Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
1716781 | Acta Astronautica | 2008 | 10 Pages |
Abstract
Technology advances in sensor, digital technology and a standardised modular satellite bus are enabling a new generation of 80Â kg micro-satellites with a better than 6.5Â m GSD multi-spectral performance, to be specified, built and deployed with a dedicated launch within 12 months. The result of the standardised modular bus is lower cost, higher reliability and fast deployment. Operational remote sensing with a micro-satellite is thus within reach of individual organisations for dedicated missions. Sumbandilasat (pioneer in the Venda language) is a second generation satellite technology building on the expertise obtained in the Sunsat small satellite programme. The components used to build Sumbandilasat are the result of a technology development program of more than 3 years. Sumbandilasat is an operational technology demonstrator with more than 90% newly developed or improved subsystems and a compact refractive imager as a precursor to the MSMISat satellite with the same multi-spectral band set. The scalable, standardised modular satellite bus architecture enables satellites with a mass of 80-450Â kg to be adapted to the specific mission requirements with minimum new engineering effort.
Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering
Engineering
Aerospace Engineering
Authors
Sias Mostert, Herman Steyn, Hendrik Burger, Helena Bosman,