On-Orbit Validation of the OpenHarmony Real-Time Operating System Based on the Dalian-1 Lianli Satellite

The Dalian-1 Lianli satellite, a 17-kg 12U high-resolution remote sensing CubeSat, was developed to validate a series of innovative technologies, including submeter high-resolution remote sensing imaging, the high-reliability OpenHarmony real-time operating system (RTOS), and the nontoxic hydroxylam...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Wenlong Zhang, Yuchi Chen, Guoliang Xue, Bojuan Lei, Ye Xia, Xiaozhou Yu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) 2025-01-01
Series:Space: Science & Technology
Online Access:https://spj.science.org/doi/10.34133/space.0211
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850201117086973952
author Wenlong Zhang
Yuchi Chen
Guoliang Xue
Bojuan Lei
Ye Xia
Xiaozhou Yu
author_facet Wenlong Zhang
Yuchi Chen
Guoliang Xue
Bojuan Lei
Ye Xia
Xiaozhou Yu
author_sort Wenlong Zhang
collection DOAJ
description The Dalian-1 Lianli satellite, a 17-kg 12U high-resolution remote sensing CubeSat, was developed to validate a series of innovative technologies, including submeter high-resolution remote sensing imaging, the high-reliability OpenHarmony real-time operating system (RTOS), and the nontoxic hydroxylamine nitrate propulsion system. Launched on 2023 May 10, aboard the Tianzhou-VI cargo spacecraft, the satellite was successfully deployed into orbit on 2024 January 18, following 253 d of in-orbit storage at the China Space Station. Most traditional micro/nanosatellites have poor reliability and real-time performance due to the lack of an RTOS. The satellite uses the free, high-reliability OpenHarmony RTOS with a small kernel for memory-limited microcontroller subsystems. The OpenHarmony RTOS was ported to 3 attitude determination subsystems—a magnetometer, a digital interface sun sensor, and an attitude measurement unit—to test its feasibility in micro/nanosatellites. The ground test and on-orbit verification focused on real-time performance and reliability. Ground tests indicated that the task switching time of the OpenHarmony RTOS averaged ≤2 μs, and the 3 subsystems continuously and stably operated for more than 1,000 h, and the stable update rate of data for all 3 subsystems had been substantially improved. During on-orbit operations, the telemetry data from the 3 subsystems were normal, demonstrating high stability and reliability and the ability to quickly respond to external events or data. These results lead to the conclusion that the real-time performance and reliability of the subsystems were substantially enhanced after being ported with the OpenHarmony RTOS. Additionally, with the assistance of the 3 subsystems, the Dalian-1 Lianli satellite successfully captured remote sensing images with a resolution better than 1 m, meeting the expected requirements. It is anticipated that in future space missions, more micro/nanosatellites will adopt subsystems ported with the OpenHarmony RTOS.
format Article
id doaj-art-5bca60f25c4d44b9a178e45d7ee262ca
institution OA Journals
issn 2692-7659
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
record_format Article
series Space: Science & Technology
spelling doaj-art-5bca60f25c4d44b9a178e45d7ee262ca2025-08-20T02:12:07ZengAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)Space: Science & Technology2692-76592025-01-01510.34133/space.0211On-Orbit Validation of the OpenHarmony Real-Time Operating System Based on the Dalian-1 Lianli SatelliteWenlong Zhang0Yuchi Chen1Guoliang Xue2Bojuan Lei3Ye Xia4Xiaozhou Yu5Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, Liaoning Province, China.Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, Liaoning Province, China.COSATS CO., Ltd. (Xi’an), Xi’an 710075, Shaanxi Province, China.Xi’an Aerospace Propulsion Institute, Xi’an 710100, Shaanxi Province, China.Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, Liaoning Province, China.Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, Liaoning Province, China.The Dalian-1 Lianli satellite, a 17-kg 12U high-resolution remote sensing CubeSat, was developed to validate a series of innovative technologies, including submeter high-resolution remote sensing imaging, the high-reliability OpenHarmony real-time operating system (RTOS), and the nontoxic hydroxylamine nitrate propulsion system. Launched on 2023 May 10, aboard the Tianzhou-VI cargo spacecraft, the satellite was successfully deployed into orbit on 2024 January 18, following 253 d of in-orbit storage at the China Space Station. Most traditional micro/nanosatellites have poor reliability and real-time performance due to the lack of an RTOS. The satellite uses the free, high-reliability OpenHarmony RTOS with a small kernel for memory-limited microcontroller subsystems. The OpenHarmony RTOS was ported to 3 attitude determination subsystems—a magnetometer, a digital interface sun sensor, and an attitude measurement unit—to test its feasibility in micro/nanosatellites. The ground test and on-orbit verification focused on real-time performance and reliability. Ground tests indicated that the task switching time of the OpenHarmony RTOS averaged ≤2 μs, and the 3 subsystems continuously and stably operated for more than 1,000 h, and the stable update rate of data for all 3 subsystems had been substantially improved. During on-orbit operations, the telemetry data from the 3 subsystems were normal, demonstrating high stability and reliability and the ability to quickly respond to external events or data. These results lead to the conclusion that the real-time performance and reliability of the subsystems were substantially enhanced after being ported with the OpenHarmony RTOS. Additionally, with the assistance of the 3 subsystems, the Dalian-1 Lianli satellite successfully captured remote sensing images with a resolution better than 1 m, meeting the expected requirements. It is anticipated that in future space missions, more micro/nanosatellites will adopt subsystems ported with the OpenHarmony RTOS.https://spj.science.org/doi/10.34133/space.0211
spellingShingle Wenlong Zhang
Yuchi Chen
Guoliang Xue
Bojuan Lei
Ye Xia
Xiaozhou Yu
On-Orbit Validation of the OpenHarmony Real-Time Operating System Based on the Dalian-1 Lianli Satellite
Space: Science & Technology
title On-Orbit Validation of the OpenHarmony Real-Time Operating System Based on the Dalian-1 Lianli Satellite
title_full On-Orbit Validation of the OpenHarmony Real-Time Operating System Based on the Dalian-1 Lianli Satellite
title_fullStr On-Orbit Validation of the OpenHarmony Real-Time Operating System Based on the Dalian-1 Lianli Satellite
title_full_unstemmed On-Orbit Validation of the OpenHarmony Real-Time Operating System Based on the Dalian-1 Lianli Satellite
title_short On-Orbit Validation of the OpenHarmony Real-Time Operating System Based on the Dalian-1 Lianli Satellite
title_sort on orbit validation of the openharmony real time operating system based on the dalian 1 lianli satellite
url https://spj.science.org/doi/10.34133/space.0211
work_keys_str_mv AT wenlongzhang onorbitvalidationoftheopenharmonyrealtimeoperatingsystembasedonthedalian1lianlisatellite
AT yuchichen onorbitvalidationoftheopenharmonyrealtimeoperatingsystembasedonthedalian1lianlisatellite
AT guoliangxue onorbitvalidationoftheopenharmonyrealtimeoperatingsystembasedonthedalian1lianlisatellite
AT bojuanlei onorbitvalidationoftheopenharmonyrealtimeoperatingsystembasedonthedalian1lianlisatellite
AT yexia onorbitvalidationoftheopenharmonyrealtimeoperatingsystembasedonthedalian1lianlisatellite
AT xiaozhouyu onorbitvalidationoftheopenharmonyrealtimeoperatingsystembasedonthedalian1lianlisatellite