Technology demonstration of using Cubesat methodologies for power control and distribution in a radio-astronomy instrument within the Chang'E 4 mission

Abstract

The Chinese Chang’ E 4 mission includes a relay satellite named Queqiao or Magpie Bridge from a Chinese folk tale, developed by the Chinese Academy of Space Technology (CAST). In May 2018, Queqiao was launched into halo orbit at the second Earth-Moon Lagrange point (~64000 km behind the moon), to provide direct communication between the Earth and the far side of the Moon. The satellite's main mission is to serve as a relay for the communication between Earth and the Chang' E 4 robotic mission that landed on the far side of the Moon. On board this satellite is the scientific payload Netherlands-China Low-Frequency Explorer (NCLE). This is a low-frequency radio astronomy instrument, which includes a power interface system developed in The Netherlands by the company Innovative Solutions in Space B.V. in cooperation with ASTRON, Radboud University and the Chinese National Space Science Center (NSSC). The instrument is designed to address a multitude of high-profile science cases. The NCLE payload was developed in less than a year to fit the tight schedule for the Chang'E 4 launch. Due to this limitation, CubeSat methodologies were proposed and selected to demonstrate that the combination of Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) and low cost processes can satisfy the requirement for short period developments. This paper shows the results and calls for new opportunities, opening the market to new chances to accommodate low cost science demonstrators within bigger platforms or satellites much bigger than a standard CubeSat. Only, if it demonstrates that all safety requirements are compliant with the platform and the design is robust enough to avoid any failure propagation. NCLE envisages the usage of CubeSat technology and cheap components with innovative design approaches.