session 8

Title

Small Spacecraft for Deep-Space Exploration

type

oral

Description

This session focuses on innovative small spacecraft designs, systems, missions and technologies for the exploration and commercialization of space beyond Earth orbit. Target destinations for these miniaturized space probes include the Earth's Moon, Mars, comets and asteroids, as well as other destinations that are targets for in-situ resource utilization (ISRU). Small exploration probes covered by this session may come in many different forms including special-purpose miniature spacecraft, standard format small platforms such as Cubesats or other microsats, nanosats, picosats, etc. Topics include new and emerging technologies including the use of commercial off the shelf (COTS) technologies, miniaturized subsystems including propulsion, avionics, guidance navigation & control, power supply, communication, thermal management, and sensors and instruments. The main focus of this session is on new and emerging systems, missions, driving technologies and applications that are both government-funded as well as driven by commercial ventures.

Date

2025-10-03

Time

10:15

Room

Room C3.2

IPC members

• Co-Chair: Dr. Leon Alkalai, Mandala Space Ventures, United States;

• Co-Chair: Prof. Rene Laufer, Luleå University of Technology, Sweden;

• Rapporteur: Dr. Lihua Zhang, DFH Satellite Co. Ltd., China;

• Rapporteur: Dr. Jaime Esper, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), United States;