1. 1
Applications for Microsatellites
Karen Grothe
Graduate Student
System Engineering
Loyola Marymount University
May 2, 2015

2. 2
Overview of Presentation
• Definitions
• Applications:
• Expand Access to Space
• Science in Orbit
• Technology Demonstrations
• Education
• Imaging Satellites
• Amateurs
• Future Applications
• Conclusion

3. 3
Definitions
Microsatellites – 10 – 100 kg mass
Nanosatellites – 1 – 10 kg mass
Picosatellites - <1 kg mass
SkySat1
SENSE SV1
PocketQube

4. 4
Expand Access to Space
PoSAT-1
Portugal
Launched 1993
KITSAT-2
South Korea
Launched 1993
NigeriaSat 1
Nigeria
Launched 2003
FASat-Bravo
Chile
Launched 1998
Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. (SSTL)
microsatellite platform has facilitated
access to space for many countries.

5. 5
Biological Science in Orbit
GeneSat-1
NASA Ames
Launched 2006
PharmaSat
NASA Ames
Launched 2009
Image credit:
NASA/ARC/Christopher Beasley
Organism/Organic Exposure to Orbital
Stresses (O/OREOS) Nanosatellite
NASA Ames
Launched 2010
Image credit: NASA/Eric Stackpole

6. 6
Atmospheric Science in Orbit
SENSE SV 1 & 2
USAF SMC
Launched 2013
Firefly
NASA Goddard
Launched 2013

7. 7
Technology Demonstrations
FASTSAT
(Minisatellite)
NASA Marshall
Launched 2010
SolarSat-D – Sail Stowed
SolarSat-D – Sail Deployed
NASA Marshall
Satellite Ejected from FASTSAT

8. 8
Technology Demonstrations
Space Tethered Autonomous Robotic Satellite
(STARS)
Kagawa University - Nohmi Laboratory (Japan)
Launched 2009; STARS-II launched 2014
PhoneSat v2.5
NASA Ames
Launched 2014
imagecredit:NASA/ARC

9. 9
Education – University Projects
Vermont Lunar CubeSat
Vermont Technical College
Launched 2013
SEEDS II
Nihon University (Japan)
Launched 2008
AAUSAT-II
Aalborg University (Denmark)
Launched 2008
CP6
CalPoly State U. at San Luis Obispo
Launched 2009
NANOSATC-BR
Federal U. of Santa Maria (Brazil)
Launched 2014

10. 10
Education – University Projects
Ho`oponopono-2
University of Hawaii
Launched 2013
Delfi-C3
Delft University (Netherlands)
Launched 2008
KySat-2
Kentucky Space LLC
(U. of Kentucky & Morehead U.)
Launched 2013

11. 11
Education – High School Projects
TJ3Sat
Thomas Jefferson High School for
Science and Technology (Virginia)
Launched 2013
StangSat
Merritt Island High School (Florida)
Launch TBD
Credit:MIHSCubeSatFacebookPage
https://www.tjhsst.edu/students/activities/tj3sat/

12. 12
SkySat1 & 2 from Skybox Imaging
SkySat1 launched in 2013
SkySat2 launched in 2014
Credit:SkyboxImaging,Inc.
Doves from Planet Labs
113 launched on 10 launch vehicles since 2013
Arkyd 3 Reflight
mission launched
to ISS on April 14;
scheduled to
launch into LEO in
July
Imaging Satellites

13. 13
Amateurs
TubeSat and CubeSat Kits available from Interorbital Systems
http://www.interorbital.com/interorbital_01152015_028.htm

14. 14
Amateurs
See also: http://www.diyspaceexploration.com/
PocketQube
http://www.pocketqubeshop.com/
Sprite FemtoSats
To be launched on KickSats
KickSat-2 scheduled to launch
sometime in 2016, 2017, or 2018
http://kicksat.wordpress.com/

15. 15
Future – Interplanetary Missions
Auxiliary Payloads On Interplanetary Missions
Pictured: Artist's concept of CubeSats
near Jupiter's moon Europa.
Possible Interplanetary Configuration
From Robert Staehle’s Presentation at
First Interplanetary CubeSat Workshop
May 29, 2012
Credit:NASA/JPL

16. 16
Future – Constellations
QB50 – Constellation of 50 2U CubeSats
to be launched on one launch vehicle in 2016
https://www.qb50.eu/index.php/project-description-obj/mission-objectives

17. 17
Conclusion
• The applications for microsatellites are growing
as reliable electronic technology shrinks.
• SpaceWorks Enterprises, Inc. (SEI) predicted
2,000 – 2,750 nano/microsatellites will require
launches from 2014 - 2020
Questions?

18. 18
References
• Buchen, E. and DePasquale, D. 2014 Nano / Microsatellite Market Assessment.
1st ed. [ebook] Atlanta, GA: SpaceWorks Enterprises, Inc. (SEI). Available at:
http://www.sei.aero/eng/papers/uploads/archive/SpaceWorks_Nano_Microsatellit
e_Market_Assessment_January_2014.pdf [Accessed 22 April 2015].
• Changing the economics of space for 25 years. (2010). 1st ed. [ebook] Surrey
Satellite Technology Ltd. Available at:
http://www.sstl.co.uk/Downloads/Brochures/SSTL_25YRS_SP [Accessed 22 April
2015].
• Directory.eoportal.org. SENSE - Satellite Missions - eoPortal Directory. [online]
Available at: https://directory.eoportal.org/web/eoportal/satellite-
missions/s/sense [Accessed 22 April 2015].
• Fortescue, P., Stark, J. and Swinerd, G. (2003). Spacecraft systems engineering.
New York: J. Wiley.
• Jpl.nasa.gov, (2014). JPL Selects Europa CubeSat Proposals for Study. [online]
Available at: http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?release=2014-347
[Accessed 22 April 2015].

19. 19
References
• Planet Labs. Welcome to your planet - Planet Labs. [online] Available at:
https://www.planet.com/ [Accessed 22 April 2015].
• Qb50.eu. The von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics. [online] Available at:
https://www.qb50.eu/ [Accessed 22 April 2015].
• Skyboximaging.com. Skybox Imaging - Welcome. [online] Available at:
http://www.skyboximaging.com/ [Accessed 22 April 2015].
• Staehle, R. (2012). Interplanetary CubeSats: Some Missions Feasible Sooner
than Expected. 1st ed. [ebook] Available at:
http://icubesat.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/icubesat-org-2012-a-1-1-
_presentation_stahele_201205281205.pdf [Accessed 22 April 2015].
• Wwvw.cubesat.org. Past Launches. [online] Available at:
http://wwvw.cubesat.org/index.php/missions/past-launches [Accessed 22 April
2015].
• Kickstarter. ARKYD: A Space Telescope for Everyone. [online] Available at:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/arkydforeveryone/arkyd-a-space-
telescope-for-everyone-0 [Accessed 22 April 2015].
• Nasa.gov. NASA - NASA's Small Satellite Missions. [online] Available at:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/smallsats/index.html [Accessed 22
April 2015].