Assembly, integration and testing of the Delfi-C³ nanosatellite

At the Delft University of Technology, the Delfi-C3 3-unit Cube Sat was finalised for launch on PSLV C9. An overview is presented about manufacturing, assembly, integration and verification activities on subsystems and Proto Flight Model (PFM) until delivery for launch. Delfi-C3 is the first Dutch university satellite and the fourth Dutch satellite. It was designed and built by the faculties of Aerospace Engineering and Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science. Industry partners provided payloads: Autonomous Wireless Sun Sensors and Thin Film Solar Cells. Attention is paid to the experiences and lessons learned in this student project. The test plan and activities may serve as a valuable scheme for the next university satellite and other cube sats. During the hardware phase of the project, firstly development tests were done (e.g. deployment mechanisms, antenna pattern), followed by functional performance tests of subsystems (electronics, measurement systems, payload interface electronics, power system, communications system and attitude control behaviour). The complete satellite was subjected to a test program, consisting of vibration-, thermal vacuum-, deployment-, communication- and performance tests. With regular health and functional checks, the satellite status was verified for changes during testing.Space EngineeringAerospace Engineerin