Operational Considerations for a Swarm of CubeSat-Class Spacecraft

A growing community of scientists are interested in collecting data from multiple points in low Earth orbit (LEO), necessitating the production and management of swarms or constellations of spacecraft. The budgetary constraints currently levied on many space organizations makes the use of smaller spacecraft for these science missions ideal, however using comparatively small spacecraft is not without its consequences. In particular, these spacecraft are subject to much stricter mass, volume, and power constraints, making integration and operation of advanced science payloads more complicated. This paper will study the challenges and constraints associated with deploying a swarm of CubeSat-class spacecraft into LEO for the purpose of performing a simple space weather experiment. An emphasis will be placed on the guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) system, given that GNC hardware for CubeSats remains at a relatively low technology readiness level yet plays a crucial role for many multi-point science missions.