Accession Number:

ADA564129

Title:

Ho' oponopono: A Radar Calibration CubeSat

Descriptive Note:

Final rept. Feb 2009-May 2011

Corporate Author:

HAWAII UNIV HONOLULU

Personal Author(s):

• Shiroma, Wayne A.
• Martin, Larry K.
• Fisher, Nicholas G.
• Jones, Windell H.
• Furumo, John G.
• Ah Heong, Jr, James R.
• Umeda, Monica M.

Report Date:

2011-10-13

Pagination or Media Count:

17.0

Abstract:

To accurately identify and track objects over its territories, the US military must regularly monitor and calibrate its 80 C-band radar tracking stations distributed around the world. Unfortunately, only two calibration satellites are currently in service, and both have been operating well past their operational lifetimes. Losing either satellite will result in a community of users that no longer has a reliable means of radar performance monitoring and calibration. This paper not only presents the first radar calibration satellite in a CubeSat form factor, but also demonstrates the ability of a university student team to address an urgent operational need at very low cost while simultaneously providing immense educational value. Our CubeSat is named Ho oponopono to make right in Hawaiian, an appropriate name for a calibration satellite. The government-furnished payload suite consists of a C-band transponder, GPS unit, and associated antennas, all housed in a 3U CubeSat form factor. Ho oponopono was the basis for the University of Hawaii s participation in the AFOSR University Nanosat-6 Program, a rigorous two-year satellite design and fabrication competition. Ho oponopono was also selected by NASA as a participant in its CubeSat Launch Initiative for an upcoming launch.

Descriptors:

• *RADAR
• ARTIFICIAL SATELLITES
• C BAND
• CALIBRATION
• EDUCATION
• MONITORING
• RADAR TRACKING

Subject Categories:

• Active and Passive Radar Detection and Equipment

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE