Research Scholarships: Build the Future of Space with Binar

We’re looking for PhD students to help us build the next generation of Australian small spacecraft and explore the solar system.

2024 RTP round – Distributed Fault-tolerant Small Spacecraft Architecture

Supervised by Dr Robert Howie – Contact Robert for more information or to apply here.

Overview: The Space Science and Technology Centre at Curtin University is building highly capable small spacecraft within its Binar Space Program. Our first spacecraft, Binar-1, which trialled our ultra-compact spacecraft platform was launched in October 2021, and we’re currently building the next three spacecraft, Binar-2, Binar-3 and Binar-4, for launch in the first half of 2024. With each iteration we are evolving our capability whilst retaining a highly compact platform which keeps around 70% of a 1U CubeSat available for mission payload. As we prepare for our flagship mission, Binar Prospector, which will travel to a low altitude orbit around the Moon and search for resources to enable the next era of space exploration, we are interested in exploring new ways to increase the reliability of small spacecraft via incorporating redundancy at the system level.
As small spacecraft are increasingly travelling beyond low Earth orbit, there is an increasing need to increase the fault tolerance to produce more reliable spacecraft, but this needs to be implemented without significantly increasing cost, mass and volume to retain the cost and timeline advantages of small spacecraft. This project aims to investigate ways to build small spacecraft with additional fault tolerance while minimising the added complexity to better inform the space systems architecture used on future Binar space missions.

Aims: The aims of the research project are to investigate the benefits and limitations of a fault spacecraft architecture using a distributed systems approach leveraging standard communications and networking protocols used in commercial terrestrial fields (including computing, automotive, and the industrial Internet of Things) as well as modern network-enabled real time operating systems.

Objectives: The objectives of the research are to develop a proof-of-concept fault tolerant distributed spacecraft architecture and compare the approach and performance with the traditional approaches (component hardening, component redundancy using voter circuits) via test and analysis for a variety of mission scenarios both in Earth orbit, and beyond. The trade-off between fault tolerance provided by system level redundancy and increased complexity viewed through the lens of mission risk will be a key focus of the work. Whilst this entire project can be successfully completed with ground testing alone, an additional aim is to also conduct some on-orbit testing of the approach.

An early step in the work may focus on developing and testing a proof-of-concept implementation using microcontroller or microprocessor based nodes (representing spacecraft subsystems) connected via an IoT communication protocol such as CoAP on an IP network over single pair ethernet, but the exact nature of this first proof-of-concept implementation will be determined by the successful applicant themselves.

Significance: The outcomes of this work will guide the future directions of the Binar spacecraft program which aims reduce the barriers to space activity and space exploration. The lessons learned will directly guide the development of future Binar spacecraft platforms, and in particular our flagship Binar Prospector Lunar mission.

The work will involve space system architecture design, distributed systems, embedded software development, embedded electronics hardware development and assembly, ground testing in relevant environments (thermal vacuum chamber, vibration testing), flight qualification, on orbit operations and publication.

This project will present opportunities to build hardware and develop software that will fly in space and opportunities to engage with SSTC’s industry partners and opportunities to complete a PhD internship at an industry partner.

Curtin University scholarship page for more information including stipend rates and eligibility. Please contact Dr Robert Howie to express your interest and apply.

2024 RTP round – Low Altitude Lunar Imaging

Supervised by Professor Phil Bland – Contact Phil for more information or to apply here.
Image Credit: Frank Borman, NASA. December 24, 1968.

Overview: The Space Science and Technology Centre at Curtin University is building highly capable small spacecraft within its Binar Space Program. Our first spacecraft, Binar-1, which trialled our ultra-compact spacecraft platform was launched in October 2021, and we’re currently building the next three spacecraft, Binar-2, Binar-3 and Binar-4, for launch in the first half of 2024. With each iteration we are evolving our capability whilst retaining a highly compact platform which keeps around 70% of a 1U CubeSat available for mission payload. As we prepare for our flagship mission, Binar Prospector, which will travel to a low altitude orbit around the Moon and search for resources to enable the next era of space exploration, we are interested in exploring new ways to increase the reliability of small spacecraft via incorporating redundancy at the system level.
In order to deliver high resolution magnetometry, Binar Prospector will regularly operate at lower altitudes than previous Lunar orbiters. This unique perspective of the Moon will present an opportunity to capture inspiring and scientifically valuable imagery.

Aims: The aims of the research project are to investigate the trade space for low altitude (10-30 km) Lunar imaging systems considering a broad range of options including multiple camera, multi-band and computational imaging systems with the goal of maximising the scientific and programmatic benefits of the opportunity provided by this unique perspective. Following the trade study, the project aims to develop, qualify and fly a prototype system to fly on a low Earth orbit pathfinder spacecraft to prove the critical systems ahead of the Lunar science mission.
A particular focus of the system will be on collecting high resolution imagery of possible future landing sites for robotic and human landings under NASA’s Moon to Mars Program. Current imagery is limited in spatial resolution and only available from an overhead perspective. Higher spatial resolution and oblique views will provide better insight into landing obstacles and allow mission designers to retire significant mission risk.

