{"id":168952,"date":"2020-07-23T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-07-23T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/facfox.com\/news\/?p=168952"},"modified":"2024-10-21T07:49:41","modified_gmt":"2024-10-21T07:49:41","slug":"first-1p-pocketqube-flight-ready-manufactured-entirely-via-laser-sintering-process-and-carbon-composite-material-marketing-and-content","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/news\/first-1p-pocketqube-flight-ready-manufactured-entirely-via-laser-sintering-process-and-carbon-composite-material-marketing-and-content\/","title":{"rendered":"First 1P PocketQube flight-ready manufactured entirely via laser sintering process and carbon-composite material Marketing and Content"},"content":{"rendered":"

US-based CRP USA manufactured three engineering models for Mini-Cubes. It is the first time that entire PocketQube functional prototypes flight-ready are manufactured using a carbon-reinforced composite material \u2013 Windform\u00ae XT 2.0 \u2013 and laser sintering process<\/p>\n

Recently Joseph Latrell, CEO of Mini-Cubes, LLC and his team started a project based on the engineering of a new 1P PocketQube flight-ready, named Discovery. The aim of the project is the creation of a constellation of PocketQube satellites for monitoring a specific Earth\u2019s resource, water.<\/p>\n

Latrell turned to CRP USA for the manufacture of the entire satellite frame via laser sintering process using one material form the Windform TOP-LINE family of composite materials for laser sintering, the Carbon fiber reinforced Windform XT 2.0, created by Italy-based CRP Technology.<\/p>\n

The main challenges were related to the small dimension of the satellite and to the material \u2013 since it was the first time that an entire satellite would be built from a Carbon-composite material.<\/p>\n

Joe Latrell comments, \u201cDiscovery is a PocketQube satellite. These spacecraft are amongst the smallest with 50mm x 50mm x 50mm internal volume. Our particular satellite is a demonstration of what can be done for remote sensing of Earth\u2019s resources on that scale. The challenge with something so small is to fit the electronics, camera, and radio system into it.<\/p>\n

The assignment was tough \u2013 the Windform parts in the Discovery would be mission-critical.<\/p>\n

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As Joe Latrell clarifies, \u201cThis was the first time an entire satellite would be manufactured from a material like Windform XT 2.0. Performance is everything. If anyone of the parts fail, it would result in complete failure of the spacecraft.\u201d<\/p>\n

CRP USA manufactured for Mini-Cubes three 1P PocketQubes functional prototypes: two for testing and one for flight.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe\u2019s team brings a unique challenge as they are packing a lot in a small package. Our team was able to use our experience with Windform\u00ae to help move the project forward,\u201d stated Stewart Davis, Director of Operations at CRP USA.<\/p>\n

Joe Latrell comments, \u201cWe have run quite a few tests with many more on the way. So far we have load tested to over 20 Kg. The material has been vibration tested to NASA GEVS-7000 specifications, subjected to a near-vacuum to simulate the conditions in Earth orbit, and thermally tested from +50c to -40c. Windform\u00ae XT 2.0 has passed every test we threw at it.\u201d<\/p>\n

He continues, \u201cThe next step for us is to test the satellite on orbit. This will be the final validation for our process. The plan is to launch sometime in Q2 2021.\u201d<\/p>\n

For more information:<\/strong><\/p>\n