The document discusses small satellites and Earth observation using CubeSats. It provides an overview of CubeSat design standards and applications of small satellites for remote sensing. Specifically, it discusses: 1) How CubeSats follow a standard design to reduce costs using commercial off-the-shelf components within a 10x10x10cm size. Popular applications include Earth observation, communications, and technology demonstrations. 2) Remote sensing techniques used by small satellites, including passive sensors that measure reflected sunlight and active sensors like radar and lidar. Signals of opportunity like GNSS can also be used. 3) The University of Catalonia's remote sensing activities and CubeSat projects, including microwave radi

1. © A. Camps, UPC, 2018 1
Su
Small Satellites and Earth Observation.
The UPC NanoSat program
Prof. A. Camps
CommSensLab, Dept. Teoria del Senyal i Comunicacions
Escola Tècnica Superior d’Enginyeria de Telecomunicacions de Barcelona
Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya‐Barcelona Tech, Spain
E-mail: camps@tsc.upc.edu
www.tsc.upc.edu/prs; www.tsc.upc.edu/nanosatlab

2. © A. Camps, UPC, 2018 2
1. Introduction: Small Satellites and Main Applications
2. Remote Sensing using Small Satellites
3. Remote Sensing Activities at UPC
4. The UPC NanoSat program
3Cat‐1, 3Cat‐2, 3Cat‐3, 3Cat‐4, and FSSCAT (3Cat‐5/A and 3Cat‐5/B)
Other activities supporting the NanoSat program
5. Current Trends in Earth Observation Missions with Small Satellites
6. Conclusions
Outline

3. © A. Camps, UPC, 2018 3
• At the beginning of the space age all satellites were “small.”
• 1st two decades of the space age: each satellite had its own design.
• Standard spacecraft buses practically unknown until end of ‘70s.
• Early ‘80s micro‐satellites emerged and adopted a radically different design
approach to reduce costs, focusing on available and existing technologies, and
using COTS components.
• “Small satellite mission philosophy” implies a design‐to‐cost approach, with
strict cost and schedule constraints, mostly combined with a single mission
objective so as to reduce the mission complexity.
Sputnik‐1 Explorer‐1 Vanguard‐1
1. Small Satellites and Main Applications (i)

4. © A. Camps, UPC, 2018 4
Satellite subsystems:
• Electrical Power Supply (EPS):
solar panels, battery charger,
and batteries
• On Board Computer (OBC):
CPU, memory
• Communications Systems (COMS)
transmitter(s) + antennas
• Attitude Determination and Control System (ADCS):
sensors + actuators (wheels & magnetorquers)
• Payloads (P/L)
[http://www.danielledelatte.com/build‐a‐candy‐satellite/]
1. Small Satellites and Main Applications (ii)

5. © A. Camps, UPC, 2018 5
• “CubeSat standard” (1999) definition by professors Jordi Puig‐Suari of
California Polytechnic State University and Bob Twiggs of Stanford University.
• Goal: to allow graduate students to conceive, design, implement, test and
operate in space a complete spacecraft, often using COTS components.
• Because of the simplicity of the CubeSat “standard”
[http://www.cubesat.org/resources/], it became a “de facto” standard.
• 1st CubeSats launched on a Russian Eurockot in June 2003.
CubeSat “Kit”
Dimensions: 10 cm x 10 cm x 10 cm
Weight: < 1.3 kg
Average power : ~1 W
Peak power: ~2‐3 W
P‐POD
1. Small Satellites and Main Applications (iii)

6. © A. Camps, UPC, 2018 6
Pumpkin development kit includes most of the satellite subsystems:
 1U Cubesat accepts 5 standard PCB
 2U and 3U CubeSats accept more
 Development kit includs:
 Skeletonized structure 
 On Board Computer (FM430) 
 MHX Transceiver (920 or 2400 MHz) 
 Linear EPS (power supply) 
 Does not include:
 Solar panels (very expensive ~15‐30 K€ !)
 Antennas
 Payload (only 1 PCB left!)[http://www.cubesatkit.com/]
The “Cubesat” concept (i):
1. Small Satellites and Main Applications (iv)

