Operational Characterization System and Communication Interface for Microelectromechanical (MEM) and Passive Thermal Switches for the MidSTAR Satellite Program

Author

Schuster, Christopher M. ; Beasley, Matthew ; Firebaugh, Samara ; Farrar, Dawnielle ; Osiander, Robert ; Darrin, Ann ; Mehoke, Doug

Author_Institution

Dept. of Electr. Eng., US Naval Acad., Annapolis, MD

Volume

3

fYear

2005

fDate

16-19 May 2005

Firstpage

1652

Lastpage

1657

Abstract

This paper describes an experimental control and test system for microelectromechanical (MEM) and passive thermal switches to be tested on MidSTAR, a small satellite built and operated by the United States Naval Academy. The system has two components: an external unit that contains the devices under test as well as heaters and sensors, and an internal unit that controls the switches, monitors their performance, and communicates with the command and data handling (C&DH) unit of the satellite. This paper discusses the design of both the internal and external unit, and the testing protocol

Keywords

aerospace test facilities; artificial satellites; microswitches; temperature control; MidSTAR satellite program; command and data handling; communication interface; microelectromechanical system; nanosatellites; operational characterization; passive thermal switches; testing protocol; thermal control; Artificial satellites; Communication switching; Communication system control; Control systems; Data handling; Sensor systems; Switches; System testing; Temperature control; Thermal sensors; Microelectromechanical systems (MEMs); Nanosatellites; thermal control;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Instrumentation and Measurement Technology Conference, 2005. IMTC 2005. Proceedings of the IEEE

Conference_Location

Ottawa, Ont.

Print_ISBN

0-7803-8879-8

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/IMTC.2005.1604449

Filename

1604449