Very-small-satellite design for distributed space missions

Abstract

A new class of remote sensing and scientific distributed space missions is emerging that requires hundreds to thousands of satellites for simultaneous multipoint sensing. These missions, stymied by the lack of a low-cost massproducible sensor node, can become reality by merging the concepts of distributed satellite systems and terrestrial wireless sensor networks. A novel, subkilogram, very-small-satellite design can potentially enable these missions. Existing technologies are first investigated, such as standardized picosatellites and microengineered aerospace systems. Two new alternatives are then presented that focus on a low-cost approach by leveraging existing commercial mass-production capabilities: a satellite on a chip (SpaceChip) and a satellite on a printed circuit board. Preliminary results indicate that SpaceChip and a satellite on a printed circuit board offer an order of magnitude of cost savings over existing approaches.