PICS (Passive Inspection CubeSat)

Demonstrate performing inspection, maintenance and assembly on another spacecraft plus LED flash array.

Demonstration mission of a spacecraft capable of performing inspection, maintenance and assembly on another spacecraft. It will demonstrate ultrafast booting and power-up operation of system electronics and the low-risk inspection of the exterior of a spacecraft by a passive, flyaway probe.

The two flight systems deployed simultaneously will enable the collection of image data from each other as well as the parent spacecraft. After deployment, they rapidly bootup and image the launch vehicle. Out of view of the upper stage, each will characterize the other’s tumble using the cameras.

Each PIC has a spherical camera array (360°x180°), supported by flash LEDs. This camera array maintains visual of its target, regardless of deployment tumble, so no active navigation systems are necessary. Each PIC consists primarily of custom electrical, mechanical, and thermal subsystems developed by the undergraduate team during the last year.