EQUULEUS is a 6U CubeSat jointly developed by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and the University of Tokyo. Its mission is to demonstrate efficient orbital maneuvering technology in the Sun—Earth‐Moon region by a CubeSat, aiming to enable a CubeSat-class spacecraft to reach deep space on its own propulsion system. EQUULEUS was launched into a lunar transfer orbit on November 16, 2022, aboard the first flight of NASA's SLS launch vehicle. Immediately after separation, all bus functions of the spacecraft, including the propulsion system, were successfully checked out, completing preparations for orbital maneuver operations for the lunar swing-by in less than a week. EQUULEUS achieved an acceleration of about 6.5 m/s during the first orbital maneuver operation (DV1), followed by precise orbit determinations and two trajectory correction maneuvers before and after the timing of the lunar closest approach, which successfully inserted the spacecraft into a nominal orbit toward the second Earth—Moon Lagrange point (EML2) via lunar swing-by. EQUULEUS is equipped with a resistojet propulsion system that uses water as a propellant, and became the first spacecraft in the world to successfully transfer its orbit using water beyond low Earth orbit. EQUULEUS has successfully completed a total of 14 Delta-V operations, including orbital maneuver and trajectory correction maneuvers during its first lunar swing-by, which demonstrated the precise and highly fuel-efficient guidance, navigation, and control technology in the Sun-Earth-Moon region for a CubeSat-class spacecraft. This achievement is expected to enable small satellites released from lunar transfer orbit or lunar gateway to reach deep space using their own propulsion systems with limited propellant and to conduct deep space exploration missions with high frequency, taking advantage of the increasing logistics in the vicinity of the Moon in the future.
EQUULEUS: Artemis-1 CubeSat to successfully demonstrate trajectory control techniques within the Sun—Earth—Moon region to enable future deep space missions by small satellites
Small Satellites Systems and Services Symposium (4S 2024) ; 2024 ; Palma de Mallorca, Spain
Proc. SPIE ; 13546 ; 135460I
20.03.2025
Aufsatz (Konferenz)
Elektronische Ressource
Englisch
Springer Verlag | 2020
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NTIS | 2022
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