7. © A. Camps, UPC, 2018 7
 Some companies have appeared in the USA and Europe that manufacture
resell satellite subsystems (Pumpkin, Tyvak, ISIS, GomSpace…), or even broke
satellite launches.
Also available in the market…
Solar panels (~2 K€) Magnetometer (~8K€) ADACS (40‐70K$) GPS (SGR‐05 ~18 K$)
etc.
… but they do not fit in 1U CubeSat, and it is not a kit!
EPS On Board Computer
ARM9 @ 400 MHz
The “Cubesat” concept (ii):
1. Small Satellites and Main Applications (v)
https://www.cubesatshop.com/
https://gomspace.com/Shop/subsystems/Default.aspx
https://www.clyde.space/products

8. © A. Camps, UPC, 2018 8
Cubesat Size Comparison (from [Radius Space, 2016]).
• Current CubeSat Design Specification defines the envelopes for 1U, 1.5U,
2U, 3U, and 3U+ form factors, and a provisional CDS for 6U CubeSats has
also been issued
1. Small Satellites and Main Applications (vi)
A CubeSat is NOT a kit, this commercial “abuse of language” has led to many
misconceptions

9. © A. Camps, UPC, 2018 9
Global satellite launches by mass
[Belle, 2015] Number of nano‐satellites by types as of
November 2016 [nanosats.eu, 2016]
• Today 3U CubeSats are dominating the scene, and they will over the next decade.
• Next wave of growth will be based on 6U and 12U CubeSats:
right balance between very capable payloads, and limited manufacturing and
launch costs.
1. Small Satellites and Main Applications (vii)

10. © A. Camps, UPC, 2018 10
1. Small Satellites and Main Applications (viii)
http://www.nanosats.eu/
CubeSats Commercial Constellations, Form Factor, Investments, and Applications:
Light blue: Earth Observation, light Green: Communications

11. © A. Camps, UPC, 2018 11
GomSpace selected for the delivery of a constellation of communication satellites
to Sky and Space Global (UK) Ltd.
Tue, Feb 28, 2017 18:15 CET
GomSpace ApS (”GomSpace”) a subsidiary of GS Sweden AB (publ) ("the Company”) has been
selected by and has entered into a procurement contract with the UK company Sky and Space Global
(UK) Ltd. to develop and deliver a constellation of satellites within a 4 year period. The first delivery
of satellites will be in 2018. The revenue will be distributed over the term of the agreement. The
total value of this order is depending on several options including development, services and choice
of satellites and will therefore range between approximately EUR 35.0 and 55.0 million.
3 Diamonds nanosatellites
1. Small Satellites and Main Applications (ix)

12. © A. Camps, UPC, 2018 12
Pictured are signals of aircraft in flight made by CubeSat GomX‐3 during the last
six months, since it was released from the ISS. Built by GomSpace in Denmark,
the tiny 3‐unit CubeSat has picked up millions of ADS‐B signals which give flight
information such as speed, position and altitude
1. Small Satellites and Main Applications (x)

13. © A. Camps, UPC, 2018 13
1. Small Satellites and Main Applications (xi)
How are CubeSats launched?
Example: Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) onboard video with record‐
setting launch of the country’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) with 104
satellites (February 15, 2017).

14. © A. Camps, UPC, 2018 14
• Increases our capability to observe, limited to just the visible part of the
electromagnetic spectrum, to the radio and microwave bands, Infrared, and
ultra‐violet bands… using either active or passive techniques
• Each frequency band is useful to sense some parameters, but the atmosphere
plays a key role.
[http://www.altimetry.info/html/alti/principle/frequencies/welcome_en.html] (credits ESA)
2. Remote Sensing using Small Satellites (i)

15. © A. Camps, UPC, 2018 15
Active:
Passive:
Frequency
Microwaves Optical
RADAR LIDAR
Microwave Radiometers Optical Radiometers
[http://web.physik.uni‐rostock.de/
cluster/students/fp3/lidar_en.html][http://www.srh.noaa.gov/srh/sod/radar/radinfo/radinfo.html]
[http://lcogt.net/spacebook/black-body-radiation]
[http://dusty.physics.uiowa.edu/~goree/
teaching/thermal.html]
[http://www.smos-bec.icm.csic.es/
south_america_seen_by_smos]
2. Remote Sensing using Small Satellites (ii)

