Sanket—Technology Demonstration of Antenna Deployment System on PSLV Stage 4 Orbital Platform

Abstract

An Antenna Deployment System has become an essential component of any pico- or nano-satellite design due to space constraints during launch. The Sanket mission is a technology demonstration designed to be flown on the Indian Space Research Organization’s PSLV Stage 4 Orbital Platform (PS4-OP) (Announcement of opportunity for orbital platform. Indian Space Research Organisation, Bangalore [1]) and aims to qualify the team’s Antenna Deployment System in Ultra High Frequency band to a TRL-7 (Technology Readiness Level) in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). Sanket, i.e. the complete system, comprises an ADS and an auxiliary system. The purpose of the auxiliary system is to test the ADS on PS4-OP simulating a 1U CubeSat mission life cycle and conditions. Sanket will be mounted on PS4-OP which remains in LEO for around 6 months. Our Antenna Deployment System is developed as an independent module that is compatible with standard CubeSat sizes 1U, 2U and 3U.