Systems Integration and Test of the Lunar Flashlight Spacecraft

• Main Authors: Cheek, Nathan, Gonzalez, Collin, Adell, Phillippe, Baker, John, Ryan, Chad, Statham, Shannon, Lightsey, E. Glenn, Smith, Celeste R., Awald, Conner, Ready, Jud
• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: DigitalCommons@USU 2022
• Subjects: South Pole; South pole
• Online Access: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/smallsat/2022/all2022/149; https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=5308&context=smallsat

Lunar Flashlight is a 6U CubeSat launching in late 2022 or early 2023 that will search for surface water ice content in permanently shadowed regions at the south pole of the Moon using infrared relative reflectance spectroscopy. The mission will act as a technology demonstration of an Advanced Spacecraft Energetic NonToxic (ASCENT) green propulsion system and active laser spectroscopy within the CubeSat form-factor. This paper provides an overview of the entire Systems Integration and Test campaign which took place at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the Georgia Institute of Technology. From initial testing of the isolated avionics and payload subsystems to the final tests with a fully integrated spacecraft, the project’s integration and test campaign is reviewed, with a focus on lessons learned.