Angels smallsat: Demonstrator for new french product line

Abstract

In recent years the Nanosatellites and CubeSat world has experienced a major growth thanks to miniaturization. Initially promoted by universities as practical training for future engineers and scientists, today is a reality with a large panel of missions, covering scientific, technological and also commercial needs. In this context, CNES and NEXEYA have decided to join forces to develop a new SmallSat platform in the 12 – 16 U range; the first step for this new product line is ANGELS, a concept demonstrator to be launched by the end of 2019. This paper will present ANGELS, describing the main technological and organizational challenges to be overcome to achieve its development in two years and being the starting point for a new industrial SmallSat product line.