Small satellites from an industry perspective

Indulis Kalnins, University of Applied Sciences Bremen

Content

1. Examples of small satellites build in Bremen by OHB System AG

1. Rubin Missions by OHB and UAS

2. QuadSat-PnP Concept and first missions

3. Summary

Introduction

1. Examples of small satellites build in Bremen by OHB System

• OHB System AG is the head company of OHB-Technology AG

• Around 300 highly qualified scientists and engineers

• The business unit generated total revenues of around EUR 90 million in 2009.

Rubin 9

Max Valier

Inspector

- Astrium

1994 2000 200819981997

Bremsat

ZARM, OHB

SAFIR-1 OHB

SAFIR-2

OHB

Bird-RUBIN

OHB

100 kg

50 kg

10 kg

2009 20102005

Typical University CUBE Sat‘s 1...3kg

ABRIXAS - 1999

480kg

RUBIN-2

OHB

RUBIN-3,

-4

OHB

RUBIN-5-ASOLANT

OHB RUBIN-7, -8-AIS OHB

2007

< 10kg

5 x SAR-Lupe

2006 - 2008

Ca 800kg

ENMAP -

2014

Ca 800kg

1. Examples of small satellites build in Bremen by OHB System

1. Examples of small satellites build in Bremen by OHB System

http://www.mpe.mpg.de/xray/wave/abrixas/camera/xray-camera.php

ABRIXAS

• Scientific Satellite build undercontract with DLR, Germany

• MPE X-Ray Telescope as payload

• Launch on Cosmos-3M

1. Examples of small satellites build in Bremen by OHB System

SAR-Lupe

• Military high resolution radar satellites, Germany

• Spacecraft design „around“ the radarpayload

• Bus-Platform further upgrade for ENMAP

1. Examples of small satellites build in Bremen by OHB System

ENMAP

• Scientific hyper spectral 200 channel, 30m resolution satellite, Germany

• Prime contractor and payload design byKayser Threde, Germany

• SL Bus Heritage

• Ca. 700kg

• PSLV Launch

2. Rubin Missions by OHB System and UAS

Bird-Rubin

Launch 15.07.00 from Plesetsk, Russia

During the 5 day mission were received

1600 Messages (e-mails)

Short and long range over 7500km inter-

satellite communication successful

demonstrated.

2. Rubin Missions by OHB System and UAS

Bird-Rubin

Scientific Experiment data

House Keeping data

Telecommands to Experiment

30 Orbcomm SC

Worldwide Network of Gateways

(Europe, USA,, Brazi, Korea)

Scientists /

Customer Mission

Control

INTERNET

rubin-X client software with e-mail decoding and data visualization

Communications Principle

2. Rubin Missions by OHB System and UAS

Rubin-2

Rubin-2 was the first small

satellite fully controlled via

Internet and Orbcomm

communications system.

Launched on DNEPR from

Baikonur.

Launch from Baikonur,

20.12.2002

2. Rubin Missions by OHB System and UAS

Rubin-3-DSI

The mission goal of Rubin-3-DSI was to test the

launch vehicle tracing possibilities outside of the

launch site TM system visibility areas.

The most important ascent status parameters are

transmitted in the near real time mode directly to

the customer via e-mails (payload separation

confirmation, flight event time etc).

System reached 3 years life time!

COSMOS-3M

ALSAT-1

Rubin-4-DSI

2. Rubin Missions by OHB System and UAS

Rubin-5-ASOLANT: Mission Overview

2. Rubin Missions by OHB System and UAS

Rubin-5-ASOLANT: Design

Space Debris Detector

Solar Array & Integrated Antennas

Pressurized Electronics Container

Electronics and Battery

2. Rubin Missions by OHB System and UAS

Rubin-5-ASOLANT: Results

Low cost, low resolution camera

First made and received 60 x 80 pixel pictures

Support for attitude determination as sun or earth sensor

Onboard Camera

2. Rubin Missions by OHB System and UAS

Pictures with mobile phone type camera from space

2. Rubin Missions by OHB System and UAS

Pictures with mobile phone type camera from space

2. Rubin Missions by OHB System and UAS

Pictures with mobile phone type camera from space

2. Rubin Missions by OHB System and UAS

Pictures with mobile phone type camera from space

2. Rubin Missions by OHB System and UAS

Pictures with mobile phone type camera from space

2. Rubin Missions by OHB System and UAS

Pictures with mobile phone type camera from space

2. Rubin Missions by OHB System and UAS

Rubin-5-ASOLANT: Results

Two impact acceleration sensors

One impact flash sensor

Continuous impact detection on all three channels with 30 samples per second

3 debris or micro-meteroid impacts detected in the missions first 4 weeks

Debris Detector

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1800

2000

1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19

Reihe1

Reihe2

Reihe3

Reihe4

MAIL NR 57 [GLOBALGRAM:SAT=14]