16. © A. Camps, UPC, 2018 16
• Passive sensors using signals of opportunity:
e.g. TV, GNSS (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, Beidou...) used for navigation…
GNSS-R GNSS-RO
Reflectometry Radio Occultations
2. Remote Sensing using Small Satellites (iii)

17. © A. Camps, UPC, 2018 17
Technology Selva and Krejci, 2012 Freeman et al. 2016 Justification
Atmospheric chemistry
instruments
Problematic Feasible PICASSO, IR sounders
Atmospheric temperature and
humidity sounders
Feasible Feasible -
Cloud profile and rain radars Infeasible Feasible JPL RainCube demo
Earth radiation budget
radiometers
Feasible Feasible SERB, RAVAN
Gravity instruments Feasible Feasible No demo mission
Hi-res optical imagers Infeasible Feasible Planet
Imaging microwave radars Infeasible Problematic Ka-Band 12U design
Imaging multi-spectral
radiometers (Vis/IR)
Problematic Feasible AstroDigital
Imaging multi-spectral
radiometers (μWave)
Problematic Feasible TEMPEST
Lidars Infeasible Problematic DIAL laser occultation
Lightning imagers Feasible Feasible -
Magnetic field Feasible Feasible InSPIRE
Multiple direction / polarization
radiometers
Problematic Feasible HARP Polarimeter
Ocean color instruments Feasible Feasible SeaHawk
• Science mission feasibility based on nanosatellites: huge change in just 4 years!
2. Remote Sensing using Small Satellites (iv)

18. © A. Camps, UPC, 2018 18
• Main Cubesat Commercial Earth Observation Constellations [nanosats.eu, 2016] (i)
2. Remote Sensing using Small Satellites (v)

19. © A. Camps, UPC, 2018 19
2. Remote Sensing using Small Satellites (vi)
• Commercial Earth Observation Constellations have appeared today because there
is a killer application: (very) high resolution with (very) short revisit times
“looking at the planet in real time”
[Source: Satellite‐Based Earth Observation:
Market Prospects to 2023, Euroconsult 2014]

20. © A. Camps, UPC, 2018 20
MOUSE 2004 MOUSE 2004
T‐REX 2004SMOS REFLEX 2003WISE 2000 & 2001 Radiometer LAURA
FROG 2003
1. Instrument: Analysis, performance, calibration, imaging...
 Subsystem specificacions (EADS‐CASA, MIER, YLINEN...)
SEPS:
SMOS End‐to‐end
Perf. Simulator
FROG 2003
2. Numerical Emission models: sea and vegetation‐covered land
3. Field experiments: sea and land emissivity
4. Developmentof sea surfacesalinityand soilmoistureretrievalalgorithms
frommulti‐angular radiometricmeasurements
SMOS activities (1993‐today)
…
3. Remote Sensing and Nano‐satellite Activities at UPC (i):
Microwave Radiometry

21. © A. Camps, UPC, 2018 21
PAU‐Real Aperture: Radiometer
with digital beamforming and
polarization synthesis
PAU‐Synthetic Aperture: Fully digital Synthetic Aperture
Radiometer to test new technological concepts for future
aperture synthesis missions
MERITXELL: multifreq. Radiometer
For RFI detection/mmitigation studies
New Sensors Development:
3. Remote Sensing and Nano‐satellite Activities at UPC (ii):
Microwave Radiometry

22. © A. Camps, UPC, 2018 22
DoDeRec (2001) griPAU: real time DDM GPS L1 PAU:
(developed for IEEC) (ERC EURYI Award 2004) GNSS‐R + L‐band rad.
space‐borne version
for INTA MicroSat‐1
(mission cancelled)
SMIGOL: Interference Pattern Tech.
Soil moisture, vegetation & snow height,
sea state…
LARGO: real time GPS‐R L1 C/A
3. Remote Sensing and Nano‐satellite Activities at UPC (iii):
GNSS‐R

23. © A. Camps, UPC, 2018 23
4 beams/array
MIR (Microwave Interferometric Reflectometer):
2 x beams x 2 freqs (L1/E1+L5/E5) x 2 arrays of 19 elem.
3Cat‐2: includes PYCARO
(P(Y) and C/A ReflectOmeter) payload
McGiver: GNSS‐T
Vegetation opacity
Other activities: P2EPS simulator (core of GEROS‐SIM L1
simulator), RFI assessment, RFI detection & mitigation (FENIX)….
3. Remote Sensing and Nano‐satellite Activities at UPC (iv):
GNSS‐R

