The Replenishment of LEO Small Satellite Constellations
- Paper number
IAC-06-B5.5.08
- Author
Mr. Gerry Webb, Commercial Space Technologies Ltd, United Kingdom
- Year
2006
- Abstract
LEO systems, composed of small satellites with masses of up to a few hundred kilogrammes each, used for the purposes of navigation, communication or remote sensing have been considered and sometimes realised for the past 50 years. At present, following the successful establishment of the SSTL Disaster Monitoring Constellation (DMC) many LEO remote sensing small satellite systems are being developed. The most economic deployment of such constellations is usually considered to be best carried out several satellites at a time using launchers such as Rockot and Dnepr. For example, the RapidEye system (of five satellites) is planned to be launched by Dnepr in 2007. However, it is expected that the replenishment of the constellations with fresh satellites will be done piecemeal, making the use of these mid-range small launchers uneconomic. An additional problem, particularly with co-ordinated remote sensing systems such as DMC is that the new satellites will have to be inserted into the constellations with high accuracy as well as economically and on time. In the paper an assessment is made of the range of launchers which are (or could be in the future) economical enough to be considered for use in launching the satellites of remote sensing satellites constellations either singly or in pairs. CST experience gained in the brokering and managing of the launches of the DMC and RapidEye constellations will be employed and applied to the present day situation as well as to that which might exist in the future, 5 and 10 years from now.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-06-B5.5.08.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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