The SLOSHSAT satellite is designed to explore space fluid sloshing phenomena, which influence stability and maneuverability of satellites in orbit around earth. The satellite was developed in collaboration between the Dutch NLR labs and Fokker Space, and Rafael, and has the support of the Israeli Space Agency, who initiated the project and partly funded Israel's participation in it by supplying the sub-propulsion system.
The propulsion system is fueled by cold gas and is constructed of four high-pressure canisters with pyrotechnic activation (canister durability is ensured by carbon fiber wound on thin steel), a pressure gauge control (reducing pressure from 600 atmospheres to 16), 12 micro motors supplying a drive of 0.83 Newton (approximately 83g), and piping. The system can produce the linear acceleration and torque needed to perform slosh research and it overcomes the severe volume constraints typical of satellites. The system complies with the rigorous safety requirements of the European Space Agency (ESA) and of NASA, who for the first time permitted the presence of compressed-gas canisters on a manned mission. The propulsion system is built of assemblies developed by Rafael according to military standards that have been converted to space application.
Following the Columbia disaster its launch was postponed indefinitely.
לחץ לגרסת הדפסהPrint Version