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Virginia Tech

The Design and Implementation of a Nanosatellite State-of-Health Monitoring Subsystem

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

This research consists of the design of a low-power, low-cost, nanosatellite computer system solution. The proposed system solution, and design and implementation of a multiple-bus master FPGA and health monitoring space computer subsystem are described. In the fall of 1998, the US Air Force (USAF) funded Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University (Virginia Tech), The University of Washington (UW), and Utah State University (USU) with $100,000 each to pursue a formation-flying satellite cluster. The program specified that a cluster of three satellites would maintain radio contact through UHF cross-link communication to report relative positions, obtained through GPS, and coordinate scientific measurement mission activities. This satellite cluster, named Ionospheric Observation Nanosatellite Formation (ION-F) is presently scheduled for launch in June of 2003. Maintaining some degree of system reliability in the error-prone space environment was desired for this low-cost space program. By utilizing high-reliability components in key system locations, and monitoring less reliable portions of the computer system for faults, an improvement in overall system reliability was achieved. The development of a one-wire health monitoring bus master was performed. A Synchronous Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) bus master was utilized to extend the communication capabilities of the CPU. In addition, discrete I/O functions and A/D converter interfaces were developed for system health monitoring and the spacecraft Attitude Determination and Control System (ADCS).

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Science
Level thesis:degree_level
masters
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Electrical Engineering
Department dc:contributor.department
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Grantor dc:publisher
Virginia Tech
Year dc:date.issued
2001

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Bolton, Bryce Daniel
Chair dc:contributor.committeechair
  • Davis, Nathaniel J. IV

Subjects

dc:subject × 6

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • In Copyright

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Dc Identifier Other
etd-12192001-213733
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/36288

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Virginia Tech
Base URL
vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Bolton, Bryce Daniel. The Design and Implementation of a Nanosatellite State-of-Health Monitoring Subsystem. masters thesis, Virginia Tech, 2001. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/36288