Avionics for a small satellite

This paper discusses a small, seven and a half (7.5) inch diameter, satellite that NASA-JSC is developing as a technology demonstrator for an astronaut assistant. The free flyer, the Mini-AERCam, is designed to off load the flight crew’s workload by performing inspections of the exteriors of the Space Shuttle or International Space Station. The Mini-AERCam is intended to be operated by the flight crew, thereby reducing the number of Extra Vehicle Activities (EVA) and reducing crew workload as a result. The paper focuses on the design constraints for a small satellite and the technology approach used to achieve the set of high performance requirements specified for the Mini-AERCam. Particular attention is paid to the flight computer as it is the system integration point of the Mini-AERCam.