Extended Lifetime of CubeSats in the Lower Thermosphere with Active Attitude Control

What is it about?

A wide variety of missions could be enabled by extended orbital flight in extreme Low Earth Orbit (eLEO), defined as an altitude range of 150 – 250 km. This study investigates the feasibility of a nanosatellite (mass < 10 kg) using a propulsive, attitude control system in conjunction with a primary propulsion system to extend mission life. Using this approach, a primary mission life of approximately 30 days could be achieved, compared with 3 days without primary propulsion.

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