(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2023-05-01)
Lawver, Luke
This paper focuses on the mission design and trade studies performed in the development of
the Wireless Energy from Beam Signals (WEBS) CubeSat, a power-receiving target in the Space
Solar Power Incremental Demonstrations and Research (SSPIDR) wireless space-to-space power
transmission technology demonstration mission supporting the Arachne primary spacecraft.
The development process of the mission is discussed in detail, with an emphasis on the rapid
development of a robust, low-cost mission. Power, attitude knowledge, and communications
trade studies that ultimately influenced the final spacecraft and mission design are discussed in
detail, along with sensor selection and operational design. The trade studies explored focus
primarily on the challenges associated with the operation of a tumbling spacecraft with limited
attitude control regarding both power generation and attitude estimation. Additionally, the
dual communications systems design is discussed along with a unique power inhibit system
that allows for system checkouts and charging to occur prior to and leading up to deployment.
Further discussed are the custom spacecraft bus design and manufacturing considerations. The
successful demonstration of the wireless power transmission technology to WEBS will represent
an important step toward enabling a new method of powering spacecraft on orbit.