The Spacecraft

A spacecraft or artificial satellite can be comprised of eight hardware subsystems: Command & Data Handing (C&DH), Electrical Power System (EPS), Guidance, Navigation, & Control (GN&C), Structures & Mechanisms (S&M), Telemetry, Tracking, & Command (TT&C), Thermal Control, Payload, and Propulsion. Non- hardware subsystems include Flight Software, an orbital analysis team, a Mission Operations Center (MOC), and a Ground Control Station (GCS). ABEX does not feature propulsion and includes particle radiation analysis within the Thermal Control team. Let’s learn more about the ABEX subsystems.

Subsystem Teams

ABEX employs a Models Based System Engineering (MBSE) approach with a SysML Integrated Systems Model (ISM) to manage work tasks, interface control, requirements, risks, Verification & Validation (V&V) procedures, and system reliability.

The University of Alabama in Huntsville - Dr. L. Dale Thomas

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The ABEX orbit profile, launch considerations, orbital elements, and deorbit conditions.

Auburn University - Dr. Davide Guzzetti

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The ABEX Gamma and X-ray detector payload helps humanity answer questions about GRB energy, dissipation, composition, and prompt radiation mechanisms.

The University of Alabama in Huntsville - Dr. Michael Briggs

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How the spacecraft determines and controls its orientation in space.

University of South Alabama - Dr. Carlos Montalvo

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How the satellite generates, stores, distributes, and consumes electrical energy.

The University of Alabama - Dr. Jaber Abu Qahouq

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How the spacecraft communicates with Earth.

University of South Alabama - Dr. Saeed Latif

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The satellite's brain and nervous system.

The University of Alabama - Dr. Patrick Kung

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ABEX uses the same software as the Mars Ingenuity Helicopter.

Auburn University - Dr. Xiao Qin

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How the spacecraft survives launch conditions and the vacuum of space plus the mechanisms used once we’re up there.

Auburn University - Dr. Russell Mailen

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What heats the spacecraft up, cools it down, and protects it from electromagnetic and particle radiation in space.

Auburn University - Dr. Nicholas Tsolas

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NASA’s Near Space Network helps ABEX communicate in space.

Chief, Advanced Projects Office, Wallops Flight Facility - Scott Schaire

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Where ABEX is controlled from Earth.

The University of Alabama in Huntsville - Dr. Matt Turner & Dr. P. J. Benfield

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