24. © A. Camps, UPC, 2018 24
• FENIX = RFI canceller: placed between the antenna and the front‐end and
subtracts (most of) the RFI: e.g. GNSS receivers do not loose tracks
“System and Method for detecting and Eliminating
Radio Frequency Interferences in Real Time”
(US Patent No.: 15/222036)
MITIC Solutions SL (UPC spin off)
3. Remote Sensing and Nano‐satellite Activities at UPC (v):
RFI detection & mitigation in Earth Observation and Navigation

25. © A. Camps, UPC, 2018 25
3Cat‐1 (pronounced CubeCat‐1)  Structure = 1U CubeSat
 Technology demonstrators:
• Energy harvesting from thermal gradients
using TEC devices
• New solar cell designs (CellSat):
manufactured at UPC/Electronics Dpt.
Clean room
• Monoatomic oxygen MEM sensor
• Graphene transistor
• MEM‐based gyroscope and IMU
 Small scientific experiments
• VGA visible camera (FOV = 15)
• Geiger counter
• Experiment to test effect of plasma in
wireless power transfer using resonant
magnetic coupling.
Final integration at UPC‐EEL clean room
Bottom right: UPC‐designed and manufactured
experimental solar cells
4. The UPC NanoSat Program (i):

26. © A. Camps, UPC, 2018 26
Integration into Quadpack deployer at launch broker premises
4. The UPC NanoSat Program (ii):

27. © A. Camps, UPC, 2018 27
After two Falcon‐9 failures on June 2015 and September 2016, a new launch
window starting H2 2018 using a PSLV (ISRO) is foreseen.
(Launch sponsored by IEEC‐ Institut d’Estudis Espacials de Catalunya)
4. The UPC NanoSat Program (iii):

28. © A. Camps, UPC, 2018 28
3Cat‐2  GNSS‐R experimental mission
(tech. & sci. demo) :
• cGNSS‐R, rGNSS‐R, iGNSS‐R,
• dual‐band: L1, L2
• dual‐polarization: LHCP, RHCP
• multi‐constellation: GPS, Galileo, Glonass
and Beidou
 EM & FM models, environmental tests
performed, and delivered to launch broker
 Contract to use Svalvard S‐band GS (2
passes/day).
 ISSUES: very strong RFI at VHF in BCN area
4. The UPC NanoSat Program (iv):

29. © A. Camps, UPC, 2018 29
Determination: not
needed
Control: B‐dot control
law
START‐UP
Sensors & actuators: gyroscopes, photodiodes,
magnetometers and magnetorquers
Speed: x100
Satellite size factor: x1000
Simulation
Control Mode:
Detumbling
Initial attitude: random
Orbit
LEO Sun-Synchronus
Inclination ~ 98º
Altitude ~ 500 km
----- ECI
----- ECEF
----- BODY
----- SUN
Boot sequence
• Start‐Up: UHF/VHF antenna deployment,
S‐band antenna already deployed from launch,
beacon
• Sun‐Safe: Detumbling (B‐dot), Sun‐track, loss of
power (V < 0.9 Vnominal)
• Survival: Critical errors, upload SW, critical loss of
power (V < 0.8 Vnominal)
• Nominal: PYCARO payload (primary objective),
ESA eLISA magnetometer (secondary objective)
4. The UPC NanoSat Program (v):

30. © A. Camps, UPC, 2018 30
TESTING:
• Subsystem validation following each
subsystem/payload validation plan
• Vibration tests (shake table)
• System functional tests during thermal cycling
and high vacuum (TVAC)
• System functional tests and power budget
validation with air bearing and sun simulator
• In‐house testing facilities www.tsc.upc.edu/nanosatlab
Shake table
TVAC
sun simulator
Helmholtz coils
& air bearing
• Access on Campus to Microwave Lab, Anechoic Chamber, Faraday chamber for
EMI tests, and clean room @ Telecom Barcelona, UPC Campus Nord
4. The UPC NanoSat Program (vi):

31. © A. Camps, UPC, 2018 31
• Successful integration in Duopack at ISL premises on June 21st, 2016 and
launched on August 15th, 2016 19:40 CEST
4. The UPC NanoSat Program (vii):

