SamSat-ION

The SamSat-ION nanosatellite is a 3U CubeSat developed, manufactured, and tested at the Interuniversity Department of Space Research of Samara University.

The development of the SamSat-ION nanosatellite is based on a 2018 agreement for Samara University to join a consortium of Russian universities and scientific organizations. This consortium, initiated and organized by Samara University, aimed at creating a 3U CubeSat constellation for researching the Earth's ionosphere and magnetosphere. The consortium includes eight universities, the Schmidt Institute of Physics of the Earth of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Russian technological enterprise group Geoscan, the Astronomikon laboratory, and, in 2021, the Scientific and Engineering Republican Unitary Enterprise 'Geoinformation Systems' from Belarus joined as well. The consortium's creation was supported by the Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Applied Geophysics of Roshydromet.

SamSat-ION is designed to solve the following scientific tasks:

  • SamSat-ION is designed to solve the following scientific tasks:
  • Studying the motion dynamics features of a nanosatellite equipped with external structural elements, while ensuring three-axis gravitational orientation due to the selection of design parameters (passive stabilization) and the use of magnetic control actuators (active stabilization).

SamSat-ION is designed to solve the following technological tasks:

  • Testing the technology for high-precision spatial-temporal referencing of scientific measurements;
  • Verifying the preliminary algorithm for scientific data processing and compression onboard the nanosatellite;
  • Verifying motion control technologies, as well as orientation and stabilization algorithms;
  •  Testing the technology for opening transformable nanosatellite structures;
  • In-flight testing of the second version of the SamSat nanosatellite platform’s service systems.
  • In-flight testing of the plasma parameter sensor;
  • In-flight testing of the navigation receiver.

Since its launch on June 27, 2023, the SamSat-ION nanosatellite has transmitted 2,465 telemetry packets (telemetry from the EPS, transceiver, OBC, and the nanosatellite's measurement system). As a result of the flight and design tests, the following tasks were accomplished:

  • The strength properties of the nanosatellite’s structural frame during orbit insertion and separation from the deployment container (DPC) were confirmed: validated by video recording of the separation from the DPC;
  • The strength properties and performance of the nanosatellite’s locking devices and external structural elements were confirmed during the space flight: validated by onboard telemetry and the establishment of radio communication;
  • The functionality of the nanosatellite’s onboard software was confirmed (correct reception and execution of commands from the ground control center, correct transmission of telemetry and scientific data): validated by onboard telemetry;
  • The operational characteristics and correctness of the architectural and schematic design solutions of the nanosatellite’s OBC (correct operation of ATxmega and LPC4300 microcontrollers, data storage system, measurement system, and data interfaces under space flight conditions) were confirmed: validated by onboard telemetry;
  • The operational characteristics and correctness of the architectural and schematic design solutions of the nanosatellite’s transceiver under space flight conditions (radio link power reserve, carrier frequency stability, data transmission rate, correct operation of ATxmega microcontrollers) were confirmed: validated by onboard telemetry;
  • The operational characteristics of the nanosatellite’s EPS were partially confirmed (stability of power supply channel voltages, correct management of the battery charge-discharge process): validated by onboard telemetry – the 3.3V power supply channel voltage ranged between 3.27-3.29V, the 5V power supply channel voltage ranged between 5.16-5.18V, the battery’s channel voltage ranged between 15.3-15.6V, and the battery voltage remained within nominal values of 14.6-15.6V.
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