Skip to main content

A Remotely Controllable Thermo-Vacuum Facility for Testing Small Payloads

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:

Part of the book series: Communications in Computer and Information Science ((CCIS,volume 583))

Abstract

A fully equipped thermovacuum facility has been designed and assembled at Sapienza University during the development phase of LARES, a satellite of the Italian Space Agency. After the launch of the satellite in year 2012, the facility has been devoted to testing small payloads and cubesats. An upgrade of the facility allows some operations to be performed remotely. It is planned to complete the automation of the operations so that the majority of the tests could be monitored and controlled from home or during the lectures from the class. The paper will describe the facility, some test campaigns performed recently and the recent advances in remote operations.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Paris, C., Neubert, R.: Tests of LARES and CHAMP cube corner reflectors in simulated space environment. In: 2015 IEEE Aerospace Conference, pp. 1–9 (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Ciufolini, I., Pavlis, E.C., Ries, J.C., Koenig, R., Sindoni, G., Paolozzi, A., Neumayer, H.: Phenomenology of the lense-thirring effect in the solar system: measurement of frame-dragging with laser ranged satellites. New Astron. 17(3), 341–346 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Ciufolini, I., Paolozzi, A., König, R., Pavlis, E.C., Ries, J., Matzner, R., Gurzadyan, V., Penrose, R., Sindoni, G., Paris, C.: Fundamental physics and general relativity with the LARES and LAGEOS satellites. Nucl. Phys. B Proc.Suppl. 243–244, 180–193 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Ciufolini, I., Pavlis, E.C.: A confirmation of the general relativistic prediction of the Lense-Thirring effect. Nature 431, 958–960 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Ciufolini, I., Paolozzi, A., Paris, C.: Overview of the LARES Mission: orbit, error analysis and technological aspects. J. Phys: Conf. Ser. 354, 1–9 (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  6. Ciufolini, I., Moreno Monge, B., Paolozzi, A., Koenig, R., Sindoni, G., Michalak, G., Pavlis, E.C.: Monte Carlo simulations of the LARES space experiment to test general relativity and fundamental physics. Class. Quantum Gravity 30(23), 1–11 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Paolozzi, A., Ciufolini, I.: LARES successfully launched in orbit: satellite and mission description. Acta Astronaut. 91, 313–321 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Sindoni, G., Paris, C., Paolozzi, A., Ciufolini, I., Pavlis, E.C., Gabrielli, A.: Operation and data analysis of LARES satellite. In: Proceedings of 65th International Astronautical Congress, IAC 2014

    Google Scholar 

  9. Ciufolini, I., Paolozzi, A., Pavlis, E.C., Koenig R., Ries J., Gurzadyan, V., Matzner, R., Penrose, R., Sindoni, G., Paris C.: Preliminary orbital analysis of the LARES space experiment. Eur. Phys. J. Plus 130(7) (2015). (article no. 133)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Pavlis, E.C., Ciufolini, I., Paolozzi, A., Paris, C., Sindoni, G.: Quality assessment of LARES satellite ranging data. In: 2nd IEEE International Workshop on Metrology for Aerospace, pp. 1–5 (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Persky, M.J.: Review of black surfaces for space-borne infrared systems. Rev. Sci. Instrum. 70(5), 2193–2217 (1999)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. European Cooperation for Space Standardization ECSS Secretariat: ECSS-E-10–03A, Space Engineering: testing. ESA-ESTEC Requirements & Standards Division (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  13. European Cooperation for Space Standardization ECSS Secretariat: ECSS-E-10-03C, Space Engineering: testing. ESA-ESTEC Requirements & Standards Division (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  14. Gilmore, D.G.: Spacecraft Thermal Control Handbook: Fundamental Technologies, vol. I. The Aerospace Press, Menlo Park (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  15. Paris, C., Sindoni, G.: LARES-Lab: a facility for environmental testing of satellite components and micro satellites. In: Proceedings of the 2nd IAA conference on dynamics and control of space systems, DyCoSS (2014)

