UCAnFly, a CubeSat project from the University of Cadiz, Spain, is marking significant strides toward its own production and launch.
Part of the third edition of Fly Your Satellite!, an ESA Education program, UCAnFly is one-unit (1U, 10x10x10cm) CubeSat, with a mission to allow on-orbit validation of a magnetic measurement subsystem, MELISA-II, based on chip-scale magnetoresistive sensors with dedicated low-frequency noise reduction techniques.
The team was able to make noteworthy progresses in the past months, such as passing the Delta Critical Design Review, an important milestone that attests to the satellite’s robust design and engineering. The project has also undertaken the manufacturing and testing of the Qualification Model (QM), and in February 2023, the payload qualification model of UCAnFly has successfully passed the Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) test campaign in ESTEC (Netherlands), verifying that EMC radiated emissions and susceptibility of the payload are compatible with the requirements of the UCAnFly platform.
Subsequently, in May of 2023 at the CubeSat Support Facility in ESEC (Belgium), the payload environmental qualification has been completed, showcasing UCAnFly readiness to endure the extreme environment of space.
Furthermore, the project’s groundwork has focused on securing a laminar flow bench, integrated within the university laboratory to ensure a controlled environment with adequate cleanliness levels. This facility has been used to inspect and begin tests of the component-off-the-shelf units that compose the satellite.
The team is currently working toward the preparation of interface tests and FlatSat test campaign, with its interlinked subsystems spread out across a table, before the CubeSat is ready for integration.
