Session
Technical Session I: Small Satellites - Missions
Abstract
Small communications satellites have been employed by the Amateur Radio community for over twenty five years. These satellites have been used by tens of thousands of radio amateurs for recreation, education and scientific investigation. The Amateur satellite program today is international in scope with nine countries having contributed space flight hardware to the overall effort. A total of 14 satellites have been fabricated in the OSCAR program resulting in 29 spacecraft-years of orbital experience. This paper will address the history of the spacecraft developed for the Amateur Satellite Service with emphasis on technology trends in the program. Particular emphasis will be placed upon the mass, cost, system capability and construction phase duration for each of the fourteen satellites of the OSCAR series. The Amateur satellite program has not simply adopted technology from other larger satellite programs. In many cases entirely unique design concepts were employed, required because of the small size of the spacecraft, the very limited power available or the limitation of fiscal resources. The development of high efficiency linear communications transponders and the design of highly integrated command, control and telemetry equipment are two examples. For many years these techniques have been of little value to designers of larger spacecraft, who have alternatives. With the new interest in lightweight satellites at low cost, these techniques may take on renewed applicability.
Spacecraft Technology Trends in the Amateur Satellite Service
Small communications satellites have been employed by the Amateur Radio community for over twenty five years. These satellites have been used by tens of thousands of radio amateurs for recreation, education and scientific investigation. The Amateur satellite program today is international in scope with nine countries having contributed space flight hardware to the overall effort. A total of 14 satellites have been fabricated in the OSCAR program resulting in 29 spacecraft-years of orbital experience. This paper will address the history of the spacecraft developed for the Amateur Satellite Service with emphasis on technology trends in the program. Particular emphasis will be placed upon the mass, cost, system capability and construction phase duration for each of the fourteen satellites of the OSCAR series. The Amateur satellite program has not simply adopted technology from other larger satellite programs. In many cases entirely unique design concepts were employed, required because of the small size of the spacecraft, the very limited power available or the limitation of fiscal resources. The development of high efficiency linear communications transponders and the design of highly integrated command, control and telemetry equipment are two examples. For many years these techniques have been of little value to designers of larger spacecraft, who have alternatives. With the new interest in lightweight satellites at low cost, these techniques may take on renewed applicability.
