Small Satellites Project Group
Our Research Projects
SSPG research teams work to develop, investigate, and share knowledge related to small satellite technologies. These projects span a variety of impactful topics, including climate and natural-disaster monitoring, space-based solar power applications, space-debris mitigation, and interplanetary space exploration.
Current Research Activities
“Assessing the Environmental Consequences of Satellite Reentry: Impact on Ozone Layer Depletion Using the GEOS-Chem Global Chemistry-Transport Model”
Coordinated by Raphael Eyiram Soglo
As low-Earth orbit (LEO) becomes increasingly congested, the environmental footprint of space activities is extending into Earth’s upper atmosphere. This project provides comprehensive quantification of stratospheric ozone depletion driven by aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃) nanoparticles generated during the atmospheric reentry of decommissioned satellites.
As of early 2026, more than 14,500 satellites are in orbit indicating a 28 % increase since June 2023 (UNOOSA/Celestrak data). With the deployment of multiple mega-constellations, the number of annual reentries is projected to rise dramatically by 2030. During uncontrolled reentry, aluminum structural components (typically ~20 % of satellite dry mass) ablate in the mesosphere (60–90 km) and oxidize into persistent sub-micron Al₂O₃ particles that sediment into the stratosphere. Mass-balance analysis of a representative 250 kg LEO satellite yields approximately 66 kg of Al₂O₃ per reentry. Current reentry rates already inject ~53 metric tons of Al₂O₃ annually, with projections exceeding 360 metric tons per year under high-growth scenarios (Ferreira et al., 2024; Maloney et al., 2025).
These Al₂O₃ nanoparticles serve as efficient heterogeneous surfaces for chlorine activation (e.g., ClONO2 + HCl → Cl2 + HNO3 with uptake coefficient γCl ≈ 0.02), accelerating catalytic ozone destruction cycles and potentially perturbing stratospheric chemistry for years to decades.
Using the GEOS-Chem global 3-D chemistry-transport model (v14) with updated stratospheric halogen chemistry and sectional aerosol microphysics, we simulate the injection, transport, sedimentation, and chemical interactions of reentry-derived Al₂O₃. Ensemble runs compare baseline (natural meteoric aerosol) conditions against near-term and future mega-constellation emission inventories. The study evaluates changes in ozone mixing ratios (ppbv), total column ozone (DU), and key species (ClOₓ, NOₓ, HOₓ) at global, zonal, and polar scales, while systematically addressing uncertainties in particle size distribution, surface reactivity, and injection parameters.
“LignoSat: Evaluating Wooden Satellites for Sustainable Reentry - Thermal, Chemical, and Environmental Performance of Lignin-Based Materials in Small-Satellite Atmospheric Demise”
Coordinated by Raphael Eyiram Soglo
This project extends Japan’s pioneering LignoSat mission — the world’s first wooden CubeSat, constructed from honoki (Magnolia obovata) panels using traditional Japanese blind-miter dovetail joints. Deployed from the International Space Station on 9 December 2024, LignoSat successfully demonstrated the structural integrity of wood in Low Earth Orbit despite communication challenges, building on prior 10-month ISS exposure tests that confirmed negligible mass loss, no atomic oxygen erosion, and minimal vacuum-ultraviolet surface degradation (Murata et al., Journal of Wood Science, 70:49, 2024).
Our research focuses on the space physics and aerothermodynamic performance of lignin-rich hardwood materials during atmospheric reentry. Using coupled finite-element thermal-response and hypersonic CFD simulations in ANSYS, we model key phenomena including stagnation-point convective and radiative heat fluxes, shock-layer radiation, pyrolysis kinetics (multi-step Arrhenius reactions for cellulose and lignin decomposition), char formation, gas blowing, and ablation mass-loss rates. These are compared against conventional 6061-T6 aluminum structures along representative 400–600 km LEO decay trajectories.
Particular emphasis is placed on atmospheric residue budgets: while aluminum produces persistent Al₂O₃ nanoparticles that contribute to stratospheric ozone depletion and mesospheric perturbations, wooden satellites pyrolyse into primarily CO₂, H₂O vapour, and biodegradable ash, offering a near carbon-neutral, near-zero-particulate reentry pathway.
This work supports the development of fully biodegradable or hybrid wood-composite small satellites, contributing to cleaner manufacturing practices and long-term space sustainability.
