Prof. Vasilios Kostopoulos Professor V. KOSTOPOULOS, is Mechanical Engineer, and holds a PhD in continuum mechanics and composite materials. He is the director of Applied Mechanics Lab., University of Patras (UoP/AML). He has an extensive (over 25 years) experience in the field of composite materials and structures. He is the author of 125 journal publications, more than 180 conference presentations and 5 books in the field of composites. He holds 7 patents (3 EU and 1 US).He is member of Advisory Council for Aviation Research and Innovation in Europe and member of Clean Sky 2 SRG. Since February 2014 he is member of National Council for Research and Technology.
CubeSat is a miniaturized satellite (10x10x10 cm) that weights no more than 1 kg (Single-Unit). It is generally used for educational purposes helping University’s student to familiarize with space systems engineering and space environment.
The UPSat project is a novel and the only CubeSat student-based project under development currently in Greece. After the successful attempts to build both Single-Unit and Double-Unit (10x10x20 cm) CubeSat structure entirely made of composite materials, our team moved to the next level and build flight-readiness structures under the framework of FP-7 QB50 project.
The QB50 mission will demonstrate the possibility of launching a network of 50 CubeSats built by Universities Teams all over the world as a primary payload on a low-cost launch vehicle to perform first-class science in the largely unexplored lower thermosphere. UPSAT team after evaluation was selected to be part of this network with the launch opportunity to be set for the first months of 2016.
The UPSAT project was based on novel concepts such as the replacement of the aluminum faces of the CubeSat structure with CFRP panels. A “hybrid” design approach was followed that led to mass saving close to 40% and thus more available space for sensors, cameras etc.
As a student-based project, the team tried to minimize the use of commercial (COTS) components. All necessary software codes for ADCS, COMM and EPS sub-systems were developed by PhD and undergraduate students of MEAD and ECE departments of the University of Patras. Working under this concept, several Diploma Theses were either conducted or are about to be presented soon.
All design evaluation faces (PDR, CDR and AITR) were passed successfully, complying with all dimensional and mass requirements, and currently the Testing campaign is prepared with a view to deliver a fully tested and flight readiness structure by the end of August 2015 for the final integration before launch.