A Design Method of an Autonomous Control System for a Deep-Space Probe

Abstract

A small, deep-space probe, Shinen2, was developed under collaboration with the Kyushu Institute of Technology and Kagoshima University. The Shinen2 was launched by an H-2A rocket as a piggyback space probe with the JAXA's (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) asteroid probe, Hayabusa2, in 2014. The outer shape of the Shinen2 has a quasi-spherical diameter of 50 cm, and a mass of approximately 18 kg. An example of a deep-space probe to explore beyond the moon beyond has not been developed by any university, and no private companies exist. There are many technical aspects for the development of a small spacecraft to explore deep space. One is deep-space communication. The purpose of this development is to substantiate new deep-space communication methods used by amateur radio communications without the deep-space network of JAXA, NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) or ESA (European Space Agency). The other subject is the realization of autonomous control of space probes. A communication control computer, a power control computer and a system control computer were equipped in Shinen2. The system control computer is called the Shinen2 control unit (SCU), and can control the total system of the Shinen2. Many satellites have been developed to orbit the earth. We have obtained a lot of experience, such as how computers are destroyed by radiation. There are no cases which explore deep space using a small spacecraft. The radiation measures are unknown for small satellites in deep space. This paper describes the methods of the total system control and measures radiation in deep space.