The Present & Future of the Brazilian INPE-UFSM NANOSATC-BR, CubeSats Development Program

Abstract. The Brazilian INPE-UFSM NANOSATC-BR CubeSats Development Program, the related Capacity Building Program (CBP), the results of the NANOSATC-BR1, the first Brazilian CubeSat launched from Russia in June 2014, and the Program's future and present are discussed. The NANOSATC-BR Program consists of two CubeSats, NANOSATC-BR1 (1U) & NANOSATC-BR2 (2U). NANOSATC-BR2 is expected to operate in orbit for at least 12 months, while NANOSATC-BR1 this year has completed more than four years in orbit operation. The CBP is concerned with activities in space science, engineering and computer sciences for the development of space technologies using CubeSats satellites. The INPE-UFSM’s CBP has the involvement of UFSM's undergraduate students, graduate students from MG/II/UFRGS, ITA/DCTA/CA-MD, and the participation of INPE’s graduate students in the Onboard Data Handling (OBDH) subsystem development, verification and validation for the NANOSATC-BR2. The NANOSATC-BR1 & NANOSATC-BR2 Projects Ground Stations (GS) can operate with VHF/UHF band and S-band antennas. This paper also focuses on the future development of NANOSATC-BR3 & NANOSATC-BR4, in a partnership with the UFSM's Aerospace Engineering Course and on the launching of NANOSATC-BR2. The Program’s concepts were developed (i) monitor the Geospace in real time and determine the effects concerning the very close environment (by measuring the Earth's Magnetic field, the Ionosphere, and the energetic particle precipitation) and (ii) study the disturbances at the Earth's Magnetosphere-ionosphere system over the Brazilian Territory. The Program has received financial support from the Brazilian Space Agency (AEB) and the Ministry of Science, Technology, Innovation and Communications (MCTIC).