April 22, 2023 © Clyde Space Ltd 2010
CubeSat:The Wee Space Box.
Craig Clark
April 22, 2023 © Clyde Space Ltd 2010
WHAT ARE CUBESATS?
April 22, 2023 © Clyde Space Ltd 2010
What are CubeSats?
1000kg 150kg 1kg
April 22, 2023 © Clyde Space Ltd 2010
Traditionally Bespoke
April 22, 2023 © Clyde Space Ltd 2010
Standardisation is Key
Collaborative,continuous, industry led
standardisationof interfaces
More launch opportunities
More Missions
Larger selection of off-the-shelf subsystems
April 22, 2023 © Clyde Space Ltd 2010
Growing Number of CubeSats
Info from www.amsat.org
April 22, 2023 © Clyde Space Ltd 2010
CubeSats are smaller than small
April 22, 2023 © Clyde Space Ltd 2010
Launch Systems
April 22, 2023 © Clyde Space Ltd 2010
CURRENT APPLICATIONS OF CUBESATS
April 22, 2023 © Clyde Space Ltd 2010
Life Sciences
April 22, 2023 © Clyde Space Ltd 2010
Theatre of Operations Comms
April 22, 2023 © Clyde Space Ltd 2010
NSF Earth Science Missions
April 22, 2023 © Clyde Space Ltd 2010
Do not limit your imagination
April 22, 2023 © Clyde Space Ltd 2010
CubeSat Cameras
April 22, 2023 © Clyde Space Ltd 2010
CubeSat Constellations
April 22, 2023 © Clyde Space Ltd 2010
Fire Monitoring
April 22, 2023 © Clyde Space Ltd 2010
CLYDE SPACE AND CUBESATS
April 22, 2023 © Clyde Space Ltd 2010
Company timeline
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
Company Founded
First OTS product (CubeSat EPS)
First hi-rel variant product
Expanded to current facilities First flight heritage
(ITUpSAT1)
First website to purchase space OTS
Bespoke modular power systems
ESA / ISO Quality Processes
OTS product range expanded beyond power subsystem
First bespoke solar panel sales
April 22, 2023 © Clyde Space Ltd 2010
Clyde Space today• 1.5MGBP (2009/10 forecast turnover)• 20 employees
– 14 engineers– 3 production technicians
• Growing at 100% PA.• >100 OTS CubeSat EPS sold to in 3 years• Ongoing ESA / NASA / major industry projects• Quality assurance processes fully implemented
– ESA ECSS qualified operators and inspectors– ISO9001:2008 accreditation
April 22, 2023 © Clyde Space Ltd 2010
CubeSat Power Systems
April 22, 2023 © Clyde Space Ltd 2010
CubeSat Solar Panels
April 22, 2023 © Clyde Space Ltd 2010
Lithium Polymer Batteries
April 22, 2023 © Clyde Space Ltd 2010
Attitude control
• Control moment gyro drive electronics
• Magnetorquers embedded in solar arrays
• Telemetry & switching• In development
– Micro-interial wheels– Attitude & rate Sensors– Sun sensors
April 22, 2023 © Clyde Space Ltd 2010
Orbit control - mPPT
Soon we can;• Perform Orbit Trim
Manoeuvres• Gain PRECISE ADCS • Change Orbital Plane and
Altitude (…a little)• ESA funded with MARS Space
and University of Southampton
• Targets:• 12µNs per Joule• 60µNs Impulse Bit
April 22, 2023 © Clyde Space Ltd 2010
From nanopower…
Telemetry & switching
Solar arrays
Mod
ular
pla
tform
con
cept
One-stop shop
[PU
MPK
IN]
[ISIS]
[IMI]
…to nanoplatforms
Batteries
Electric power system
Structures
April 22, 2023 © Clyde Space Ltd 2010
Payload Interface and ManagementCommunications
Attitude determination and control
Electric power system
Batteries
CubeSat Platform
Electric Propulsion
April 22, 2023 © Clyde Space Ltd 2010
Concurrent Modular Design• Mission system analysis to support nanospacecraft products• New user entry into space, removing barriers to participation
April 22, 2023 © Clyde Space Ltd 2010
CONCLUSION
April 22, 2023 © Clyde Space Ltd 2010
Conclusion
• CubeSats offer an exciting opportunity to put new technologies into space.
• The size and cost of CubeSats enable applications too costly to be implemented previously.
• CubeSat constellations are likely to be the killer APP for CubeSats.
April 22, 2023 © Clyde Space Ltd 2010
facebook.com/clydespace twitter.com/clydespace