“Stay Tuned”
2023 Research Activities
“Feasibility Study on Enabling Technologies for Designing a Synthetic Aperture Radar Payload on a Nanosatellite for Monitoring Water Levels in Flood Prone Areas of Nigeria”
Coordinated by Maren Mashor
The Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency identified soil moisture as a significant contributor to flooding in Nigeria in its 2020 annual flood outlook report. Swift access to accurate soil moisture data using radar remote sensing data collection techniques has improved flood risk management in the region. These techniques provide higher-resolution images independent of weather conditions, making them preferred over traditional methods like gauge observation and expensive equipment like echo sounders. The use of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) payloads on nanosatellites for cost-effective, fast and continuous monitoring of water levels is a promising approach. However, the design of such a system poses challenges to fit the restrictions on size, weight, power, and cost (SWaP-C) of a nanosatellite. This paper identifies and performs a feasibility study on enabling technologies to design a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) payload on a nanosatellite for the purpose of monitoring water levels in flood prone areas of Nigeria. This methodology consists of stages. Initially, SAR dataset user requirements for Kogi State, Nigeria, are evaluated to define key mission parameters such as coverage, image mode, swath width, revisit time, and resolution. Next, current SAR payload designs and advances are assessed to determine the architecture that best meets these user requirements. Shortlisted payload designs are then subjected to a feasibility study for integration on a nanosatellite bus ranging from 3-Unit to 6-Unit Cubesats. A constraint-driven design process is employed to generate system specifications from the feasibility study results. The specifications are then used to design a SAR payload that integrates on a nanosatellite bus. Finally, Systems Tool Kit; a software used to model and analyse space systems, is used to test the conceptual integrated design to validate the mission’s feasibility. The outcome of this research is a comprehensive SAR dataset user requirement document, tailored to the hydrological characteristics necessary for monitoring water levels in Kogi State, Nigeria. Furthermore, technical reports and a feasibility study are presented, evaluating SAR payload sensors and designs that satisfy the user requirements, with emphasis on their integration onto a nanosatellite bus. The conceptual design specifications and test results are also presented in detail. Finally, summary and discussion of the outcomes, including the encountered challenges and recommendations are presented. These results provide technical insights and a framework for designing future SAR nanosatellite missions to detect and predict flood events to enable a fast early warning system that will aid in flood prediction and management.
“Building a Sustainable Climate Change Monitoring Satellite Mission through Life Cycle Assessment”
Coordinated by Dhanisha Sateesh
“Analysis of Space Debris Mitigation and Removal Techniques for Small Satellites in Low Earth Orbit in Purview of the Guidelines Issued by the FCC”
Coordinated by Prerna Baranwal
As the number of space launches and missions increases exponentially, so does the amount of space debris in orbit. This poses a serious threat to spacecrafts and astronauts, as even small fragments travelling at high speeds, can cause considerable damage upon impact and may eventually lead to Kessler Syndrome. European Space Agency’s (ESA) space debris mitigation handbook, Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) Network for Space Objects Tracking and Analysis (NETRA) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Orbital Debris Program Office (ODPO) are some of the measures put in place by governmental agencies to tackle this problem. However, ongoing efforts are still needed to effectively manage the increasing accumulation of space debris.
This research assesses the impact of the 2022 ruling by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that mandates satellites operating in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) to be de-orbited within five years of mission completion, instead of the previous twenty-five-year limit. With a two-year transition period for the small satellite industry, the study focuses on the effect of this ruling on small satellites, especially satellite constellations, by analysing the cost-effectiveness, technological readiness level, advantages, and disadvantages of space debris mitigation measures and removal techniques. The research investigates different methods for eliminating orbital debris, such as controlled atmospheric re-entry, acceleration of natural spacecraft decay, relocation to graveyard orbits, and active debris removal, as well as processes to prevent collisions between non-manoeuvrable objects. It also delves into space debris mitigation techniques like just-in-time collision avoidance (JCA) and the management of traffic generated by large debris. The study concludes by providing a roadmap for small satellite developers to adopt optimal space debris removal and mitigation techniques for their proposals. The analysis is conducted by a team of volunteers from the Small Satellites Project Group (SSPG) of the Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC).
