Power System Modeling for LionSat

 Daniel Dobrin

Mentor: Professor Sven Bilen

 

            The Local Ionospheric Satellite (LionSat) is an ionospheric investigation nanosatellite that is currently being developed. The power system of LionSat will be powered by solar cells located on the outside of the satellite. The amount of solar energy being absorbed by the solar cells depends on the satellite’s orbit and orientation with respect to the sun.

            The main goal of this research is to analyze different power systems by using Virtual Test Bed. Research includes an analysis of the most efficient way of transferring power from the solar cells to the battery system, and from the battery system to all loads of the satellite.

            Furthermore, if time permits, the research will go from having only a Virtual Test Bed model analysis, to implementing and testing the model. Implementation and testing will help in figuring out the circuitry involved in putting together the configured blocks of the Virtual Test Bed model.