Universal Small Payload Interface – A Design to Ensure Cost-Effective Small Satellite Access to Space

Universal Small Payload Interface – A Design to Ensure Cost-Effective Small Satellite Access to Space

Launch vehicle economies of scale are one of the biggest hurdles to cheaper space access for small satellites. Overhead and facilities and other costs are constant regardless of the launch vehicle size. Therefore for smaller launch vehicles, cost efficiency drops, increasing the per-kilogram launch vehicle costs. Consequently, the cost advantage of small satellites is rapidly diminished because the overall mission cost remains high. One solution is launching piggyback on a large launch vehicle. Large launch vehicles have opaque procedures and lack clear requirements and standardized piggyback accommodations. The Ariane ASAP 5 provides reliable and easy launch for small satellites, but there is no U.S. counterpart to it. The Universal Small Payload Interface (USPI) project sponsored by the NRO will remedy that situation. The USPI will provide standardized accommodation on large launch vehicles for small payloads. USPI provides a standard requirements document, a detailed integration flow, separation system, and payload platform design for the widest possible flexibility in terms of reliable and cost effective access to space.