Technical programme
IAC-13 — 64th International Astronautical Congress
B4. 20th SYMPOSIUM ON SMALL SATELLITE MISSIONS
"Small Satellite Missions" refers to the class of missions conducted using satellites weighing less than 1000 kg. For clarity, we further classify small satellites as microsats if they weigh less than 100 kg; nanosats if they weigh less than 10 kg; and pico or cubesats if they weigh less than 1 kg. This Symposium, organised by the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA), addresses Small Satellite missions and projects in Science, Exploration and Technology for government, industry, and academic programmes. The Symposium scope encompasses space science (B4.2), Earth observation (B4.4) and exploration (B4.8) missions, as well as the cross-cutting topics of small satellite programmes in developing countries (B4.1), cost-effective operations (B4.3), affordable and reliable space access (B4.5), emerging and promising technologies (B4.6A and B4.6B) and cross-platform compatibility applications and standards (B4.7A). For IAC 2013, the Symposium is continuing the topic of Small Distributed Space Missions (B4.7B), to be held in cooperation with B4.7A as a possible implementation of modular, reconfigurable, rapid systems. Abstracts highlighting ingenuity or innovation are preferred. Where possible, abstracts should have a wide interest in the community and include transferable knowledge or lessons learned. This is in keeping with our commitment to meeting the needs of the small satellite community. This Symposium will be accepting submissions for oral presentations only.
- Coordinator
Rhoda Shaller Hornstein
— United StatesAlex da Silva Curiel
Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL) — United Kingdom
B4.1. 14th UN/IAA Workshop on Small Satellite Programmes at the Service of Developing Countries
This workshop is organised jointly by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UN/OOSA) and the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA). It will review the needs that could be satisfied and results achieved by developing nations through using small satellites. National space plans and examples of application results and benefits should be included. Small satellite programmes in Asia would be of particular interest to the session. The workshop will also review the results of international cooperation, technology transfer, lessons learned and the extent to which these efforts have contributed to the space maturity of developing countries.
- Chairman
Sias Mostert
Space Commercial Services Holdings (Pty) Ltd — South AfricaSergei Chernikov
United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs — Austria
- Rapporteur
Pierre Molette
— FranceDanielle Wood
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) — United States
B4.2. Small Space Science Missions
This session will address the current and near-term approved small/micro/nano missions whose objective is to achieve returns in the fields of Earth science, solar, interplanetary, planetary, astronomy/astrophysics observations, and fundamental physics. Emphasis will be given to results achieved, new technologies and concepts, and novel management techniques.
- Chairman
Stamatios Krimigis
The John Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory — United StatesDenis Moura (CNES)
Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES) — France
B4.3. Small Satellite Operations
This session covers the planning for, and execution of, cost-effective approaches for Small Satellite Operations, with emphasis on new missions with new models of operation to reduce mission lifecycle costs and to minimise the cost impact of mission extensions. Papers addressing innovation, an entrepreneurial approach to new business opportunities, novel finance and business models, management techniques, and international cooperation in support of Small Satellite Operations are particularly encouraged. Papers that discuss the application of novel technology to mission operations, such as automation and autonomy, constraint resolution, and timeline planning, as well as reports on missions recently accomplished and lessons learned, are also welcome. For papers not addressing small satellites, please refer to Symposium B6.
- Chairman
Peter M. Allan
STFC — United KingdomKaren McBride
University of California, Los Angeles — United States
B4.4. Small Earth Observation Missions
We call for papers that will present information to decision makers, scientists, engineers, and managers about cost-effective small satellite missions, instruments, technologies, and designs of both current and planned Earth- and near-Earth missions. This session addresses the technologies, applications and missions achieved through the use of small, cost-effective satellites to observe the Earth and near-Earth space. Innovative cost-effective solutions to the needs of the science and applications communities are sought. Satellite technologies suited for use on small satellites including those in the single to multiple cubesat range are particularly encouraged. Satellite or technology development efforts that use innovative launch opportunities such as the developing space tourism market hold significant promise: papers addressing these evolving opportunities would be welcomed.
