Few, Alex

NASA Technical Reports Server

Development of a High Performance, Low 
Profile Translation Table with Wire 
Feedthrough for a Deep Space CubeSat
Alex Few
May 4, 2016
43rd Aerospace Mechanisms Symposium
1
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=20160007074 2019-08-31T02:48:15+00:00Z
Agenda
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 Near Earth Asteroid (NEA) Scout Overview
 Active Mass Translator (AMT) Overview
• What is “Active Mass Translation”
• Definition of Problems and Challenges
 Current Design State
 Takeaways
• Innovations
• Lessons learned
• Forward Work
NEA Scout Overview
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Goal:  
Characterize a NEA during flyby while 
demonstrating low cost reconnaissance 
capability
Vehicle and Mission Details:
• 6U CubeSat manifested on SLS Exploration 
Mission 1
• 86m^2 solar sail propulsion
• 2.5 year mission
• 1.5 x10^8 km (1 AU) distance from Earth 
AMT Overview
4
The AMT will move one portion of the NEA Scout relative to 
the other.  This translation of mass will alter the inertial 
properties of the vehicle and align the CP and CM
AMT Overview
5
Problems and Challenges
• NEA Scout’s center of mass (CM) and center of pressure (CP) are not collinear with the estimated 
thrust vector. This creates a disturbance torque.  Furthermore, the CP is fore of the CM, creating a 
naturally unstable vehicle and necessitating an active control mechanism.
• Little mass and volume available.  This challenge is compounded by the vehicle’s total mass (14 kg) 
and volume (6 Liters) requirement.  The AMT was originally given 250 grams and a volume of 226 x 
105 x 17 mm (400 cc).  This volume and mass will include: an X-Y translation stage, thermal controls, 
limit switches, and a wire harness. The wire harness must pass through the AMT and survive 
exposure to deeps space environments.
CP
CM
Thrust
Disturbance 
Torque
KEY
AMT Overview
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2X Stainless 
Lead Screws
4X Steel Rail and 
Carriages
Aluminum 
Chassis
Tape 
Heater
2X Limit 
Switch
* Stepper Motors are housed inside of the aluminum block and are not readily visible
4X Bearings
2X Stepper 
Motors*
Y
X
CAPABILITIES
• Translation:  160 X 68 mm (X & Y respectively)
• Speed:  0.3 and 0.1 mm/s (X & Y respectively)
• Precision:  0.01 mm
• Volume:  220 x 99 x 14 mm (300 cc)
• Mass:  < 350 grams (including control board)
Harness 
Feedthrough 
Volume
Current Design State
AMT Overview
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Trimmed State
CP
CM
Thrust
Disturbance 
Torque
KEY
Nominal State
Takeaways
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 Innovations
• Unique use of flight system inertial 
augmentation as trimming mechanism
• Translation Table tailored for deep space 
CubeSat environments and mechanical 
demands
• “Inverted” design allows for wire harness to 
pass through translation stage
 Lessons Learned
• Treat CubeSats as they are: lower cost, 
higher risk projects
• Test as early as possible
• Complete rough thermal and loads analysis 
between concept and revising phases
• Use additive manufacturing to increase 
design progress during prototype phase
 Forward Work
• Wire Bundle design, safety, and routing
• Development Unit Testing (life cycle, 
thermal vacuum, random vibration)
• Higher fidelity thermal and stress analysis
• Design simplification and mass reduction
 AMS Poster (36” X 48”)
Backup
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Development of a High Performance, Low Profile Translation Table with Wire Feedthrough for a Deep Space CubeSat

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