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Lightsey, E. Glenn

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Author: Cheek, Nathan × End date: 2023 × Start date: 2020 × search.filters.applied.f.isOrgUnitOfPublicationTitle: Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering ×

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Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
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    The Journey Of The Lunar Flashlight Propulsion System From Launch Through End Of Mission
    (Georgia Institute of Technology, 2023-08) Smith, Celeste R. ; Cheek, Nathan ; Burnside, Christopher ; Baker, John ; Adell, Philippe ; Picha, Frank ; Kowalkowski, Matthew ; Lightsey, E. Glenn
    The Lunar Flashlight Propulsion System (LFPS) was developed as a technology demonstration to enable the Lunar Flashlight spacecraft to reach Lunar orbit and to desaturate onboard reaction wheels. While the system produced over 16 m/s of delta-v and successfully managed momentum, variable thrust performance, most likely due to debris in the propellant flow path, kept the spacecraft from reaching the Moon. This paper details the in-flight journey of the LFPS, highlighting both successes and challenges met throughout the mission, and provides lessons learned applicable to future CubeSat missions and additively manufactured propulsion systems.
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    Systems Integration and Test of the Lunar Flashlight Spacecraft
    (Georgia Institute of Technology, 2022-08) Cheek, Nathan ; Gonzalez, Collin ; Adell, Philippe ; Baker, John ; Ryan, Chad ; Statham, Shannon ; Lightsey, E. Glenn ; Smith, Celeste R. R. ; Awald, Conner ; Ready, W. Jud
    Lunar Flashlight is a 6U CubeSat launching in late 2022 or early 2023 that will search for surface water ice content in permanently shadowed regions at the south pole of the Moon using infrared relative reflectance spectroscopy. The mission will act as a technology demonstration of an Advanced Spacecraft Energetic Non- Toxic (ASCENT) green propulsion system and active laser spectroscopy within the CubeSat form-factor. This paper provides an overview of the entire Systems Integration and Test campaign which took place at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the Georgia Institute of Technology. From initial testing of the isolated avionics and payload subsystems to the final tests with a fully integrated spacecraft, the project’s integration and test campaign is reviewed, with a focus on lessons learned.
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    Development of a COTS-Based Propulsion System Controller for NASA’s Lunar Flashlight CubeSat Mission
    (Georgia Institute of Technology, 2021-08) Cheek, Nathan ; Daniel, Nathan L. ; Lightsey, E. Glenn ; Peet, Sterling ; Smith, Celeste R. ; Cavender, Daniel P.
    The Lunar Flashlight mission is designed to send a 6U CubeSat into lunar orbit with the aim of finding water-ice deposits on the lunar south pole. The Glenn Lightsey Research Group (GLRG) within Georgia Tech’s Space Systems Design Laboratory (SSDL) is developing a low-cost propulsion system controller for this satellite using commercial-o↵-the-shelf (COTS) parts, with an emphasis on overcoming the harsh environment of lunar orbit through careful architecture and testing. This paper provides in-depth coverage of the LFPS controller development and testing processes, showing how an embedded system based on COTS parts can be designed for the intense environment of space. From the high-level requirements architecture to the selection of specific hardware components and software design choices, followed by rigorous environmental testing of the design, radiation and other environmental hardening can be achieved with high confidence.
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    Design of a Green Monopropellant Propulsion System from the Lunar Flashlight CubeSat Mission
    (Georgia Institute of Technology, 2020-08) Andrews, Dawn ; Huggins, Grayson ; Lightsey, E. Glenn ; Cheek, Nathan ; Lee, Nathan D. ; Talaksi, Ali ; Peet, Sterling ; Littleton, Lacey M. ; Patel, Sahaj ; Skidmore, Logan ; Glaser, Mackenzie J. ; Cavender, Daniel P. ; Williams, Hunter ; McQueen, Donald ; Baker, John ; Kowalkowski, Matthew
    Lunar Flashlight is a 6U CubeSat mission from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory that will search for water-ice deposits near the lunar south pole. Lunar Flashlight aims to add to the flight experience of deep-space CubeSats by demonstrating an orbit insertion using a green monopropellant propulsion system designed uniquely for this mission. Developed by NASA Marshall Spaceflight Center (MSFC) and Georgia Tech's Space Systems Design Laboratory (SSDL), the Lunar Flashlight Propulsion System (LFPS) delivers over 2500 N-s of total impulse for the orbit insertion and necessary attitude maneuvers. The custom propulsion system fits within a 2.5U volume and has a total wet mass of less than six kilograms. It will be fueled by AF-M315E, which is a green monopropellant developed by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) as a safer alternative to hydrazine. Additive manufacturing is utilized to fabricate several components of its primary structure. Upon completion, Lunar Flashlight may become the first CubeSat to achieve orbit around a celestial body besides Earth. The LFPS aims to be a pathfinder device for CubeSat missions by demonstrating how monopropellant systems, green monopropellant fuel, and additive manufacturing can be utilized to expand the reach of small satellite space exploration.