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Space Products: QuakeSat-1 Specs
  QuakeSat on orbit (June 30, 2003 to June 2005)

QuakeSat is a small satellite, 4”x4”x12”, launched on June 30, 2003, and provides a “proof-of-concept” for collecting ULF earthquake precursor signals from space. The design was based on the CubeSat concept where each CubeSat is 4”x4”x4”. QuakeSat is in fact a triple CubeSat to provide a large enough size to include a one-foot long magnetometer that extends on a telescoping boom.

  • Size: Satellite -Stowed 14 in x 4.5 in. (Deployed 60 in x 32 in) P-POD 16 in x 8 in x 6 in with mounting pads

  • Weight: Satellite 9.75 lbs (4.5 kg) with hysteresis rods P-POD 6.1 lbs (2.8 kg) with mounting pads

  • Power: 2 Li Ion batteries 1.5 AmpHr each (3.0 AmpHr total)
    • 12 solar panels (4 fixed, 4 double-sided deployable)
    • Each panel contains 10 triple junction GaAs cells
    • 4 panels can see sun simultaneously x 50% (angle) = 14 watts BOL (+ albedo)

  • Loads: CPU, Receiver and Power board ~ 3.6 watts continuous Payload 0.6 to 2.2 watts depending on filter channels selected (1-2 watts typ)

  • Attitude Control: Magnetically stabilized to Earth’s magnetic field vector
    • Four 4.0 x 0.25 in Alnico magnets, magnetometer boom is "north seeking"
    • Two 12.25 in x 0.5in x 0.25 in Hysteresis rods for damping

  • Magnetometer: Search coil (induction) type, two 25,000 turn co-axial coils + cal coil
    • Low noise preamp with negative resistance circuit (GSFC)
    • Sensitivity: 10 pT noise floor
    • Dynamic Range 80-100 db (low and high gain mode) 16 bit A-to-D

  • Filter Channels for magnetometer:
    • Mode 1: 0.5 to 10 Hz 50 samples/sec
    • Mode 2: 10 to 150 Hz 500 samples/sec
    • Mode 3: 10 to 1000 Hz 3000 samples/sec
    • Mode 4: 140 Hz (127 to 153 Hz pass band for both E and B) 500 samples/sec

  • Electric Field Antennas: 2-wire Dipole antenna, 0.6 meter (TBD) separation

  • Communications:
    • Ham Satellite Radio band (436 MHz), AX.25 packets, Half-Duplex,
    • 9600 baud up and down (8000 bps effective rate-TBD)
    • Beacon Mode: 1 sec. “chirp” every 10 sec at launch, every 60 sec during ops
    • Solid state transmitter: 1-1.4 watts (depending on bus voltage)

  • Flight Computer:
    • Prometheus PC-104 type commercial computer, 66 MHz
    • 128 MB Flash memory (1-3 MB of payload and health data per day to download)
    • Built-in 16 channel A-to-D, (up to 10K samples per sec)
    • 16 commands (for power saving and telemetry Mux commanding)
    • 44 telemetry points (magnetometers, temperatures, battery/solar panel currents)

  • Watchdog Timer:
    • Independent PIC16 microcomputer - resets Prometheus if no “heartbeat” in 90 sec
    • Contains special logic to prevent inadvertent transmitter operation

    For more information on QuakeSat-I

 
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