Abstract Changing world politics and military emphasis has brought considerable pressure on space agency financial budgets and a shift to increasing commercialisation of space activities. Budgetary pressure, coupled with the rapid advancement of commercial and consumer micro-electronics, has catalysed the use of smaller and more computationally capable satellites as a “faster, cheaper, better” means of realising space missions — complementary to conventional large satellite systems. Affordable small satellites, however, require a very different approach compared with established space engineering techniques. Since 1979, the University of Surrey (UoS., UK) has pioneered cost-effective satellite engineering techniques for small satellites, and has developed a series of highly sophisticated, yet inexpensive, microsatellites built for around US $ 3 million each. Sixteen such microsatellites have been launched by Surrey into low Earth orbit carrying a wide range of satellite communications, space science, remote sensing and in-orbit technology demonstration payloads — both civil and military. Seven microsatellite missions have also provided the focus and means for highly successful satellite “know-how” transfer and training programmes between Surrey and emerging space nations such as Korea, Portugal, Pakistan, South Africa, Chile, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand and now P.R. China — leading to the launch of their first national satellites (e.g., KITSAT-1, PoSAT-1, BADR-1, Thai-Phutt and FASat-Bravo) — providing rapid response, low risk and affordable access to space. The Surrey Space Centre (SSC) offers a unique environment combining both academic research and postgraduate teaching with commercial development and manufacturing of satellites through its spin-off company, Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL). The Centre is almost entirely funded from commercial contracts. In April 1999, Surrey launched a new 315 kg minisatellite (UoSAT-12) designed and built at SSTL carrying high resolution Earth observation, advanced digital communications and technology demonstration payloads within the same cost-effective satellite engineering philosophy. Surrey’s latest research and development project, a 6.5 kg nanosatellite, was launched in June 2000. SNAP-1 demonstrates the use of commercial microminiature technologies and, for the first time, orbital formation flying. Surrey is currently preparing a six-satellite communications constellation (ESAT) and a five satellite daily disaster monitoring network which will use Surrey’s latest enhanced 130 kg microsatellites. Surrey has also commenced its first low-cost interplanetary mission, to the Moon, scheduled for launch in 2002.


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    Titel :

    Keynote Address: Micro/Nanosatellites — The New World


    Beteiligte:


    Erscheinungsdatum :

    2002-01-01


    Format / Umfang :

    19 pages





    Medientyp :

    Aufsatz/Kapitel (Buch)


    Format :

    Elektronische Ressource


    Sprache :

    Englisch




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