SumbandilaSAT – An Operational Technology Demonstrator
- Paper number
IAC-07-B4.3.08
- Author
Prof. Sias Mostert, Sun Space and Information Systems, South Africa
- Year
2007
- Abstract
Technology advances in sensor, digital technology and a modular satellite bus are enabling a new generation of 80kg micro-satellites with a 6.25m GSD multi-spectral performance, to be specified, built and deployed with a dedicated launch within 12 months. Operational remote sensing with a micro-satellite is thus within reach of individual organisations such as dedicated agencies for dedicated coverage of mission specific projects over a period of three to five years. In addition the low cost of deployment allows a follow up monitoring mission to be defined, keeping the information up to date such as for example land cover changes occurs. The progress in performance/mass ratio enables a micro-satellite with high resolution performance. In contrast to available satellites that offer limited access to pre-defined spectral bands in a dataset, the opportunity exists to specify a spectral band-set specific to a specific application and manufacture and launch the system within a very short period of time. Sumbandilasat (the second indigenous South African satellite) is an operational technology demonstrator taking advantage of the modular satellite bus architecture of SunSpace that enabled the satellite to be designed and adapted to the specific mission requirements of pre-flight testing of the MSMI multi-spectral bandset. In general a wide range of sensor parameters can be supported with the small satellite platform used in Sumbandilasat including the Ground Sampling Distance (2m – 30m) and the filter bands for the sensor (one to eighteen). The operational utilisation of the data from a small satellite required particular careful design to ensure low cost processing and distribution. The ground segment architecture for Sumbandilasat will be evaluated in the context of supporting an operational mission. The paper will review the Sumbandilasat mission, in particular the ground segment and given a successful launch on 18 June 2007, the early results can be reported on. Point of contact: Prof Sias Mostert, University of Stellenbosch, mostert@sun.ac.za Abstract for presentation at IAF B5.3 Small Satellite Operations, September 2007
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-07-B4.3.08.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.