Rubin 2 is a small satellite for technology demonstration, privately
owned and developed by Fuchs Group (OHB System and Carlo Gavazzi Space). Rubin 2 will be
placed in a circular orbit, with an inclination of 65°, at a height of 650 km. The
gyroscopic stability is obtained spinning the S/C. The satellite is sun-pointing, with the
solar panels placed on the upper face of the S/C. The OCE (in-Orbit teChnology Experiment
set), designed and developed by Carlo Gavazzi Space, leading a number of industrial and
university partners, is one of the technological payload for the RUBIN-2 mission. It has
in charge to validate a group of technological experiments, and to test an experimental
propulsion subsystem, that would be used for orbit and/or attitude control of a small
satellite. In this mission, it will be used to increase the spin rate of the spacecraft.
To achieve the mission objective the OCE system is composed by:
- GPS (receiver and antenna) for precise orbit
determination.
- Propulsion Subsystem for the spin maneuver.
- Data handling (based on ADSP21020 processor) for the overall experiment monitoring and
control.
- Lithium-Ion battery, to provide the required energy to the experiment.
- High Voltage section, to provide the thruster with its required voltage level.
In addition, other four technological experiment will be part of OCE /
Rubin 2:
- The ORBCOMM transponder, used for the OCE telemetry and
telecommand.
- SAFIR-M, a VHF Radio-Amateur transmitter as backup TM-TC equipment.
- Experimental solar cells, based on a "not-space-qualified" technology.
- A deployment mechanism, based on a SMA (Shape Memory Alloy) wire as actuator, to be
tested as an alternative to pyrotechnics.
The SAFIR-M payload is also designated AATiS-OSCAR, AO-49 or OSCAR 49.