- Chairman
Larry Paxton
The John Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory — United StatesAmnon Ginati
European Space Agency (ESA) — The Netherlands
- Rapporteur
Klaus Briess
Technische Universität Berlin — Germany
B4.5. Access to Space for Small Satellite Missions
A key challenge facing the viability and growth of the small satellite community is affordable and reliable space access. This is achieved through dedicated launches, ride-shares, piggyback launches, and spacecraft propulsion technologies to reach final operational orbit. Topics of interest for this session include utilization of dedicated launches, ride-share systems, auxiliary payload systems, separation and dispenser systems, and small spacecraft sub-system development that will enable efficient small satellite access to space and orbit change (e.g. propulsion systems). Includes lessons learned from users on technical and programmatic approaches. For a discussion of small launchers concepts and operations, please refer to session D2.7.
- Chairman
Alex da Silva Curiel
Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL) — United KingdomJeff Emdee
The Aerospace Corporation — United States
B4.6A. Generic Technologies for Small/Micro Platforms
This session covers emerging and promising generic technologies for small and micro platforms. Real-life examples are particularly encouraged, both recently launched and shortly to be launched (next 3 years).
- Chairman
Nicholas Waltham
Rutherford Appleton Laboratory — United KingdomPhilip Davies
Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL) — United Kingdom
B4.6B. Generic Technologies for Nano/Pico Platforms
This session covers emerging and promising generic technologies for nano and pico platforms. Real-life examples are particularly encouraged, both recently launched and shortly to be launched (next 3 years).
- Chairman
Nicholas Waltham
Rutherford Appleton Laboratory — United KingdomPhilip Davies
Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL) — United Kingdom
- Rapporteur
Joost Elstak
ICEYE — The Netherlands
B4.7A. Space Systems and Architectures Featuring Cross-Platform Compatibility
Ideas are solicited for Modular, Reconfigurable, Adaptable systems (spacecraft, ground systems and networks) that feature cross-platform compatibility as a way to achieve mission lifecycle effectiveness. Applications are sought in Science, Exploration, Commerce, and other areas requiring rapid but stable system design and deployment. System-enabling plug-and-play interface definitions and recommendations for standardisation (mechanical, electrical, software and fluids) are particularly desirable.
- Chairman
Jaime Esper
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) — United StatesMarco D'Errico
Seconda Universita' di Napoli — Italy
- Rapporteur
Massimiliano Pastena
— The Netherlands
B4.7B. Small Distributed Space Missions
The session will be a forum for space missions relying on synergic use of small space vehicles, thus including constellations and formations, in either the cases of allocation of different functions on different vehicles or of distribution of all functions all across the system. Various aspects of distributed space missions will be addressed, including: new arising applications; design, integration, and operation of distributed sensors; relative GNC; advanced concept of spacecraft design (modularity, autonomy, standardisation, plug & play components) to achieve adequate performance at an acceptable cost; novel specific technologies. It is recommended that, in addition to discussing relevant theoretical aspects, potential contributors focus on practical challenges and potential solutions. Therefore, examples of missions or projects implementing in full or in part the distributed mission concept are particularly welcome.
- Chairman
Marco D'Errico
Seconda Universita' di Napoli — ItalyJaime Esper
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) — United States
- Rapporteur
Giancarmine Fasano
University of Naples "Federico II" — Italy
B4.8. Hitchhiking to the Moon and Beyond
Based on the significant number of robotic lunar and planetary missions of the last decade, a dramatically increased interest in exploration of the Moon, planets, and small bodies for the purpose of developing human and robotic presence beyond Earth orbit, both for science and space exploration objectives can be expected for the next decades. The renewed interest is broad and international, involving space agencies from the USA, Europe, China, India, Japan, Russia, Germany, UK, and others. Efforts like NASA Lunar Science Institute's (NLSI) rapidly growing global network of affiliates - academic and research institutions which each act as nodes within an existing network of their own partners - create demands for additional payload and flight opportunities, particularly from countries which just started their involvement in lunar exploration and science. In the future, it is expected that there will be more opportunities for ride-sharing or secondary or tertiary payload opportunities to be flown to the Moon and beyond, even as part of commercial enterprises like Google Lunar X-PRIZE missions. This session provides a forum for the exchange of ideas for such small payloads. Examples of such payloads or missions include but are not limited to: micro-spacecraft orbiters, cubesats, small probes, penetrators, micro-landers, hard landers, micro-rovers, secondary payload surface science instruments, distributed network landers, and many more. The focus of this session is on new mission concepts, technology readiness and ride-sharing requirements.
- Chairman
Leon Alkalai
Mandala Space Ventures — United StatesRene Laufer
Luleå University of Technology — Sweden
- Rapporteur
Amanda Stiles
X PRIZE Foundation —