Design of Equipment Layout and Assembly Procedures to Enhance the Versatility of the ISSL6U CubeSat Bus for Low Earth Orbit Missions

抄録

Recent increases and diversification in Earth observation missions using CubeSats in low Earth orbit have heightened the need for CubeSat satellite bus manufacturers to not only customize mission-specific satellite buses but also create versatile system buses to ensure cost-effectiveness and reduced development times. However, designing a versatile bus involves challenges such as standardization, flexibility, and maximizing development speed. Addressing these issues, our laboratory has embarked on developing the ISSL6U, a versatile 6U CubeSat bus designed to support various missions. By focusing on versatility, we are developing two satellite missions using a common bus structure, despite their different payloads. This paper will introduce the design and outcomes of the ISSL6U from its structural part, mainly focussing on the equipment layout design and efforts to streamline the assembly process. We will discuss the versatility of this general-purpose structural bus, and explore the possibilities it opens for future satellite missions.