The high reliability southwest LEO Explorer (SLX-6) CubeSat bus

Abstract

Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) has developed the Southwest LEO EXplorer (SLX-6), a standard 6U CubeSat in a 2U × 3U form factor intended to carry a payload into a variety of Low Earth Orbits. SLX-6 also serves as the basis for the Southwest Deep-Space Explorer (SDX-6) that SwRI is developing for the CubeSat mission to study Solar Particles (CuSP) mission (Figure 2). The SLX-6 is built to a tailored NPR-7120 approach adapted from SwRI's experience in Class B, C, and D missions. Program execution will include bus component selection, testing, and analysis; mechanical design and analysis (structural and thermal); bus and Attitude Determination and Control Subsystem (ADCS) flight software (FSW) definition and tailoring; bus Electrical Ground Support Equipment (which transitions into the ground data system); Assembly Integration and Testing (AIT and NASA operations support. The SLX-6 is novel in three distinct ways when compared to other off-the-shelf CubeSat solutions: the SLX-6 is a high reliability bus; it is robust to all space environments, including radiation; and SwRI offers a one-stop-shop for all portions of a satellite mission. The SLX-6 is designed with a robust parts program that is derived and tailored from EEE-INST-002 to be cost competitive. This same parts program is invoked when selecting radiation tolerant components. Analysis is performed in-house to ensure that the mechanical design of the observatory is compatible with environments in GEVS (GSFC-STDF-7000A). SwRI has extensive experience with all portions of satellite design and test: electrical analysis, design, and test; mechanical analysis, design, and test; flight software analysis, design, and test; component- and bus-level integration, testing, and qualification. SwRI is also presently evaluating quotes a 13meter multi-band ground station on campus. This paper will address the CubeSat description, subsystems, analysis and testing philosophies, and integration and testing approach.