Objective
To foster technological development and innovation in the space sector and solidify the Andalusian ecosystem to carry out all the phases required in a satellite project. Analyze, design, manufacture, launch and operate the CubeSat "Alpha3", whose mission has technological, scientific and educational purposes, covering several areas, including the analysis and study of the magnetic field in Earth orbit.
Project Description
The Alpha satellite consists of a series of modules that make up the platform and a payload that give the specific character and functionality to the CubeSat. In the case of Alpha, the payload is actually several payloads carrying out various functions. These payloads will be designed and implemented by the research groups. The universities of Cadiz and Seville have a leading role in the payload design and development. Involving these universities is fundamental to ensure an educational and divulgative character of the project, thus fostering interest in the space sector, training students in this area within the university environment, and stimulating the emergence of new ideas and projects in this sector.
The objective is to plan the launch of Alpha3 in the year 2025, depending on launch availability. Contacts have been established with the Elche-based company PLD, the only Spanish manufacturer of reusable rockets, to plan the launch on its first operational Miura-5 rocket. The final decision will be made at a later stage once the orbital and launch requirements are defined.
Once in orbit, an orbital validation phase (IOV) of its performance and capability to carry out scientific and technological missions and to confirm nominal performance will be performed. Once the systems have been verified as functional, the satellite will perform its research and dissemination function with several payloads. The satellite operations are managed by a joint company/university team during the lifetime of the satellite.
The Alpha Mission is divided into 3 phases. The 3 phases have been designed inspired by the industry accepted working methodology (ECSS standards in Europe and MIL in the United States) for the development of CubeSats, but with some modifications in order to accelerate integration and functional validation.
INTEGRASYS's role
Within the Alpha Mission framework, INTEGRASYS contributes its expertise in software development for embedded systems, as well as ground station emulation and hardware integration to ensure the success of the platform.
The company plays a key role in the design, implementation and integration of several Alpha subsystems, including the on-board computer (OBC) with its flight software, the on-board telemetry and telecommand (TM/TC) subsystem and the ground station.
Initiative financed by the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism within the program of support to the AEI to contribute to the improvement of the competitiveness of the Spanish industry, and with the support of the European Union through the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan.
