatellite initiative with an in-house scientific experiment. This mission goals to check and advance applied sciences developed at LIST, rising their Expertise Readiness Degree (TRL) and reaching flight heritage for on-board applied sciences.
On the core of the CubeSat mission is a nanosatellite weighing 1.2 kilograms, that includes a thermal vitality harvester with pyroelectric supplies developed by LIST. This know-how lately obtained the European Analysis Council (ERC) Superior Grant.
“The scientific objectives of the CubeSat mission revolve round demonstrating the know-how of an vitality harvesting system,” mentioned Olivier Bouton, mission supervisor. “The satellite tv for pc will harvest vitality from temperature cycles induced by its orbit.” Because the satellite tv for pc orbits Earth, its orientation will range, inflicting temperature fluctuations that will likely be used to reap vitality.
The CubeSat will embrace three applied sciences developed by LIST:
– Pyroelectric Power Harvester: Produces electrical energy from warmth modulation in area.
– Tremendous Black Coating: Absorbs and emits thermal radiation effectively.
– Inkjet Printed Sensors: Thermal gauges to observe the payload experiment in area.
The mission goals to show the system’s efficiency of those three applied sciences working collectively. The black physique absorbs photo voltaic radiation effectively, heating up throughout solar publicity and emitting warmth throughout eclipses, enhancing general vitality seize. This method goals to enrich conventional photovoltaic panels and mitigate sensitivity to radiation-induced degradation and ballistic impacts of orbiting particles.
Analysis Collaboration
The CubeSat mission is a collaboration amongst 4 companions, with LIST because the coordinator and CSUM (College Area Middle Montpellier, France) as the principle contributor. The mission additionally includes radio beginner golf equipment F8KGY ARRT (Thionville, France) and ADRAD Kayldall LX9AK (Rumelange, Luxembourg) for radiocommunication between the CubeSat and the bottom station.
CSUM has experience in designing, growing, testing, and working nanosatellites. The satellite tv for pc will likely be based mostly on their present space-qualified platform.
The CubeSat launch is scheduled for January 2026, with the mission initiated in September 2023. The timeline contains system definition and specification in 2023-2024, manufacturing and debugging in 2024-2025, qualification exams in late 2025, and operation in area after the early 2026 launch, lasting a minimum of one yr.
“This mission brings collectively complementary experience and abilities of various groups inside the division of Supplies (MRT) of LIST,” mentioned Jerome Polesel, Expertise and Innovation Supervisor at LIST. “It’s the first time that such vitality harvesting know-how will likely be applied in a satellite tv for pc, aiming to synergize our completely different know-hows.
This flagship mission is actually a giant supply of motivation for our technical workers.” The CubeSat mission additionally goals to create alternatives for additional improvement of payload know-how and pave the best way for future demonstration missions of different LIST applied sciences. “As one of many first scientific Luxembourgish nanosatellites, the initiative aligns completely with the supplies division’s strategic initiative’s ‘Flagship demos’ goal, which focuses on extremely bold real-scale demonstrations of superior end-products,” added Jerome Polesel.
Associated Hyperlinks
Luxembourg Institute of Science and Expertise
Area Expertise Information – Functions and Analysis