PROITERES explained

PROITERES
Mission Type:Technology demonstrator
Operator:Osaka Institute of Technology
Cospar Id:2012-047B
Satcat:38756
Website:Official Page
Launch Mass:15kg (33lb)
Launch Rocket:PSLV-CA
Launch Site:Satish Dhawan FLP
Orbit Reference:Geocentric
Orbit Regime:Sun Synchronous
Orbit Periapsis:566 km
Orbit Apoapsis:566 km
Orbit Inclination:97,9°
Orbit Period:97min
Apsis:gee

PROITERES or Project of OIT Electric-Rocket-Engine Onboard Small Space Ship (Japanese: 大阪工業大学 電気推進ロケットエンジン搭載小型スペースシッププロジェクト) is a satellite launched by ISRO in 2012 for Osaka Institute of Technology (OIT). This small (15 kg) boxlike system, with solar panels on the hull, is the testbench for the 4.4 W Pulsed Plasma Thruster[1] operating on the microsatellite platform. The total power budget of the satellite is 15 watt.

Project description and goals

PROITERES' secondary goals, as stated by the manufacturer, are:[2]

It is equipped with 3-axis magnetic torquers and gyro-sensors for attitude control (orientation), a magnetic sensor on the boom, a solar sensor, and the Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) visible spectrum camera with a five-lens system and a focal length of 85.3 mm and a f number of 3.6.[3] [4]

Failure

As in 2013, PROITERES does not respond to any ground commands, although still broadcasting telemetry data. According to the PROITERES development team report on 17 January 2014 at JAXA annual symposium, the PROITERES had a design error resulting in the flight computer engaged in a boot loop. The root cause of the boot loop was the electromagnetic incompatibility issue, resulting in a reset signal being generated if power-up ramp rate of the flight computer is high enough.

The Osaka Institute of Technology team abandoned attempts to restore communications with PROITERES satellite and proceeded with development of the PROITERES-2 design.

See also

Notes and References

  1. http://www.oit.ac.jp/elc/~satellite/image/engine.pdf PROITERES Pulsed Plasma Thruster (pdf)
  2. http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/proiteres.htm PROITERES stated goals
  3. http://www.oit.ac.jp/elc/~satellite/SysDiag.html PROITERES system diagram
  4. Web site: PROITERES (Project of Osaka Institute of Technology Electric-Rocket-Engine onboard Small Space Ship). June 12, 2012. eoportal.org. May 6, 2023.