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Optimizing the Small Satellite Platform for Compelling Technology Demonstrations:
Bandit/Akoya Proximity Operations and Rapid Integration
Erin Beck
Washington University in St. Louis
Advisor: Dr. Michael A. Swartwout
Abstract
Small satellites have the potential to advance space technology at a fraction of the cost and time of traditional large-scale spacecraft. Unfortunately, due to the volume constraint of miniaturized satellites, microscale spacecraft often lack the payload and bus space to support complex missions. Bandit/Akoya utilizes distributed design with a plug-and-play platform to perform proximity operations and rapid integration of two microscale vehicles and a host - all under 35 kg. Students are directly responsible for all program elements.
Erin Beck, from St. Louis, MO, is a senior physics major in the School of Engineering and Applied Science at Washington University in St. Louis. She is Project Manager and Mission Planning Lead for WU's Bandit/Akoya satellite development team, and plans one day to apply her physics and systems engineering background to testing theoretical physics principles on space-bound missions. She will be attending Santa Clara University for a Masters in Mechanical Engineering beginning Fall 2008. She believes the best education is a well-rounded one, and also acts/techs/directs theatre, swing and Indian dances, and teaches intro/advanced/rescue scuba diving.
Editor’s Note: The original version of this paper won 3rd place (top undergraduate honors) in the Frank J. Redd Student Scholarship Competition at the USU/AIAA Conference on Small Satellites in Logan, UT, on August 15th, 2007.
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