Aeneas

Aeneas [USC]

Aeneas is a nanosatellite project of the University of Southern California/Space Engineering Research Center (USC/SERC). This program modifies a 3U (30 × 10 × 10 cm) National Reconnaissance Office (NRO)-specified Colony I CubeSat (3U) bus to address a research thrust of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The delivery of Aeneas is scheduled for January of 2011 and the flight is manifested for June of 2012.

Aeneas contains two payloads:

• The primary payload is tracking cargo containers over the open ocean with a 1 watt WiFi-like transceiver. A current tracking system for cargo containers, designed by the primary payload provider iControl Inc., is capable of identifying the container within a mile from shore, but loses all contact for the majority of the open-water journey. For both government and non-government entities, the ability to track containers in transit is highly valued. This mission uses a custom-built deployable mesh antenna, and stretches the attitude control and power generation capabilities of the Colony I bus to its limits.
• The secondary payload is an experimental, next-generation, radiation-hardened flight processor. On Aeneas, the processor is space-qualified by performing self-diagnostic checks and reporting the results back to the ground.

An improved version was planned as PTecSat.