    Google Scholar 

  16. Paolozzi, A., Ciufolini, I., Vendittozzi, C.: Engineering and scientific aspects of LARES satellite. Acta Astronaut. 69, 127–134 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Pearlman, M.R., Degnan, J.J., Bosworth, J.M.: The international laser ranging service. Adv. Space Res. 30(2), 135–143 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Sindoni, G., Paris, C., Paolozzi, A., Ciufolini, I., Pavlis, E.C., Gabrielli, A.: Operation and data analysis of LARES satellite. In: Proceedings of 65th International Astronautical Congress, IAC (2014)

    Google Scholar 

  19. Paolozzi, A., Ciufolini, I., Paris, C., Spano, D., Battaglia, G., Reinhart, N.: Thermal tests on LARES satellite components. In: Proceedings of 63rd International Astronautical Congress, IAC (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  20. Paolozzi, A., Ciufolini, I., Paris, C., Sindoni, G., Spano, D.: Qualification tests on the optical retro-reflectors of LARES satellite. In: Proceedings of 63rd International Astronautical Congress, IAC (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  21. Paris, C., Parisse, M., Nascetti, A., Cica, R., Salman, N.A.: The TIGRIsat camera. A nanosatellite optical payload for detecting dust and sand storms. In: IEEE 15th International Conference on Environment and Electrical Engineering (EEEIC), pp. 1605–1610 (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  22. Nascetti, A.: Satellite system architecture and satellite subsystems. In: Cooperation ARES SWIEE - Rome Meeting (2014)

    Google Scholar 

  23. Testani, P., Teofilatto, P., Nascetti, A., Truglio, M.: A nadir-pointing magnetic attitude control system for TigriSat nanosatellite. In Proceedings of 64th International Astronautical Congress, IAC (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  24. Paris, C., Parisse, M., Allawi, W.A.: Thermo vacuum tests on TIGRIsat structure. In: 2nd IEEE International Workshop on Metrology for Aerospace, pp 160–165 (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  25. Aliane, N.: LABNET: a remote control engineering laboratory. Int. J. Online Eng. 3(2) (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  26. Casini, M., Prattichizzo, D., Vicino, A.: The automatic control Telelab: a remote control engineering laboratory. In: 40th IEEE Conference on Decision and Control, vol.4, pp. 3242 – 3247 (2001)

    Google Scholar 

  27. Herrera, O.A., Alves, G.R., Fuller, D., Aldunate, R.G.: Remote lab experiments: opening possibilities for distance learning in engineering fields. In: Kumar, D., Turner, J. (eds.) Education for the 21st Century- Impact of ICT and Digital Resources. IFIP, vol. 210, pp. 321–325. Springer, Heidelberg (2002)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  28. May, D., Terkowsky, C., Haertel, T., Pleul, C.: Bringing remote labs and mobile learning together. Int. J. Interact. Mob. Technol 7(3), 54–62 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Sancristobal, E., Castro, M., Martin, S., Tawkif, M., Pesquera, A., Gil, R., Diaz, G., Peire, J.: Remote labs as learning services in the educational arena. In: IEEE Global Engineering Education Conference (EDUCON), pp. 1189–1194 (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  30. Paolozzi, A., Ciufolini, I., Paris, C., Sindoni, G.: LARES-lab: a thermo vacuum facility for research and e-learning. In: 7th International Conference on Computer Supported Education, CSEDU (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  31. Cappelletti, C., Martinotti, G., Graziani, F.: UniCubeSat: a test for the gravity gradient solar array boom. In: Proceedings of 62nd International Astronautical Congress, IAC (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  32. Graziani, F., Pulcrano, G., Santoni, F., Perelli, M., Battagliere, M.L.: EduSAT: An Italian Space Agency outreach program. In: Proceedings of 60th International Astronautical Congress, IAC (2009)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank the Italian Space Agency for supporting the LARES mission, and in particular the thermo-vacuum facility, under contracts I/043/08/0, I/043/08/1, I/034/12/0, I/034/12/1 and 2015-021-R.0.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. Paolozzi .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this paper

Cite this paper

Paolozzi, A., Ciufolini, I., Paris, C., Sindoni, G. (2016). A Remotely Controllable Thermo-Vacuum Facility for Testing Small Payloads. In: Zvacek, S., Restivo, M., Uhomoibhi, J., Helfert, M. (eds) Computer Supported Education. CSEDU 2015. Communications in Computer and Information Science, vol 583. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-29585-5_33

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-29585-5_33

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-29584-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-29585-5

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics