The Lunar Mission BW1 is a 1 m cube small satellite of approx. 200 kg for lunar exploration and technology demonstration beyond low Earth orbit planned to be launched end of the decade as a piggyback payload from a geostationary transfer orbit (GTO). The challenging project is the forth mission of the "Stuttgart Small Satellite Program" initiated in 2002 at the Institute of Space Systems (IRS) of the Universitaet Stuttgart, Germany incorporating diploma/masters and Ph.D. students as well as academic and industrial partners. The orbiter will demonstrate the ability of an academic institution to participate and contribute to space exploration by designing, building and operating a complete space probe. As a test bed for innovative technologies as well as creative low-cost solutions the Lunar Mission BW1 will perform remote sensing experiments at the Moon and cis-lunar observations. Examples of technology evaluations are the main electric propulsion systems, the new carbon-fibre-sandwich-structure, advanced on-board-computer and high bandwidth radio frequency/microwave communication systems. The ammonia-driven thermal arcjet of approx. 1 kW input power will provide min. 100 mN thrust during the ascent above the Van-Allen belt and is currently under long-run test. A cluster of min. four pulsed instationary magneto-plasma-dynamical thrusters offering 1.5 mN each and using solid PTFE (Polytetraflourethylene a.k.a. Teflon) will be the main propulsion system during the cruise phase. Both electric propulsion systems, advanced and up-to-date computer systems as well as new light-weight structure materials enable low-cost low-mass small exploration probe design. New carbon fibres fold core materials developed at the Institute of Aircraft Design, Universitaet Stuttgart, will be part of the satellites structure. Equipped with a visualear infrared imaging system, a thermal infrared mapping experiment (using the 1 m communication dish as a primary mirror) and a wide-angle outreach camera the Lunar Mission BW1 will provide also opportunities for additional payload instruments (e.g. dust measurements, lunar impact flash detection) which are currently under consideration. Various scientific topics for cis-lunar and lunar observations were identified for the cruise phase of up to 24 months and the operations phase of min. 6 months.
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