ArgoMoon

ArgoMoon

Prelaunch processing of ArgoMoon spacecraft
Operator	ASI/NASA
COSPAR ID	2022-156G
SATCATno.	55907
Mission duration	608 days
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft	ArgoMoon
Spacecraft type	CubeSat
Bus	6U CubeSat
Manufacturer	Argotec
Payload mass	14 kg (31 lb)
Dimensions	12 cm x 24 cm x 36 cm
Power	watts
Start of mission
Launch date	16 November 2022, 06:47:44 UTC
Rocket	SLS Block 1
Launch site	KSC,LC-39B
Contractor	NASA
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Heliocentric orbit

ArgoMoonis aCubeSatthat was launched into aheliocentric orbitonArtemis 1,the maiden flight of theSpace Launch System,on 16 November 2022 at 06:47:44 UTC.The objective of the ArgoMoon spacecraft is to take detailed images of theInterim Cryogenic Propulsion Stagefollowing Orion separation, an operation that will demonstrate the ability of a cubesat to conduct precise proximity maneuvers in deep space. ASI has not confirmed nor denied whether this took place, but several images of the Earth and the Moon were taken.

ArgoMoon will complete its operations using proprietary software for autonomous navigation. The spacecraft will also demonstrate long-distance optical communication with Earth.

History

TheOrion spacecraftis the primary payload ofArtemis 1.The main focus of the Artemis 1 mission is demonstrating SLS and Orion operations, however the absence of cargo allowed for the opportunity to launch several low-mass cubesats along with Orion assecondary payloads.

In September 2015, NASA opened an invitation for proposals of 6U cubesats to be launched as part of the mission. Among the proposals evaluated by theItalian Space Agency(ASI), theEuropean Space Agency(ESA), and finallyNASA,theArgotecproposal was one of the selected spacecraft. ArgoMoon will be the only European satellite to participate in the mission.

Objectives

Argotec engineers noticed the inability of theInterim Cryogenic Propulsion Stageto send telemetry during the CubeSat deployment phase, which occurs a few hours after the separation of the Orion spacecraft. It was this issue that triggered Argotec to propose a satellite capable of performing a proximity flight with the ICPS, able to take photographs and provide an inspection to confirm the success of CubeSat deployment.

Before being injected into aheliocentric orbitbecause of thelunar flyby,ArgoMoon will perform a propulsive maneuver to close in ageocentric orbit.The second part of the mission will last a few months up to the natural decay of the satellite. During these months, the satellite will collect telemetry validating thenanotechnologyon board the platform in the hostile environment of deep space. Up to now, CubeSats were mainly targeted to Earth observation missions, where the satellite are naturally shielded from radiation by theEarth's magnetic field.

Satellite configuration

ArgoMoon will have a hybrid propulsion system,monopropellantandcold gas thrusters,to provideattitude control(orientation) andorbital maneuvering.LMP-103S monopropellant is based onammonium dinitramide.Cold gas thrusters useR-134ahydrofluorocarbon.

• Primary propulsion:for orbit maintenance during the proximity flight and for a change of the orbit to avoid the lunar flyby;
• Secondary propulsion:as actuator forattitude controllaw, since the satellite is too far from the Earth to use the Earth's magnetic field.

Another peculiarity of ArgoMoon is the use of radiation-resistant components. The absence of the protection provided by the magnetosphere requires the selection of components that have been designed and tested to withstandradiation.In order to provide detailed photographs of the mission, ArgoMoon is equipped with a narrow field of view camera to acquire inspectionphotography.This optical payload is supported by another one with wide field of view to provide images to the onboard computer where an imaging software process them in order to perform autonomous navigation and target fine pointing.

Project and development

In September 2015,Argotecdelivered the ArgoMoon proposal toNASA.The proposal was reviewed and approved byItalian Space Agency(ASI),European Space Agency(ESA) and then by NASA. The project is coordinated by the Italian Space Agency and the satellite launch is planned as a secondary payload of theArtemis 1mission.

Argotec engineers worked in the definition of the mission objectives and phases, the mission analysis, and the configuration of the satellite. The electrical power subsystem, the on-board computer, and the on-board software are designed and developed by Argotec as well, including the imaging software for target recognition and pointing.

The selection of the components or units vendors has preferred European companies where available.

See also

The 10CubeSatsflying in theArtemis 1mission

• Near-Earth Asteroid ScoutbyNASAwas asolar sailspacecraft that was planned to encounter anear-Earth asteroid(mission failure)
• BioSentinelis anastrobiologymission
• LunIRbyLockheed Martin Space
• Lunar IceCube,by theMorehead State University
• CubeSat for Solar Particles(CuSP)
• Lunar Polar Hydrogen Mapper(LunaH-Map), designed by theArizona State University
• EQUULEUS,submitted byJAXAand theUniversity of Tokyo
• OMOTENASHI,submitted by JAXA, was a lunar lander (mission failure)
• ArgoMoon, designed byArgotecand coordinated byItalian Space Agency(ASI)
• Team Miles,by Fluid and Reason LLC,Tampa, Florida

The 3 CubeSat missions removed from Artemis 1

• Lunar Flashlightwill map exposed water ice on theMoon
• Cislunar Explorers,Cornell University,Ithaca, New York
• Earth Escape Explorer(CU-E³),University of Colorado Boulder