Design, simulation, and testing of the structural & separation system for the CanX-3 & CanX-4/-5 nanosatellite missions

The purpose of this thesis is to guide the reader in the steps followed by the author through the two years of his obtaining a Master's degree. The Canadian Advanced Nanospace eXperiment (CanX) at the Space Flight Laboratory (SFL) looks to push the envelope of what can be achieved with a nanosatellite. The current missions at SFL will employ the Generic Nanosatellite Bus (GNB) and will include a stellar photometry satellite named BRITE and an autonomous formation flying mission using a pair of satellites named CanX-4/-5. The main focus of this paper is threefold: first, the design of a structural model with simulation results of launch scenarios for both missions, second is the design, testing and qualification of a new intersatellite separation system to be used in CanX-4/-5, and lastly is the mechanical design of ground support equipment for all future GNB missions.