| Popis: |
FalconSAT-3, the fourth in a series of Cadet built satellites, was launched 9 March 2007. The satellite is a two year space veteran. Using data from FalconSAT-3, this paper analyzes trends over time of battery voltages, solar panel degradation, as well as Low Earth Orbit drag effects on satellite attitude and altitude. The effects of the space environment on these spacecraft parameters can ultimately result in degraded performance of a satellite. Trend lines are created using two years of actual FalconSAT-3 data. These trends are then compared against the initial predicted and calculated values of FalconSAT-3 parameters to determine the current performance of the satellite as compared to its beginning-of-life (BOL) performance. By studying these trend lines, one can analyze the long term effects of the space environment on satellites in low earth orbit. These trend lines will also be validated against the industry standard predictions and calculations to aid in designing future low earth orbiting satellites to better withstand the space environment, maximizing their performance and lifetime. |