“Lessons Learned from the First Generation of Interplanetary SmallSats”
Coordinated by Aysha Alharam
Small Satellites, or ‘SmallSats,’ are increasingly dominating the current era of space exploration and have opened a whole new set of scientific and space exploration opportunities. In particular, the CubeSat form factor has enabled hundreds of sustainable, low-cost, and simple missions over the last decade. However, SmallSats have just begun to operate in interplanetary space, potentially providing a low-cost alternative to traditional large satellite missions. An example of this potential was using CubeSats as secondary payloads on the Artemis I mission. However, interplanetary SmallSat missions face a range of technical and operational challenges due to their demanding operating environments and ambitious scientific goals. Additionally, there is a lack of suitable engineering processes and standards tailored for missions of this type. Thus, this study aims to present a set of common knowledge on the specific difficulties these missions face. This knowledge was gathered using several methods, including a developer summit, interviews with mission leaders, mission surveys, and an extensive literature review. In addition, first-hand accounts from mission developers on the specific challenges faced, and the solutions they recommended were recorded. The study also investigates the difficulties faced by missions of this type and their degree of impact on development compared to typical Earth- orbiting SmallSat missions. As a result, suggestions to lower the risk and costs for future missions are made. These range from development, operation, documentation, and review approaches to team composition, parts selection, qualification, and shared tools and facilities. Moreover, the study creates a standard framework for preventing and overcoming many of the problems encountered by past missions. It outlines customized systems engineering and project management models and standards that can serve future missions in the development and operations phases. These focus on the system development approaches, resource management, hardware selection and qualification, risk management and mitigation and the technical standards for different subsystem design, testing and validation. The proposed models aim to ease the development cycle of future missions from both a systems management and technical perspective.
“Study of Small Satellite Constellation for High-Resolution Greenhouse Gas Monitoring”
Coordinated by Andrew Karim
The seriousness of the climate crisis has called for international efforts to drastically reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This has been seen through international treaties, such as the Paris Agreement, in which 196 parties have committed to limit the global temperature increase well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, and the Global Methane Pledge, which counts over 110 countries that have pledged to cut their methane emissions by 30% during the present decade.
In order to evaluate the success of these objectives, precise greenhouse gas monitoring is necessary. In-situ networks can provide accurate surface measurements, but offer very sparse coverage and must therefore be complemented by satellite data. Many earth observation satellites, such as JAXA’s GOSAT and ESA’s Sentinel-5P, measure greenhouse gas using passive spectrometers that observe reflected solar light. However, these instruments are blind in high-latitude dark regions, suffer from low measurement sensitivity in the lower troposphere and are affected by undetected aerosol layers and thin ice clouds. This hinders measurements in northern areas or for offshore operations, notably in the oil and gas industry, which is a sector that presents both high emissions and high uncertainties.
This paper aims to improve the capacity of existing GHG monitoring systems by presenting a cost-effective conceptual small satellite constellation mission design based on a novel payload for active remote sensing of CO2, CH4 and N2O with high temporal and spatial resolution. First, this paper presents a review of current small satellite missions and industrial needs to determine the mission requirements and current gaps in GHG emission monitoring. The mission parameters, such as the satellites’ footprint, swath, observation frequency and revisit rate, are then derived to ensure high quality of data collection and temporal resolution. Finally, the proposed spacecraft design is presented, which is equipped with an active LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) instrument in combination with a passive spectrometer supported by enhanced fusion algorithms and the latest state-of-the-art satellite architecture, enabling increased sensitivity to GHG independently of surface contrast, sunlight, cloud coverage or atmosphere composition.
2022 Research Activities
“Conceptual Design of a sustainable SmallSat Constellation to enable reliable Lunar communication network”
Coordinated by Ricardo Gomes
National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Artemis program aims to establish a permanent Human presence on the lunar South Pole by the end of the decade. Providing complete and continuous coverage around the Moon using a reliable and sustainable communication infrastructure will be vital for future robotic and human exploration. Such efforts involve high-cost and long lead time solutions, which are often inaccessible to smaller companies and governments. This paper explores the use of a constellation of small satellites, which will enable cost-effective communication infrastructure around the Moon and enhance future communication between lunar missions and Earth. With a focus on SmallSat technologies, such as small form factor CubeSats, the feasibility and practicality of developing a low-cost and sustainable lunar constellation is assessed in this conceptual design study. The proposed work addresses a set of system trade-offs and places a focus on Optical Communication Technology (OCT), an indispensable technology with substantial applications in space communication. OCTs have the potential to enable high data rates and minimize crowd spectrum usage, making them a promising solution for lunar communication networks. The most promising satellite architecture solution that meets the defined requirements is presented. Furthermore, the paper discusses the rarely addressed problem of disposal strategies for debris mitigation on cislunar orbits, as part of the sustainable development goals defined by United Nations (UN). The present work tackles the conceptual design and the architecture of a sustainable OCT constellation of SmallSats in a frozen orbit around the Moon to enable a reliable communication network and to contribute to create the building blocks for future space exploration infrastructure.
