Nanosatellite Industry Overview

Nanosatellite Industry Overview

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Content of the Presentation

• Introduction

• Capabilities of Nano satellites

• Nano satellites statistics

• Past launches and launchers

• Nano satellites Failure analysis

• The Israeli Aspect

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Introduction (1)

• Satellites are categorized by their weight according to the following key:

– Less than 1 kg: Pico satellite

– Less than 10 kg: Nano satellite

– Less than 100 kg: Micro satellite

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Credit: CUTE XI-IV University of Tokyo

Introduction (2)

• Since the dawn of the space age in 1955, small satellites were used and launched mainly for communication missions such as store-and-forward and relay (e.g. the “Strella” constellation).

• In 1981 the first University satellite UoSAT-1 build by Surrey university and launched on Delta-2310 from Vandenberg AFB.

• The CubeSat small satellite standard was jointly created by Stanford University and Cal Poly State University in 1999

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Understanding the Jargon

• 1U – A 10 cm * 10 cm * 10 cm cube (hence CubeSat)

• Other versions include: – 1.5U (15 cm * 10 cm * 10 cm)

– 2U (20 cm * 10 cm * 10 cm)

– 3U (34 cm * 10 cm * 10 cm)

– 4U (45 cm * 10 cm * 10 cm)

– 5U (57 cm * 10 cm * 10 cm)

– 6U (34 cm * 23 cm * 10 cm)

– 12U (34 cm * 23 cm * 23 cm)

Note: Red marks not yet launched

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Nano Satellites Architecture

• Mission lifetime: at least three years

– Several Nano satellites crossed the “3 years mark” (amongst them, Delfi-C3).

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Attitude Control

Full three axis with <0.1º accuracy

Sensors: • Earth sensors • Sun sensors • Star trackers • GPS receiver

Actuators: • Miniature reaction wheels • Propulsion will be available next year

Power Subsystem Thermal Control Subsystem

• Full EPS with 3j GaAs deployable solar arrays (power production depends on SA size) • Batteries for eclipse operation • Regulated and unregulated bus versions • PCU and PDU to better control and isolate components

• Based on passive means (MLI, coatings, etc…) • Maximum use of heat dissipation as heaters • Minimum use of external heaters

MAI-400 ADACS

GaAs 3j solar panel

Nano Satellites Payloads

Optical Payloads

•Visible light cameras including video • NIR • Multispectral • SAR

Communication Payloads

•S-band and UHF/VHF Narrowband communication •Store and forward •Relay stations

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NanoCam C1U

CubeSatShop – The “AMAZON” of the Industry

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Nano satellite uses

• Science Missions – In 2006, NASA was the first to comprehend the benefits of

Nano-satellites. – Since Then Nano satellites were used for deep space

observations, biological experiments, earth quake measurements and earth observation.

• Narrow-band communication – Used as amateur radio relays – Store and forward applications

• Technological Demonstrator – New components – New materials – New techniques

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GeneSat integrated in a P-POD and ready

for Launch, courtesy of NASA

Some numbers and statistics (1)

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Manifested Small Satellites by Year

Manifested satellites

from 1999 to 2011

135 More than 70% in the

last 5 years


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Mission Type by Year


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Mission Developer by Nation/Region Manifested by Year


•13 Repeat Missions vs. Single-Launch programs

Nano Satellites Launch History

•14 Previous Launches (failures in Red)

# of Satellites Launch Vehicle Year

6 Rokot/Briz-KM 2003

3 Kosmos-3M 2005

14 Dnepr 2006

1 Minotaur-1 2006

7 Dnepr 2007

6 PSLV-CA 2008

2 Falcon-1 2008

4 Minotaur-1 2009

5 PSLV-CA 2009

3 H-IIA 2010

2 PSLV-CA 2010

3 Taurus-XL 2011

3 Dnepr 2011

6 VEGA 2012

Manifested Satellite

From 2003 to 2012:

136 Satellite Launched

From 2003 to 2012:

65

50% of manifested

satellites were

launched

between 2003 and 2012

Launcher Interfaces – The Challenge

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Integrated Payloads being loaded into the DNPER cluster launch

The POD – a standard for the industry

• Launching Nano satellites from within a POD (Pico satellite Orbital Deployer) simplify the launch campaign.