32. © A. Camps, UPC, 2018 32
Launched on August 15th, 2016 19:40 CEST using a LM2D from Jiuquan, China
4. The UPC NanoSat Program (viii):

33. © A. Camps, UPC, 2018 33
https://www.n2yo.com/?s=41732
First beacons received
http://destevez.net/2016/08/
decoding‐packets‐from‐3cat2/
1st satellite uplink and successful
downlink from Vilassar de Mar on
September 7th, 2016
(special thanks to Mr. Luis del Molino)
Strong RFI coming from taxi drivers
in Barcelona metropolitan area as
measured at UPC ground station
3Cat‐2 signal RFI signal
4. The UPC NanoSat Program (ix):

34. © A. Camps, UPC, 2018 34
4. The UPC NanoSat Program (x):
Ground Station under construction
at
Montsec Observatory
(42°03' 05" N, 00°43' 46" E)
• VHF & UHF for 3Cat‐1 and 3Cat‐4
• UHF and S‐band for FSSCAT

35. © A. Camps, UPC, 2018 35
• 6 U CubeSat: 80 x 60 km imagery, 4‐5 spectral bands, and 5‐10 m resolution.
• High scalability → nano‐sat constella on → short revisit me
• Forest, crop, and smart cities applications.
• Feasibility study finished for ICGC
• Project on hold because of budget extensions (i.e. no new budgets)
3Cat‐3: Multi‐spectral medium resolution imaging mission
Phase A Study for Aistech (details not to be disclosed)
4. The UPC NanoSat Program (xi):

36. © A. Camps, UPC, 2018 36
• Selected for ESA Fly your Satellite 2017 program
• Launch from ISS H1 2019
• http://www.esa.int/Education/CubeSats_‐
_Fly_Your_Satellite/Six_new_CubeSat_missions_selected_for_next_cycle_of_F
ly_Your_Satellite
3Cat‐4: Passive Microwave Payload (GNSS‐R & microwave radiometer)
+ AIS receiver
4. The UPC NanoSat Program (xii):

37. © A. Camps, UPC, 2018 37
3Cat‐4: Nadir‐looking LHCP L‐band antennas
4. The UPC NanoSat Program (xiii):
Antenna deployment system test set‐up
Deployed antenna and gravity boom
Antenna
deployment
electronics
3Cat‐4 3D CAD drawing:
VHF, UHF and L‐band
antennas deployed

38. © A. Camps, UPC, 2018 38
FSSCat:
• An innovative and groundbreaking mission consisting of two federated 6U
Cubesats in support of Copernicus Land and Marine Environment services
(Sentinels 1, 2, 3).
• With an innovative dual microwave payload (microwave radiometer + GNSS‐
Reflectometer), a multi‐spectral optical payload, a radio & optical inter‐satellite
links, and an Iridium inter‐satellite link.
• To measure soil moisture, ice extent and thickness, and to detect melting ponds
over ice, and to test techniques for future satellite federations.
• The precursor of an scalable constellation of federated small EO satellites and it
has the potential to dramatically change the way ESA procures its satellites in
the future.
4. The UPC NanoSat Program (xiv):
3Cat-5/A3Cat-5/B

39. © A. Camps, UPC, 2018 39
3D CAD of the inside components:
Based on Tyvak Endeavour platform
• 3Cat‐5/A: 1U by microwave payload, nadir looking face has a 3x2 microstrip
patch array based on UPC heritage in 3Cat‐2 and 3Cat‐4 + 1U O‐ISL
• 3Cat‐5/B: 1.1U by Hyperscout camera, and 1U by O‐ISL. Other subsystems
as in 3Cat‐5/A.
Optical ISL:
• Based on Skoltech
development
• Variable divergence to
focus the laser beam
3Cat-5/A
3Cat-5/B
4. The UPC NanoSat Program (xv):