“A Constellation Based Approach to an Orbital Manufacturing Ecosystem”
Coordinated by Bruce Clark
The space environment offers unique possibilities for manufacturing. From manufacturing techniques that are only possible in microgravity to the innate cleanliness of a vacuum, a new area of the space industry is rapidly opening up. Two streams are evident within orbital manufacturing. Return missions provide services for manufacturing pure materials (e.g. creation of lightweight alloys for use in environmentally friendly airframes), while non-return missions use assembly techniques to combine components into complex assemblies (e.g. production of 3D printed composites for use in assembling orbital structures, or at a macro level, construction of structures such as the ISS). Initiatives such as NASA’s OSAM-1 satellite show that these two mission profiles are not mutually exclusive and are critical for supporting future efforts for construction of large structures in orbit. As more actors become involved in on-orbit manufacturing the sector is becoming more complex, with areas beginning to interact in new and interesting ways. In short, a new orbital manufacturing ecosystem is developing. This paper investigates how this new on-orbit manufacturing ecosystem might function. In addition to assessing the benefits of and markets for downstream products of a thriving on-orbit manufacturing ecosystem, this paper addresses areas that require technological advancement to unlock their full potential, and identifies where policy and regulation need to change in order to support growth. This paper proposes that an on-orbit manufacturing ecosystem also offers the potential to enhance space sustainability by reusing components and materials from decommissioned satellites, and discusses where orbital servicing technology could be repurposed to suit this aim. It is evident that a complete manufacturing ecosystem presents significant logistical challenges from acquisition of raw material to deployment of the finished product. This paper proposes best practice approaches to on-orbit manufacture, and presents an analysis of advantages and limitations between difference on-orbit manufacturing paradigms. Finally, this paper outlines a satellite constellation based approach to orbital manufacturing, and highlights how distributing the tasks and manufacturing capabilities between multiple satellites within the constellation can provide support to all areas of an orbital manufacturing ecosystem.
“Analyzing the Impacts of Climate Change on N2O Emissions from Soil Using Small Satellites”
Coordinated by Kiran Mankame
The increasing atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gasses (GHG) is resulting in their heightened absorption by oceans, land, and forests. Although the ground and plants absorb only around 10 With the growing effects of climate change, it is projected that the atmospheric concentration of N2O will increase significantly. Rapidly fluctuating soil temperature and precipitation due to climate warming and weather change are causing the emission of CO2, CH4, N2O, and loss of Phosphorous, which affects plants’ growth. The available finite data indicates such deteriorating soil health will impact agriculture in the coming decades by rising social issues such as food shortage, food storage, inflation, and recession and generating health issues like malnutrition, deprivation of the immune system, etc. Monitoring GHG emissions from the soil will provide data that can aid in the early response and maintenance of soil health. This paper analyzes the requirements for the GHG emissions monitoring mission to investigate the use of this data to monitor soil health. The main focus of the project is to propose the rational mission concept to guarantee the constant and accurate monitoring of the atmospheric concentration of N2O. Dedicated small satellite missions can deliver global emission mapping coverage, which will improve the understanding of soil GHG emissions and health dynamics. Furthermore, this will increase the diversity of the data available across different climates, landscapes, and crop types for enhanced response. However, depending on the particular used case and final data user the mission concepts and satellite compositions can differ. As the result of the use cases definition and stakeholders’ interviews on important parameters to be tracked, the paper proposes a rational small satellite monitoring mission profile. Particular attention is paid to the inversion algorithms and requirements to derive them. Furthermore, the paper exhibits how Earth Observation data of soil health can mitigate the intensity of mentioned social and economic crises.
