LMRST-Sat: A small, high value-to-cost mission

The Communications, Tracking, and Radar Division at NASA\´s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and the Space and Systems Development Lab (SSDL) at Stanford University are collaborating to fly a nanosat-class mission for costs usually associated with small technology development tasks, a few S100K. The mission hosts a JPLdeveloped Low Mass Radio Science Transponder (LMRST) on a university-class CubeSat bus as a satellite that occupies a total volume of two liters plus deployable antennas. In low earth orbit, the LMRST payload will provide a far-field source for calibration of Deep Space Network X-Band equipment in the form of an integer turnaround X-Band transponder with support for ranging modulation. The CubeSat bus provided by SSDL supplies power, structural support, and command and telemetry while on orbit. CubeSat development and operations are conducted as a student project. In addition to the payload functions, mission goals include space qualification of the LMRST, demonstration of nanosat capabilities and costs within NASA, and expansion of student-class projects toward eventual deep space missions. This paper describes the work completed thus far, "Phase One": development of the LMRST, satellite bus, and integrated testing; and outlines the work planned for "Phase Two": acceptance testing, launch, and operations.