Small Satellites and Hosted Payloads for Technology Verification

Abstract

The early days of satellite applications often began with the development of a half or even full-scale engineering models for the purpose of technology verification. These engineering models were fabricated and tested with many key components designed, tested, and subjected to full-scale design reviews before production satellites were developed. In some cases various renditions of prototype models or full-scale subsystems were even flown in orbit to prove the reliability or functionality of such new components of the new generation of satellites. This technology verification was, of course, quite expensive. In the case of geosynchronous satellites, where there were only limited orders for perhaps four to six operational satellites, the result was that some 40% of the cost was invested in R&D and nonrecurrent development and technology verification costs.

Today, in the case of development and manufacturing for large-scale small satellite constellations, the approach can be quite different. The approach to technology verification and manufacturing of reliable small satellites for large-scale constellations can be much different in several ways. This is particularly true in the case of constellations involving significant production runs in the range of hundreds to even many thousands of satellites.

OneWeb, a year later, launched six of this first run of “pre-operational” satellites to test their performance technically as well as operationally. In such cases these early test operations not only prove and verify the payload and spacecraft bus capabilities but also allow tests of the ability to avoid interference to geosynchronous satellite networks.

Another newer option is to use the hosted payload systems to carry out performance testing of components or the launch of several CubeSat test satellites as a cluster of technology verification flights. This can be more cost-effective than a separate experimental satellite flight.

The use of small satellites and hosted payloads allows a totally different approach, and more cost-effective approach to research, development, technology verification, and in-orbit test of very small components such as application-specific integrated circuits and electronic switching systems or routers. These new options can allow in-orbit verification tests at much more modest cost.

In short, small satellites as well as hosted payloads offer a range of new possibilities. These various options allow for low-cost test of new technology, verification of components, and use of hosted payloads or small satellites to prove, in-orbit, key new technology. There are now programs specifically designed to use hosted payload systems to carry out verification of new systems or in-orbit lifetime testing. New launch offerings including deployment of CubeSats and almost up to 1 m³ satellites from the International Space Station have contributed to the cost-efficiencies of such test flights.

This chapter thus outlines the many ways that small satellites and hosted payloads can offer important improvements for the design of satellites to achieve improved performance, longer life, and lower costs. These new options improve the ability to provide for quality testing and verification in the design and manufacture of not only for the entire small satellite and its design but also allow assessment of the performance of components in hosted payload packages and even allow for improvements in the design and reliability of larger-scale MEO and GEO satellites. Small satellite testing can thus aid large satellite design, manufacture, reliability, and performance for all types of satellites – large and small.