Edison Demonstration of Smallsat Networks

Edison Demonstration of Smallsat Networks (EDSN) is a CubeSat Satellite constellation by NASA Ames developed as a technology demonstration of satellite networking. The constellation will consist of 8 identical satellites. The satellites follow the CubeSat specifications for a 1.5U CubeSat.

EDSN is funded through the Small Spacecraft Technology Program (SSTP). Additionally, NASA Ames has partnered with NASA Marshall, Montana State University, and Santa Clara University. All 8 CubeSats were destroyed during a launch failure of the Super Strypi rocket on November 3, 2015.

Mission
The eight identical spacecraft use absolute timing obtained from GPS Satellites to maintain a schedule. Each day, one satellite acts as a Captain and the rest act as Lieutenants. Each spacecraft is able to act as a Captain, and the role of Captain rotates through the constellation each 25-hour period. Lieutenants only communicate with the Captain, and the Captain is responsible for downlinking to an earth station.

Lifetime
NASA has estimated a 60-day mission lifetime, at which time the satellites will drift apart beyond the 100–120 km estimated range of the cross link and no longer be able to network.

Orbit
The constellation is planned for a 500 km altitude.

Design
EDSN is using Triangular Advanced Solar Cells (TASC) for power generation. Intersatellite communications will be on UHF via a tapespring antenna. Ground communications are via an S-band patch antenna. The spacecrafts use magnetometers and gyroscopes as attitude determination instruments and reaction wheels and torque coils for attitude control.

Cross link occurs via the UHF transceiver and on a UHF monopole with an estimated maximum range of 100–120 km. The link is initiated when the captain pings the specific Lieutenant's ID. The specified Lieutenant will then respond with data to be downlinked. Downlink occurs on S-Band between the current captain and ground station.

The flight computer is a Samsung Nexus S smartphone.