“Feasibility Study of Orbit Control Methods in CubeSats with Electric Propulsion for an Interplanetary Mission”
Coordinated by Pallavi Prasad
With ESA Science Programme Voyage 2050, there is a need for technology developments in terms of more efficient power and propulsion systems for future space missions. With regards to this, many science missions have been proposed for solar system exploration, sample return, search for extra-terrestrial life, exoplanets search and understanding of the early universe. However, all such missions need an efficient and reliable satellite or a constellation of satellites. Efficient propulsion and control methods can contribute in designing a satellite which is reliable and can serve in achieving ambitious science objectives. In order to design such a satellite, different orbit control mechanisms and electric propulsion systems have to be evaluated and adapted to the mission requirements. Thus, this paper discusses the feasibility of electric propulsion technologies along with orbit control methods in CubeSats for an interplanetary mission. With growing interest in small scale satellites, the demand for propulsion systems with moderate power levels (between 1 to 20kW) has also increased. In line with the demand of such a propulsion system, a hybrid propulsion model with electric propulsion and solar sails is investigated in this study. This paper presents a particular case of a CubeSat orbiting Jupiter’s polar orbit which can contribute in achieving various science goals such as understanding Jupiter’s magnetosphere and studying the mass and energy flows in the Io-Jupiter system. A high-level phase 0/A, mission analysis and feasibility study, of such an electric propulsion centric mission is conducted. Furthermore, the study exhibits a trade-off analysis of spacecraft power requirement vis-`a-vis mass and thruster, trajectory design and manoeuvring, orbit determination and flight path control mechanisms which can lead to an efficient mission to the Jovian system.
“Investigating the Applications of Small Satellites in the Measurement and Evaluation of the Essential Ocean Variables”
Coordinated by Emma Belhadfa
The state of Earth’s complex ocean network is a clear indicator of the effects of the climate crisis. From the bleaching of corals to the acidification of the water, the condition of our oceans has reached a critical point, jeopardizing the health and livelihoods of billions globally. By capitalizing on the cost-efficiency of small satellites, the testing of existing and emerging technology can be more easily implemented to evaluate ocean health, improving global understanding of climate change. The Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) programme from the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) has laid out a list of 54 Essential Climate Variables (ECVs) for characterizing the Earth’s climate. Of these ECVs, 19 are the Essential Ocean Variables (EOVs) that monitor the health of our oceans. These can be further subcategorized into groups describing the Ocean Surface Physics, Subsurface Ocean Physics, Biogeochemistry and observations on Ocean Biology or Ecosystems. Satellites are the only currently available tool to observe 71 The objective of this paper is to evaluate the role that satellites, especially small satellites (¡500kg), have in monitoring the EOVs. This paper reviews current earth observation payloads and data and their relevance to the evaluation of the EOVs. The study evaluates emerging methods (novel optics systems, object based image analysis, etc.) to measure EOVs remotely and consolidate the relevant data into effective methods of communication. Active and passive remote sensing techniques and their applications across the visible, infrared, and microwave bands are evaluated. Based on this information, a framework is proposed using multiple platforms and constellation systems for the development of a cost-efficient plan to provide an optimal global view for each EOV. The goal is to improve ocean forecasts, early warnings, and climate projections. The final purpose of this paper is to evaluate the influence of the emerging open-source data on international climate policy and coordination. By leveraging the nearglobal coverage of remote imaging networks, potential gaps in observation and the corresponding effects on policy are identified, suggesting methods to develop more accessible and useful data collection. This research is conducted by members of the Small Satellite Project Group (SSPG), representing the Space Generation Advisory Council’s (SGAC) efforts to evaluate the role of students and young professionals in the fight to combat the climate crisis.