Objectives: In order to accomplish the aims, the first objective of this research project is to complete the trade study via analysis. The results of the trade study will be used to design an imaging system which will be ground tested, spaceflight qualified and then undergo integration testing with the pathfinder spacecraft platform. During the system design, the opportunities to capture inspiring imagery for STEM engagement with the general public will also be considered. Should the system successfully fly in Earth orbit, Earth observation data from the system will also be used to validate the system design.

Significance: The outcomes of this work will shape the design of the imaging system on the Binar prospector Lunar spacecraft and the type of scientifically valuable and inspiring imagery captured during the mission. If successful, the imaging system architecture will be reused on future Australian planetary missions to other destinations such as Mars or near Earth asteroids.
The imagery collected during the Lunar science mission with the imaging system designed during this project, could influence the direction of humanity’s space exploration by providing unique observations of potential landing sites for future human and robotic landing missions.
The work will involve trade studies by analysis, imaging system development, embedded electronics, computer vision, assembly, ground testing in relevant environments (thermal vacuum chamber, vibration testing), flight qualification, on-orbit operations and publication.
This project will present opportunities to build hardware and develop software that will fly in space and opportunities to engage with SSTC’s industry partners. The Space Science & Technology Centre (SSTC) is the largest planetary science group in the southern hemisphere comprising ≈40 researchers with expertise across the planetary sciences, including planetary geology, fireball physics, impact crater analysis and statistics, and Solar System formation. The candidate will be exposed to a wide range of support from all personnel at levels, including academic and professional support, and will enjoy collegiate support from their PhD peers.

This project may provide an internship opportunity.

Curtin University scholarship page for more information including stipend rates and eligibility. Please contact Professor Phil Bland to express your interest and apply.

2024 RTP round – Low Cost Navigation for Small Lunar Missions

Supervised by Professor Phil Bland – Contact Phil for more information or to apply here.

Overview: The Space Science and Technology Centre at Curtin University is building highly capable small spacecraft within its Binar Space Program. Our first spacecraft, Binar-1, which trialled our ultra-compact spacecraft platform was launched in October 2021, and we’re currently building the next three spacecraft, Binar-2, Binar-3 and Binar-4, for launch in the first half of 2024. This will be followed by Binar Prospector Pathfinder in low Earth orbit and Binar Prospector science mission in low Lunar orbit.

The future Binar Prospector spacecraft are in a uniquely low orbit, close to the lunar surface. There is the opportunity to equip these (and other) spacecraft with the capability to take data from scientific sensors, most notably images, attitude control sensor results and illumination information, and fuse this data with predictions, to improve orbit determination and control. This outcome will further generate new scientific results by enhancing the spatial precision of the mission’s primary dataset: Lunar magnetometry.

Aims: The aim of this research project is to investigate the viability of a sensor fusion based approach to either real-time on board navigation or offline orbit reconstruction for future small (<50 kg) Lunar orbiters. If successful, this approach will lead to enhancements in scientific return, and improved mission capabilities. The results of this work will be applicability to other small and lower-cost Lunar obiters beyond the Binar Space Program.

Objectives: In order to determine the viability of the approach, the research will start by building an orbit determination model based on traditional ground-segment based (range and range rate) orbit determination. The investigation will then focus on the suite of additional data sources available (including illumination, optical imagers, horizon sensors, star trackers) and modelling the additional certainty they can add to the orbital and position estimates, either in an online real-time implementation for navigation or an offline after the fact implementation for improved orbit reconstruction for science data.

To build and demonstrate system for improving scientific capabilities of small satellites in Earth and Moon, by improving navigation capabilities, to a) reduce team costs, b) reduce complexity of ground-spacecraft control loop, c) enable more science by better positional awareness, control and capability.

Significance: Ground stations capable of conducting orbit determination and communications for Lunar spacecraft are tightly constrained and highly specialised resource and will be a significant bottleneck for robotic planetary missions to the Moon and beyond in the near to medium term. The operations costs associated with the ground segment time required for accurate orbit reconstruction or to operate at low altitudes are also a significant fraction of a mission budget.

Navigation or orbit reconstruction approaches that do not rely on orbit determination via the ground segment would unlock this bottleneck to allow humanity to operate more space exploration missions beyond Earth orbit which will be important as the Moon is now within reach for small spacecraft developers.

This project may provide an internship opportunity. Candidates will have the opportunity during their thesis to apply for competitive internship projects with NASA, and other internship opportunities through SSTC’s existing industry partners.

Curtin University scholarship page for more information including stipend rates and eligibility. Please contact Professor Phil Bland to express your interest and apply.

Less of an engineer, more of a scientist?

Head over to sstc.curtin.edu.au to see all of SSTC’s HDR projects & scholarship opportunities including those focussed on planetary science, fireballs & meteorites.