• Nano satellites are placed within a POD which reduces the interface with the launcher to a minimum.

• PODs are common and became standard allowing launch brokers much more flexibility and management ever

• Actual interfaces are with the adaptor, hence the payload has no influence

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6-Pack ISIPOD made

by ISIS for up to six

1U’s

Failure Statistics by Root Cause (1999-2011)

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Success 67%

CPU 2%

Power 6%

Communication 8%

Structure 4%

Thermal 1%

Radiation 1%

Unknown 11%

Success

CPU

Power

Communication

Structure

Thermal

Radiation

Unknown

Why Nano satellites failed ? – Past events

• Radiation: 1 (TUBSAT-B). Killed by the Van Allen Belts due to its orbit altitude of 1250 km.

• Structure/Launch interface: 3 (Mozhayets 5, BEVO 1, AggieSat-2). Mozhayets 5 failed to separate from the launch vehicle, the other two spacecraft were launched as a unit and failed to disconnect from each other.

• Thermal: 1 (UNAMSAT-B). Cold prelaunch thermal conditions led to an inability to contact the spacecraft immediately after launch, leading to more thermally-induced battery problems

Why Nano satellites failed ? – Past events – cont’

• Communications: 7½ (Arsene, SEDsat [partial], JAWSAT, Cute-1.7, UWE-1, STUDSAT, UNITEC-1, K-SAT). These spacecraft were operational for a short time, losing either their transmitters or receivers (or both) unexpectedly. Bad wiring is suspected in some cases

• Power: 5½ (SEDsat [partial], ASUSat-1, FalconSAT-1, AAU CubeSat-I, SSETI-Experss, UGATUSAT). The reason vary, but all of these vehicles had problems, typically with the connection between batteries and solar arrays.

Why Nano satellites failed ? – Past events – cont’

• CPU: 2 (SpriteSat, STARS-1). Both of these spacecraft encountered unexpected CPU lockups within days of launch, they have not been recoverd

• Unknown: 10 (JAK, Louise, Thelma, CanX-1, DTUsat, NCube II, YES2/Fotino, KKS 1, Waseda-SAT2, UWE-2). These ten spacecraft were confirmed to have released, but contact was never made. Bad communications or bad power is suspected.

The Israeli Aspect (1/4)

• Name: Duchifat-1, HSL

• Mission: AIS

• Type: Picosatellite (1U)

• Initiation: 2002

• Status: Early integration stage

• Launch date: Unknown

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Credit: HSL


• Name: Inklajn-1

• Mission: Laboratory

• Type: Nanosatellite (3U)


• Status: Final integration stage


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Credit: IAI


• Name: SAMSON

• Mission: Formation flying and Geo Location

• Type: Nanosatellite constellation

– (three 6U)


• Status: Early design phase


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Credit: The Technion


First signs of educational endeavors

• Mor Metrowest Ra’anana

– Space Lab + Clean room

– Educational program

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– Space educational programs in Arad and Ma’ale Adumim

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Summary • Nano satellites are launched as a piggyback along

with primary payload – In 2014, ESA plans the first Nano satellite dedicated

launch on a Vega launcher (QB50)

• Currently all Nano satellites are launched to LEO

• There are more than 250 nano satellites built across the globe and planned to be launch in the next three years. – In 1994 they were only 10 cubesat programs in the

US. In 2011 there are more than 150 !!

• Israel didn’t launch yet

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Sources of Information

• 25 Years of Small Satellites – Siegfried Janson – The Aerospace Corporation

• Attack of the CubeSats: A Statistical Look – Michael Swartwout – Saint Louis University

• Recent CubeSat Launch Experiences on U.S. Launch Vehicles – Jordi Puig-Suari, Roland Coelho – California Polytechnic State

University; Scott Williams, Victor Aguero, Kyle Leveque, Bryan Klofas – SRI International

• Distant Horizons: Smallsat Evolution in the Mid-to-Far Term – Matt Bille, Paul Kolodziejski, Tom Hunsaker – Booz Allen Hamilton

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Nanosatellite Industry Overview

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