A Framework for sizing, designing, and testing of Electrical Power System for nanosatellites: A case study of a 3U university Cubesat

Because a CubeSat’s Electrical Power System (EPS) must endure the hostile space environment, which includes radiation, temperature fluctuations, and electrostatic discharge, its dependability is essential to the mission’s success. Based on real-world mission experience, this study presents the first...

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Main Authors: Youssef El Hachimi, Amina Daghouri, Hassane Mahmoudi, Abdelaali Ouhammam, Soumia El Hani
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:e-Prime: Advances in Electrical Engineering, Electronics and Energy
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772671125001251
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author Youssef El Hachimi
Amina Daghouri
Hassane Mahmoudi
Abdelaali Ouhammam
Soumia El Hani
author_facet Youssef El Hachimi
Amina Daghouri
Hassane Mahmoudi
Abdelaali Ouhammam
Soumia El Hani
author_sort Youssef El Hachimi
collection DOAJ
description Because a CubeSat’s Electrical Power System (EPS) must endure the hostile space environment, which includes radiation, temperature fluctuations, and electrostatic discharge, its dependability is essential to the mission’s success. Based on real-world mission experience, this study presents the first organized paradigm that addresses the whole CubeSat EPS development lifecycle, including sizing, design, integration, and qualification. By conforming to the project life cycles of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the European Cooperation for Space Standardization (ECSS), the framework guarantees adherence to space standards and facilitates the early detection of possible design flaws. In order to guarantee energy sufficiency before hardware development, the framework offers early insights into power generation, storage needs, and subsystem consumption through its Mission Design and Preliminary Power Budget phases. While SIMULINK facilitates preliminary electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) analysis, which aids in identifying design hazards associated with heat dissipation and conducted emissions, COMSOL Multiphysics is utilized for thermal evaluation during the EPS Design phase. By addressing important concerns prior to manufacturing, these early tests increase reliability and lower development costs. The robustness and practical use of the suggested methodology are illustrated by a real-world CubeSat case study, which validates each stage through hardware implementation and environmental and functional testing. In addition to addressing a significant vacuum in the literature, this study enables more dependable and reproducible CubeSat EPS designs for upcoming space missions by offering a comprehensive, mission-driven, and standards-compliant development approach.
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series e-Prime: Advances in Electrical Engineering, Electronics and Energy
spelling doaj-art-7d0aee66b9f8437f8d821c52a4a0f5c02025-08-20T03:45:04ZengElseviere-Prime: Advances in Electrical Engineering, Electronics and Energy2772-67112025-06-011210101810.1016/j.prime.2025.101018A Framework for sizing, designing, and testing of Electrical Power System for nanosatellites: A case study of a 3U university CubesatYoussef El Hachimi0Amina Daghouri1Hassane Mahmoudi2Abdelaali Ouhammam3Soumia El Hani4Power Electronics, Smart Control Techniques, Automatic and Robotics Team, EMI, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Av Ibn Sina, 765, Rabat, Morocco; University Center for Research in Space Technologies, EMI, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Av Ibn Sina, 765, Rabat, Morocco; Corresponding author at: Mohammadia School of Engineers, Av Ibn sina, 765, Rabat, Morocco.University Center for Research in Space Technologies, EMI, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Av Ibn Sina, 765, Rabat, MoroccoPower Electronics, Smart Control Techniques, Automatic and Robotics Team, EMI, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Av Ibn Sina, 765, Rabat, MoroccoPower Electronics, Smart Control Techniques, Automatic and Robotics Team, EMI, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Av Ibn Sina, 765, Rabat, Morocco; University Center for Research in Space Technologies, EMI, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Av Ibn Sina, 765, Rabat, MoroccoEnergy Optimization, Diagnosis and Control Team, ENSAMR, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Av. des Forces Armées Royales, 10100, Rabat, MoroccoBecause a CubeSat’s Electrical Power System (EPS) must endure the hostile space environment, which includes radiation, temperature fluctuations, and electrostatic discharge, its dependability is essential to the mission’s success. Based on real-world mission experience, this study presents the first organized paradigm that addresses the whole CubeSat EPS development lifecycle, including sizing, design, integration, and qualification. By conforming to the project life cycles of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the European Cooperation for Space Standardization (ECSS), the framework guarantees adherence to space standards and facilitates the early detection of possible design flaws. In order to guarantee energy sufficiency before hardware development, the framework offers early insights into power generation, storage needs, and subsystem consumption through its Mission Design and Preliminary Power Budget phases. While SIMULINK facilitates preliminary electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) analysis, which aids in identifying design hazards associated with heat dissipation and conducted emissions, COMSOL Multiphysics is utilized for thermal evaluation during the EPS Design phase. By addressing important concerns prior to manufacturing, these early tests increase reliability and lower development costs. The robustness and practical use of the suggested methodology are illustrated by a real-world CubeSat case study, which validates each stage through hardware implementation and environmental and functional testing. In addition to addressing a significant vacuum in the literature, this study enables more dependable and reproducible CubeSat EPS designs for upcoming space missions by offering a comprehensive, mission-driven, and standards-compliant development approach.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772671125001251FrameworkCubesatsElectrical Power SystemDesignFunctional testsEnvironmental tests
spellingShingle Youssef El Hachimi
Amina Daghouri
Hassane Mahmoudi
Abdelaali Ouhammam
Soumia El Hani
A Framework for sizing, designing, and testing of Electrical Power System for nanosatellites: A case study of a 3U university Cubesat
e-Prime: Advances in Electrical Engineering, Electronics and Energy
Framework
Cubesats
Electrical Power System
Design
Functional tests
Environmental tests
title A Framework for sizing, designing, and testing of Electrical Power System for nanosatellites: A case study of a 3U university Cubesat
title_full A Framework for sizing, designing, and testing of Electrical Power System for nanosatellites: A case study of a 3U university Cubesat
title_fullStr A Framework for sizing, designing, and testing of Electrical Power System for nanosatellites: A case study of a 3U university Cubesat
title_full_unstemmed A Framework for sizing, designing, and testing of Electrical Power System for nanosatellites: A case study of a 3U university Cubesat
title_short A Framework for sizing, designing, and testing of Electrical Power System for nanosatellites: A case study of a 3U university Cubesat
title_sort framework for sizing designing and testing of electrical power system for nanosatellites a case study of a 3u university cubesat
topic Framework
Cubesats
Electrical Power System
Design
Functional tests
Environmental tests
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772671125001251
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