NIMPH Spacecraft

Technology validation of optical components and degradation measurements.

Technology validation of optical components. The measurement of the degradation of the gain of the saturation power and the noise figure of a microwave link opto-optically amplified as a function of the cumulative radiative dose and temperature undergone by the EDFA.

Comparing the measurements obtained with theoretical models of degradation to validate. The design validation of the CubeSat mission NimphSat for opto-microwave components metrology by measuring environmental conditions suffered by the payload and the platform and by the transmission of satellite operation indicators.

The mission has several goals: Demonstrate that the students' developments allow the flight into orbit of a 3U nanosatellite with an adequate level of reliability. The students involved in the project discover amateur radio, and we hope to motivate them to get their license.

Onboard an M2M (machine to machine) amateur radio payload which allows the exchange of sensor data or other data using the satellite as a relay Demonstrate that a photonic system including an optical amplifier is capable of operating over a period of at least two years in a space environment. For this, gain and noise figure measurements will be carried out in orbit. This experiment will be used by students (Master degree) to make a direct application with what they study in class. The same photonic amplifier is used in practical work by students. The results will also be exploited by PhD students. NIMPH mission is an educational project of the Toulouse University Space Center.

The main goal of the center is to train students in space nanosystems through projects in which they apply the theory seen in class. Students design a large part of the satellite, whether it is electronic subsystems but also mechanics, thermal, communication and control. The mission offers radio amateurs the opportunity to follow an optical amplification experiment in orbit by monitoring the impact of the space environment on the performance and reliability of the system.

An introduction to the operation of erbium fiber optical amplifiers will be transmitted to radio amateurs through the CSUT website, and for interested radio amateurs, they will be able to retrieve data to calculate the gain and the noise figure of the amplifier as well as the radio conditions on optical fibers. If desired, they will also be able to participate in data collection through a dedicated server. A special amateur radio mode will be activated so that, at the same time, amateur operators can use the satellite to experiment the exchange sensor data or other data with other amateur operators. The data are stored in the satellite, so exchange with two operators stations which are not on satellite visibility in the same time is possible.