Cellularized Satellites - A Small Satellite Instantiation that Provides Mission and Space Access Adaptability

Cellularized Satellites - A Small Satellite Instantiation that Provides Mission and Space Access Adaptability

Small satellites are an exciting technology in the space industry today. For example, over half a dozen private companies have announced plans to build large networks of smallsats to provide remote-sensing imagery data to customers. While smallsats can provide advantages over traditional large satellites, satellites assembled from “building block” cells called satlets could add to those advantages. Through funding from the Phoenix program at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), NovaWurks is developing the cellularization of satellite technology as a way to dramatically decrease the cost of new space assets, while also enabling these assets to be incrementally upgradeable and easily repairable. Basically, a small number of nanosat-scale satlets would serve as building-blocks for assembling a fully functional satellite, analogous to how living organisms are made up of basic cell types. NovaWurks has developed satlet technologies in HISatsTM, designed to be configured and aggregated as reliable, flexible spacecraft for a variety of space purposes. An initial set of HISat-based experimental missions are underway, and others are planned for the near future. These experimental missions seek to provide on-orbit verification of the satlet concept, the HISatTM instantiation of that concept, and key payload accommodation features. Of special note is the spectrum of space access utilized to execute the experimental missions which serves to demonstrate the flexibility of the cellularized architecture concept. One mission launches in cellular configuration, is assembled in space aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and then deployed. A second, the eXperiment for Cellular Integration Technology (eXCITe), is launched as a pre-assembled spacecraft on an expendable launch vehicle (ELV) and is deployed from a SHERPATM. The third experimental mission launches HISats that are hosted on a geostationary communications satellite. The HISatsTM are deployed with a Payload Orbital Delivery (POD) system in geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO). After deployment the HISats “fly” the POD and accommodate mission payloads. A common HISat design accommodates all three diverse means of space access and their environments.

This research was developed with funding from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). The views, opinions, and/or findings expressed are those of the authors and do not reflect the official policies or positions of the Department of Defense or the U.S. Government.