LED-based attitude reconstruction and back-up light communication: Experimental applications for the LEDSAT CubeSat

Optical observations are intensively applied to space debris monitoring for the achievement of orbit determination and for gathering information on their attitude motion, even if constrained by light conditions. Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) installed on the external surfaces of a satellite could increase the visibility interval to the whole eclipse time. LEDSAT (LED-based small SATellite) is a 1-Unit CubeSat aimed at demonstrating the effectiveness of LEDs for the improvement of space debris optical monitoring algorithms. The LEDSAT experimental mode includes flashing patterns that will allow the CubeSat attitude reconstruction and the testing of a back-up light-based communication method. This paper will describe the features of the LEDSAT experimental mode, by describing the needed measurements for achieving the satellite LED-based attitude reconstruction and the features of the back-up LED communication.