“Developing a Small Satellite Mission to Monitor Ocean Acidification within the Polar Seas”
Coordinated by Emma Belhadfa
About a quarter of the carbon dioxide (CO2) released into the atmosphere is reabsorbed by the oceans every year thus decreasing the global ocean’s pH level. Seawater acidification presents a serious threat to a variety of marine species in terms of biotic potential, survival rates, and mobility. Specifically, the polar seas are acidifying more rapidly in comparison to the global ocean, making this region an area of interest to monitor the latest effects of climate change. Earth observation (EO) payloads offer unique imaging benefits, such as wide, unobtrusive observations, uniformity, near real-time data collection, and much more. They can be used to map changes occurring in the planet’s atmosphere as well as in the complex water network. The hostile nature of the polar seas makes it difficult to perform repeated and timely in-situ measurements and thus, earth-orbiting satellites are capable of remotely imaging difficult to reach areas, making them particularly suitable for monitoring this region. This approach presented in this paper takes advantage of small satellites’ cost efficiency to test newer payloads and technologies in such regions. The objectives of this paper are three-fold; firstly, it highlights the current state of Ocean Acidification (OA), within the sensitive polar regions of our planet. Secondly, it proposes a constellation of small satellites for the dedicated monitoring of these effects on the planet’s cryosphere. In particular, it addresses essential mission parameters to achieve these objectives, including payload selection, orbit design, mass and power budgeting, data handling and communication, and end-of-life disposal. Lastly, the benefits of this increased monitoring are addressed, including the socio-economic impacts on immediately-affected regions. Additionally, this mission provides a framework for the development of future EO missions within and beyond the polar regions. The proposed mission parameters, which specifically tackle the challenges of hostile regions, and selection methodology can be adapted for various geographical areas of interest. The thorough design process outlined in this paper targets more precise areas and issues, setting the foundation for the implementation of small satellite missions within new and existing constellation systems. The development of this mission has been conducted by a multinational and multi-disciplinary team of students and young professionals, on behalf of the Small Satellite Project Group (SSPG), a subset of the Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC).
“Conceptual design of a reusable multipurpose tug with a grappling mechanism for space debris mitigation”
Coordinated by Sai Kiran Parre
Commercialization of orbit is on the rise with the increasing potential of Earth observation and inspace services. Commercialization has caused a steep rise in the number of satellites launched into space as CubeSats of different sizes and is making the orbits congested, increasing the chances of collisions, leading to Kessler syndrome. This paper details the conceptual design of a reusable space tug – a spacecraft for active orbital debris removal. Space tugs are the vehicles which are already in orbit which can be exploited to perform the transfer maneuvers of space debris. The space tug presented here is conceived to be used for the transfer of debris and satellites from low to high orbits, and vice versa, if needed. The paper starts with an overview of the mission scenario, the concept of operations, and the related architecture elements. The main focus of the design of the space tug is based on the type of propulsion system onboard used with an estimation of availability of resources in space after the commercialization of LEO. Hypergolic and Mono propellant propulsion systems are being considered for the space tug design. Then a detailed requirements analysis is performed to give it capabilities of a multi-purpose vehicle with a grappling mechanism to capture debris and also load it with satellites to act as a tug. The entire mission and Space tug design goes through an iterative and recursive design process optimizing according to orbits (for LEO and GEO). The ultimate objective of the research is to create a family of modular, economically feasible space tugs that use a common platform and share various components, which would allow providing relatively inexpensive and responsive on-demand debris removal and tugging services.
2021 Research Activities
“A Feasibility Study For Project Giga: Using Satellite Constellations To Provide Internet To Disconnected Schools”
Coordinated by Daniel Wischert
This paper will analyze the growth of interest in the small satellite communications sector and to afford background knowledge on the technological capabilities of current providers. A feasibility study is performed to assess the main actors in the field and their ability to contribute to Project GIGA’s ultimate goal of connectivity for every school. Through a multifaceted lens, the paper identifies the benefits and potential obstacles of constellation-based satellite broadband internet. Where necessary, possible solutions and workarounds are explored to allow a coherent assessment on the practicality of Project GIGA’s connectivity objective. With this research Project GIGA will have a baseline to begin their outreach and development initiatives.
“Machine Learning for Earth Observation Small Satellites: A Review”
Coordinated by Pablo Miralles
While satellite image processing has benefitted massively from the ongoing AI revolution, the same cannot be said for other aspects of the Earth Observation industry. This project’s aim is to act as a bridge between the Earth Observation small satellite community and the machine learning community, highlighting potential opportunities. We will develop a State of the Art review exploring all on-board and off-board applications of Machine Learning to Earth Observation outside of image processing on ground. The review is to be published at a main space industry venue and it will be complemented by outreach material to expand on noteworthy concepts found during its development.
