Session
Session X: The Smaller Elements
Abstract
Small platforms following the Cubesat standard have been of great use to allow space access to academic institutions; however most of these small platforms do not provide enough reliability or operability for larger purposes such as Earth observation, scientific research or communications. Due to this, there has been identified the need to develop a space system that counts with the benefits of size and budget of nano/pico-satellites, but with improved payload capacity, system reliability and mission life time for more ambitious projects. Such system is under design currently, and its demonstrator will be launched in Q3 2009 under the name of OPT OS. This project counts with several payloads that will investigate fields within magnetism, radiation, and optics. The platform counts with an innovative 08-Com, based on wireless optical communications between boards, a distributed OBDH subsystem, as well as a 3-axis stabilized ADCS. This project will be a milestone in space platform design philosophy as it will ena ble state of the art features with the low cost, size and development time intrinsic to Cubesat missions. This will allow further development into fields such as Cubesat satellite constellations (early warning, astrophysics research, m pping, communications ... ) and fast chain production capabilities for space access.
"OPTOS: A pocket-size giant" (MISION, OPERATION & EVOLUTION)
Small platforms following the Cubesat standard have been of great use to allow space access to academic institutions; however most of these small platforms do not provide enough reliability or operability for larger purposes such as Earth observation, scientific research or communications. Due to this, there has been identified the need to develop a space system that counts with the benefits of size and budget of nano/pico-satellites, but with improved payload capacity, system reliability and mission life time for more ambitious projects. Such system is under design currently, and its demonstrator will be launched in Q3 2009 under the name of OPT OS. This project counts with several payloads that will investigate fields within magnetism, radiation, and optics. The platform counts with an innovative 08-Com, based on wireless optical communications between boards, a distributed OBDH subsystem, as well as a 3-axis stabilized ADCS. This project will be a milestone in space platform design philosophy as it will ena ble state of the art features with the low cost, size and development time intrinsic to Cubesat missions. This will allow further development into fields such as Cubesat satellite constellations (early warning, astrophysics research, m pping, communications ... ) and fast chain production capabilities for space access.
