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Small satellites are soaring high
In recent years, the space industry has seen an increasing number of small satellites, many launched from Europe’s spaceport. What are these small satellites? What applications are they entrusted with? How does Europe’s spaceport adapt?
What size is a small satellite?
There are four main categories of small satellites:
- nanosatellites: weighing less than 60 kilograms;
- microsatellites: between 60 and 200 kilograms;
- minisatellites: between 200 and 500 kilograms;
- CubeSats: these are nanosatellites, defined by volume rather than by weight.
We speak in terms of units, a unit being a 10 cm x 10 cm x 10 cm* cube, i.e. 1 litre. We can have 1U, 2U, even 9U.
*These figures may vary depending on the country or the stakeholders.
Artist's impression of the Picasso CubeSat.
What missions do they undertake?
There are small satellites with an educational or demonstration project, and others with an operational mission for day-to-day, commercial needs, such as technological development, research, geolocation, and many others.
Microsats and nanosats have also led to the emergence of constellations, making it possible to replace large telecommunications satellites in geostationary orbits with smaller satellites in lower orbits. However, large and small satellites are complementary. Finally, nanosatellites aim to be less expensive than large satellites.
Illustration of the Sunstorm CubeSat
What adaptations have been made to launchers?
On Vega, a new platform called SSMS (Small Spacecraft Mission Service) is used to carry multiple small satellites simultaneously. It also offers the possibility of launching them into orbits adapted to each one of them.
Ariane 6 will also be equipped with a similar system, the MLS (Multi-launch service). It will be able to carry a main satellite and up to 288 CubeSats. And it will be able to re-ignite its final stage to place the passenger satellites in the required orbits.
The SSMS system on board Vega flight VV16 carried 7 microsatellites and 46 nanosatellites on the same flight.
How is Europe’s spaceport preparing for the boom in small satellites?
The payload preparation facilities have been adapted to accommodate these nanosatellites. Dedicated zones will be set aside for them. On the former Diamant launch pad, preparations are under way to host mini- and micro-launchers. All this will enable the launch of constellations of nanosatellites.