Session
Technical Session VI: Formation Flying And Large Scale Interferometry
Abstract
With the advent of micro-satellites and nano-satellites, many have begun to study the unique attributes of dozens or hundreds of such satellites operating in constellations. But, do these small satellites necessarily need to function separately on orbit? Orbital's unique MicroStar platform offers the possibility of creating a large, rigid space structure with impressive capabilities from a Pegasus-class mission. In its single-ring configuration, up to eight MicroStar spacecraft can be launched on a single Pegasus® rocket. Rather than separating each of the eight spacecraft, the stack of eight (or two stacks of four) could be unfurled to create a single space structure more than 8 meters in length. Since each individual component is itself a spacecraft, the net capability is impressive. The total spacecraft--called a supersat-is capable of generating up to 2.5kW of power, more than half of which may be devoted to the payload. The supers at also boasts very high reliability, since the multiple spacecraft offer inherent redundancy. Using this technique, large apertures could be constructed for certain missions offering advantages that in the past have only been obtainable in much larger systems. Based upon the geometry used, multi-aperture systems might also be possible. This paper provides several examples of how this spacecraft concept may be applied to missions previously reserved for much larger-and more expensive-systems.
Creating Large Space Platforms from Small Satellites
With the advent of micro-satellites and nano-satellites, many have begun to study the unique attributes of dozens or hundreds of such satellites operating in constellations. But, do these small satellites necessarily need to function separately on orbit? Orbital's unique MicroStar platform offers the possibility of creating a large, rigid space structure with impressive capabilities from a Pegasus-class mission. In its single-ring configuration, up to eight MicroStar spacecraft can be launched on a single Pegasus® rocket. Rather than separating each of the eight spacecraft, the stack of eight (or two stacks of four) could be unfurled to create a single space structure more than 8 meters in length. Since each individual component is itself a spacecraft, the net capability is impressive. The total spacecraft--called a supersat-is capable of generating up to 2.5kW of power, more than half of which may be devoted to the payload. The supers at also boasts very high reliability, since the multiple spacecraft offer inherent redundancy. Using this technique, large apertures could be constructed for certain missions offering advantages that in the past have only been obtainable in much larger systems. Based upon the geometry used, multi-aperture systems might also be possible. This paper provides several examples of how this spacecraft concept may be applied to missions previously reserved for much larger-and more expensive-systems.
