Function Testing Platform (SKTST) for the Educational Satellite “Space Keys”

SKTST function Testing Platform for the educational satellite “Space Keys”, which is an educational Platform for Space Science and Technology to give the students hands-on space Technologies. Space Keys, which is designed based on the Egyptian CubeSat satellite NARSSCube 1 & 2, was launched in Orbit in 2019. In this paper, the design of the testing platform that used in the Space Keys functions testing for about (40) units of educational satellite “Space Keys”, which contain (6) satellite subsystems; Electrical power (SKEPS), On-Board Computer (SKOBC), Communication (SKCOM), Attitude Determinations and control system (SKADC) with two actuator boards. In addition, the educational satellite “Space Keys” comes with two payload subsystems (SKPL) and a Space Environment subsystem (SKSE), with a total (of 320) electronics boards that should be passed individual function testing before integration testing. SKTST function Testing Platform is responsible for verifying that all the subsystems working according to system requirements and specifications. This paper summarizes the testing phases of space keys satellites starting from the component, subsystem, and integration test levels. Each subsystem of space keys has a checkout and test equipment (CTE) with specific test scenarios to check the subsystem with full functionality software and hardware, to be able for the integration phase. The test cases and scenarios should verify each function as specified in electrical and data interfacing. SKTST function Testing Platform is built using the LabVIEW tool that provides the entire needed testing requirement to send commands and receive the telemetry data, with manual and automatic modes. In addition, telemetry analysis for each subsystem, overall educational satellite status, and received mission date (Imaging, Communication, Space environment) representation.