Session
Technical Session II: Systems, Buses
Abstract
The University of Surrey has demonstrated its capability in the field of small, low-cost spacecraft with the UoSAT-1 and 2 missions launched into low earth orbit in 1981 and 1984. Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd., a company formed by the University of Surrey, is now developing a flexible spacecraft bus based on the experience gained from these missions. The paper describes how the design philosophy used on the UoSAT spacecraft has been advanced to produce a bus providing basic power conditioning, telecommand, telemetry and attitude control functions. This basic bus is sufficient to support a variety of payloads, but the architecture is such that bus may be expanded (for example in number of telecommands) to support more demanding payloads. The use of this approach allows a standard proven product to support a wide variety of missions. The careful selection and screening of ensures a realistic cost, and the adoption tolerant 'layered' architecture give a high reliability in comparison to the low cost.
A Modular Small Satellite Bus for Low Earth Orbit Missions
The University of Surrey has demonstrated its capability in the field of small, low-cost spacecraft with the UoSAT-1 and 2 missions launched into low earth orbit in 1981 and 1984. Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd., a company formed by the University of Surrey, is now developing a flexible spacecraft bus based on the experience gained from these missions. The paper describes how the design philosophy used on the UoSAT spacecraft has been advanced to produce a bus providing basic power conditioning, telecommand, telemetry and attitude control functions. This basic bus is sufficient to support a variety of payloads, but the architecture is such that bus may be expanded (for example in number of telecommands) to support more demanding payloads. The use of this approach allows a standard proven product to support a wide variety of missions. The careful selection and screening of ensures a realistic cost, and the adoption tolerant 'layered' architecture give a high reliability in comparison to the low cost.
