Using Small Satellites for New Applications: Next Generation Swedish Space Corporation Spacecraft

Using Small Satellites for New Applications: Next Generation Swedish Space Corporation Spacecraft

Focusing on small satellites to perform scientific and technical demonstrator missions have been a successful concept within the Swedish Space Corporation (SSC) for two decades. This paper will focus on two missions that are currently underway, PRISMA, which is in Phase C, and SVEA, which has completed Pre-phase A studies. Both missions require advanced and newly developed technologies to operate as intended and are meant to extend the capabilities of small satellites to areas previously limited to medium to large satellites, such as formation flying, environment and security. This paper will describe the PRISMA formation flying two satellite platform and how it will demonstrate techniques such as formation flying, proximity ranging and novel propulsion technologies, each of which may have significant impact on future spacecrafts. The subsequent section will describe the SVEA high resolution Earth observation platform. SVEA would be an operational satellite within the Swedish government and be at the disposal to various Swedish agencies. It will show that high resolution images can be obtained from a low-cost small satellite. The technology development and knowledge gained from PRISMA will be taken advantage of in SVEA. The paper concludes by showing how such missions as PRISMA and SVEA demonstrate areas where small satellites can be key to mission success.