“Mission Design for In-Orbit Demonstration of Active Debris Removal through an Ion Beam Shepherd Small Satellite”
Coordinated by Ricardo Colpari
The continuous use of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) poses several risks when companies focus on near term business success rather than long term sustainability and safety of operations. This project explores the technological challenges of one of the mission concepts for active debris removal, i.e.: the Ion Beam Shepherd, and proposes strategies and the required steps to propose a demonstration mission, this includes proximity operations, on-orbit inspection and the possibility to perform contactless deorbiting of a non-cooperative target in order to achieve safety of operations. An overview of the different approaches is provided, analyzing the current architectures and technologies.
“A Review of Near Future Optical Technology for High-Speed and Secure CubeSat Communications”
Coordinated by Muhire Desire
The next generation of high speed and secure communication is envisioned using Lasercom photonic modules. These components allow great compactness and efficiency of use suitable for CubeSat type satellites. How they will be integrated into existing RF systems remains an ongoing topic. This project follows the current technological readiness of lasercom and their integration into small satellites.
“Analytical Demonstration of Artificial Intelligence Assisted Swarm CubeSats for Active Debris Removal in LEO ”
Coordinated by Nijanthan Vasudevan
Space debris is considered as a serious problem it has to averted as it has the potential to be a spoilsport for any space missions. In past decades numerous Space debris capturing and removal methods have been proposed. However, the amount of debris in the LEO orbit rather than decreasing it just accumulated even before. This paper aims to bring a new, economical and efficient solution to remove space junk. using swarm robotics technology The paper discusses the functionality and feasibility of the proposal. In addition to that, it explains how this concept can be effective comparing to other past proposals and describes how the prototypes will be developed.
“Small Satellites potential for Greenhouse Gas and CO2 Monitoring”
Coordinated by Daria Stepanova
Small satellites can improve the global emission mapping coverage and image update rates, which will improve the understanding of the CO2 and GHG dynamics. Today there are several small satellite missions carrying hyperspectral Short-Wave Infrared Imaging (SWIR) imaging instrumentation, providing gas emissions data. However, alternative missions, instrumentation combinations and satellite architectures are possible. This paper aims to analyse the requirements for the emission sensing instrumentation for the installation on the small satellite platform. It is reviewed together with small satellite platform architecture and the use cases. From that, the rational mission profile for small satellite utilisation for the monitoring is derived.
“Low-Thrust Trajectory Design and Mars Orbit Insertion Strategies for Interplanetary Cubesats”
Coordinated by Daniel Wischert
This paper focuses on interplanetary CubeSats in Mars orbit. It considers Earth-Mars trajectory design from launch to Mars Orbit Insertion (MOI). Three CubeSat options (3U, 6U and 12U) are assessed and compared, taking into account different low-thrust propulsive technologies such as gridded ion thrusters and Hall-effect thrusters. Several options for orbit capture at Mars are evaluated to cover different mission profiles depending on the arrival conditions and targeted orbital parameters. In this context, this research paper provides a useful baseline for the trajectory design of interplanetary CubeSats missions to Mars and shows that CubeSats can successfully be integrated to support interplanetary missions.
Concluded Research Activities
“Optical Communications for Small Satellites: A Review of Pointing Strategies & Requirements Optimization”
| IAC 2020 – Read PDF |
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Research Objective: Analysis of a new communication technology limitations in application to small satellites.
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Support organizations: Scanway and German Orbital Systems GmbH Authors: Muhire D., Stepanova D., Santra S., Baranwal P., Romero M., Amrutkar R., Bonnart S., Jha D., Zucherman A. |
“Conceptual Design of a Mars Constellation for Global Communication Services using Small Satellites ”
| IAC 2020 – Read PDF |
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Research Objective: Analysis of demand and use-cases for future Mars constellations and feasibility study of a smallsat constellation to provide global communication services on Mars. |
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Support organizations: Crowdspace Authors: Wischert D., Baranwal P., Bonnart S., Álvarez M., Colpari R., Daryabari M., Desai S., Dhoju S., Fajardo G., Faldu B., López-Contreras González E., Low P., Malcolm K., Mardhani S., Miralles P., Mohanty J., Morchedi S., More H., Ortega-González H., Parasuram S., Romero M., Santra S., Somkuwar A., Soni K., Stepanova D., Thangavel K., Vinayak Bhale K., Zainab R. |
