Presentation Synopsis:
Konstantinos Kanavrous
University of Luxembourg
Konstantinos Kanavouras studied Electrical and Computer Engineering in the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. During his studies, he worked on the AcubeSAT nanosatellite as a software, avionics and systems engineer, under ESA's Fly Your Satellite! programme. In 2022, he joined the Space Systems research group (SpaSys) at the University of Luxembourg as a Ph.D. student under Prof. Andreas Hein. His research focuses on Systems Engineering approaches for pico, femto and atto-satellites, but he also spends time developing innovative miniaturised spacecraft, such as ChipSats and PocketQubes. He is participating in the POQUITO project as a hardware and software engineer.
Preliminary design of the PocketQube for In-Orbit Technology Operations (POQUITO)
PocketQube for In-Orbit Technology Operations (POQUITO) is the first PocketQube mission developed in the Interdisciplinary Center of Security, Reliability and Trust (SnT) at the University of Luxembourg. POQUITO is a 5×5×5 cm platform that hosts a 5×5×0.2 cm ChipSat as payload. The first mission of the PocketQube program at SnT aims to further demonstrate the capability of ChipSats to acquire, process, and transmit dat in space, by leveraging the use of a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) mounted on the top side of the 1P PocketQube platform. This ChipSat will acquire data in space and relay it to the PocketQube through a visible-light link. The payload serves as a demonstration for both inter- and intra-satellite links: (1) between the ChipSat and POQUITO; and (2) within the ChipSat. POQUITO is also equipped with a deployable UHF antenna and an experimental ADCS with 3 magnetorquers developed at the University of Luxembourg. With a weight of less than 250 grams for a 1P, POQUITO will enable missions with interchangeable PCBs as payloads at low cost, with short development times, and rapid design iterations. The POQUITO mission development time amounts to 9 months and the first mission of this program will be in Q2 2024.
