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The history of designing and introduction of small-size spacecrafts, current status and the outlook into the expansion of small satellites application in Russia and in the world were discussed by the participants of the workshop “Small Satellites: Design, Tests and Exploitation” and of the round table “Mini-satellites: perspectives in Russia and in the world” on November 30 within the frames of the 5th International Conference “Earth from Space – the Most Effective Solutions”.
One of the principal advantages, making this project of creating small satellites attractive, is its relatively low cost and short time for designing, manufacturing and testing.
— Although small satellite projects are becoming commonplace and many plan to carry Earth Observation instruments, few developers take into account the user needs for availability, reliability, service, calibration and continuity of service, - noted Section Chairman, SSTL Head Professor Sir Martin Sweeting.
Such a trend in space machinery development as team flight of small-size satellites becomes increasingly of interest lately. Keldysh Institute of Applied Mathematics studies algorithms of such a team flight support and control.
Meanwhile specialists of a number of St. Petersburg universities and enterprises started works on designing nano-satellites for various purposes. Thus, for example, in 2011 “Astronomikon” laboratory for the design of small space vehicles was setup at the International scientific and educational center of БГТУ-FESTO “Synergy” (St-Petersburg). During the first stage of its work the laboratory will present a super small space platform SKP-3 for technological and scientific experiments in space. The platform is designed in accordance with CubeSat specifications.
According to Spas Balinov (NovaNano SAS, France) “starting from 2012, flying small payloads in Low Earth Orbit cost-effectively will be possible through NovaSat. The spacecraft will offer unparalleled performance/volume ratio to perform multiple types of missions. Initially, the typical payload will be provided with a 3 KG mass, 3 L volume and 10 W average power budgets. In medium term these performances will be upgraded”.
— Generation of NovaSat is based on the CubeSat standard. The first in-orbit demonstration of NovaSat technology is scheduled for August 2012, - said Spas Balinov.
Specialists of the Bauman Moscow State Technical University during the workshop “Small Satellites: Design, Tests and Exploitation” spoke about the technological experiment on using picosatellites for deploying two-bladed solar sail. This work is conducted by the group of about 30 students based on the BMSTU Youth Space Centre. Solutions of the solar sail dynamics problems, associated with its deployment, are already in place. A pico-satellite designed for implementation of the 1st experiment milestone has been manufactured already and a device for its launching from the ISS has been developed. In addition, a complex of radio communications assets was developed to allow a great number of ham radio operators to join the experiment.
Solar sails can be used to create constellation of future earth observation nanosatellites, to create a new type of orbits for earth observation satellites: cylindrical orbits, pole-sitter satellites.
Participants of the 5th International Conference «Earth from Space…” also discussed the issues and perspectives of creating a Center on development, manufacturing and ground testing of equipment for small satellites at the “Skolkovo” innovation city. The request for this project implementation by submitted by ScanEx RDC to the Experts Council of the “Skolkovo” Foundation. The branch company of ScanEx – OOO “SPUTNIKS” – was registered as the “Skolkovo” Foundation participant in November.
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5th International Conference “Earth from Space – the Most Effective Solutions” will be held on November 29 – December 1, 2011 in Moscow Region “Vatutinki” resort hotel. The conference is expected to be attended by over 400 specialists from 25 world countries – experts in space imagery, specialists in manufacturing and operation of Earth satellites, representatives of public authorities, scientific and educational entities, introducing modern technology of space monitoring into their practices. Conference organizers are ScanEx Research & Development Center, “Earth from Space” Association and NGO Transparent World.
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