RECEIVED: 28 Nov 2005 23:02:49 +0000

USED SAT= 22

USED GW= 120

DEBRIS DETECTOR CHANNEL#1 AT Day=28 UTC TIME 22:48:39

DEBRIS DETECTOR CHANNEL#2 AT Day=28 UTC TIME 22:48:39

DEBRIS DETECTOR CHANNEL#3 AT Day=28 UTC TIME 22:48:39

DEBRIS DETECTOR CHANNEL#4 AT Day=28 UTC TIME 22:48:39

Rubin-5-ASOLANT: Results October 27 2005 – February 10 2008

See actual telemetry on www.rubin-x.com/Frame.html

2. Rubin Missions by OHB System and UAS

2. Rubin Missions by OHB System and UAS

Launched April 28 on PSLV, India:

• AIS receiver from OHB

• More than 850 000 AIVDM type AIS

messages received in 10 days

• Two different AIS receivers

successfully tested in orbit

Rubin-7: Results

2. Rubin Missions by OHB System and UAS

Rubin-9

3. QuadSat-PnO Concept and first missions

1kg

3kg

Pic

o s

at‘

s

5kg

25kg

10kg

Nan

o s

atel

lites

Smal

l sat

ellit

es

Cu

be

Sat‘

sQ

uad

Sat

Main Idea: build modular small spacecrafts for different applications

3. QuadSat-PnO Concept and first missions

Main Idea: save design costs and time, use standard power and data interfaces

3. QuadSat-PnO Concept and first missions

nanoRTU unit: 32 mm x 32 mm x 10mm

• Use distributed controller network

• Non-commercial, for space build radiation tolerant hardware from AAC Microtec, Sweden

3. QuadSat-PnO Concept and first missions

Examples of QuadSat building-blocks

AIS Receivers

EPSOBDH

EGSE

Relays and Filter

CAM

TS

1

SSW

SEPARATION SYSTEM IFR

SA

2

B-X

1

R-X

1

TS

2

SA

1S

A3

TS

3

SA

4

TS

4

A-X

1A

-X2

A-X

3

A-A1

A-A2

A-A3

A-A4

A-A5

A-A6

B-X

2B

-X3

Q-X

1Q

-X2

Q-X

3

T-X3

T-X2

T-X

1

MM

T-X4

Q9612

(Iridium)

TMC2

(UHF Transceiver)

MHX425

(UHF Transceiver)

A123 Batterie

Cells

Po

we

r M

an

ag

em

en

t B

oa

rd

Q2000

(OBDH & Orbcomm)

IF and

Switch

Board

AIS Receiver #1

(True Heading)

AIS Receiver #2

(True Heading)

AIS Receiver #3 & #4

(Aalborg)

AIS Receiver #3 & #4

Power Board

(Aalborg)

MT

1

MT

2

MT

3

R-A1

R-A2

R-A3

R-A4

R-A5

R-A6

R-A7

Helix Antenna

R-A9

Dipole AIS Antenna

R-A8

HAM Beacon UHF

Antenna

Depl.

Heater

Depl.

Heater

Orbcomm Antenna

Depl.

Heater

Q-A1

Iridium Antenna

UHF Antenna

UHF Antenna

3. QuadSat-PnO Concept and first missions

AISat small satellite for AIS mission

3. QuadSat-PnO Concept and first missions

MaxValier satellite with X-ray payload

3. QuadSat-PnO Concept and first missions

Venta1-QuadSat1 satellite for AIS and Plug-and-Play technology tests

3. QuadSat-PnO Concept and first missions

Venta1-QuadSat1 satellite for AIS and Plug-and-Play technology tests

4. Summary

Why to participate on small satellite projects could be interesting for Lithuania?

• Nano satellites and Cube-Sat‘s are good platforms for education purposes

• Develop and test own technologies for space

• Teamwork establishment for further “real space business”

• Good for public relations and as booster for any other less spectacular space projects

4. Summary

May be an alternative re-entry lab idea for Lithuania?

Mass approx. 5kg

Size approx, 300mm x 300mm

1

Re-entry vehicle based on QuadSat modules

4. Summary

Mass approx. 3...5kg

Size approx, 250mm x 250mm

Example: attached Rubin7 payload on theupper stage of PSLV

May be an alternative re-entry lab idea for Lithuania? 2

Attached payload based on QuadSat modules

4. Summary

Do not forget the camera and fun!Questions?

3