40. © A. Camps, UPC, 2018 40
• “Space Uber” or “Space Cloud” requires agile ISL for
distributed tasking and exploitation of the capacity not used
(data acquisition, storage, processing, download…) in orbit.
• Low cost LEO-to-LEO optical ISL for nanosatellites is a key
technology building block for scalable federated satellite
systems,
• Optical ISL will allow the development of in-space services
fulfilling short-term user needs by renting unused capacity on
the cloud (e.g. Amazon Web Services business model) – what
we call: “Virtual Space Missions”,
• Pave the path to larger and agile optical communication
systems.
A precursor mission to Federated Satellite Systems
(FSS) and Virtual Space Missions (“Space Uber”)
4. The UPC NanoSat Program (xvi):

41. © A. Camps, UPC, 2018 41
Implementation:
If successful FSSCat’s (3Cat‐5/A and /B) will be the pioneers of a series of
3Cat‐5’s federated small EO satellites:
1. Payload development: UPC or spin‐off company Balamis incubated at ESA
BIC Barcelona (http://www.balamis.com/)
2. Optical ISL development: Estonian Skoltech spin‐off company: Golbriak
Space oü incubated at ESA BIC Estonia
3. Satellite integration: at NanoSatLab clean room and testing facilities
(also 100 K€ project received in July from Catalan government to support
creation of a start‐up company)
4. Data collection, processing and distribution: use DEIMOS‐1/‐2 DPGS
facilities and distribution system
4. The UPC NanoSat Program (xvii):

42. © A. Camps, UPC, 2018 42
Free and open data products distribution will benefit from:
1. Deimos ground segment systems
and experience in satellite imagery
commercialization (Deimos‐1 and ‐2)
2. Current state of the art operational
Deimos platform based on
SIMOcean: Data processing,
storage, search and delivery cloud
based platform to support EO
based products
http://catalogue.simocean.pt
http://geoportal.simocean.pt
4. The UPC NanoSat Program (xviii):

43. © A. Camps, UPC, 2018 43
Down‐looking
antenna array
325 mm
213 mm
• PYCARO reflectometer in closed‐loop mode
• Array gain: 12.9 dB (LHCP,L1), 11.6 dB (LHCP,L2),
13.3 dB (RHCP,L1), 11.6 dB (RHCP, L2).
Up‐looking
antenna
Other activities supporting the NanoSat program:
Stratospheric balloon experiments:
ESA Educational office: BEXUS 19 (October 8th, 2014)
PYCARO GNSS‐R stratospheric balloon experiment
4. The UPC NanoSat Program (xix):

44. © A. Camps, UPC, 2018 44
4. The UPC NanoSat Program (xx):
Stratospheric balloon experiments:
ESA Educational office: BEXUS 19 (October 8th, 2014)
First ever multi‐frequency (L1, L2), multi‐constellation (GPS,
Glonass, Galileo) and dual‐pol GNSS‐R measurements

45. © A. Camps, UPC, 2018 45
4. The UPC NanoSat Program (xxi):
Stratospheric balloon experiments:
Flights of opportunity:
Add for Barbie “Star Light Adventure” (October 4, 2016)
Testing of real time video downlink at 5 Mbps

46. © A. Camps, UPC, 2018 46
Two of the 28 Planet Labs Dove
satellites that make up the Flock
1 constellation being launched
into orbit from the International
Space Station on February 11,
2013 (from [Planet Labs Photo
Gallery, 2014]).
SPIRE’s Lemur‐2 satellites carry
two payloads: STRATOS GPS
radio occultation payload and
the SENSE AIS payload (from
[LEMUR‐2, 2016]).
Contract awarded by NOAA on
September 2016 to Spire to
provide GPS‐RO data for
weather forecast.
Arkyd 100 spacecraft
(from [PlanetaryResources_2, 2016])
• Main Cubesat Commercial Earth Observation Constellations [nanosats.eu, 2016] (i)
5. Current Trends in E.O. Missions with Small Satellites (i)

47. © A. Camps, UPC, 2018 47
CYGNSS constellation:
8 x 6U Cubesats
Launched 2017‐12‐15
GNSS‐R data to improve
hurricane forecasts.
Credits: U. of Michigan
RAVAN CubeSat
Demonstrate new technologies for
measuring Earth’s energy balance.
Credits: Johns Hopkins Univ. APL
5. Current Trends in E.O. Missions with Small Satellites (ii)
• Main Cubesat Research/Operational Earth Observation Constellations:
NASA and NSF are taking the lead!
• CYGNSS and TROPICS P/Ls are GNSS‐R and microwave radiometers…
passive microwave systems suitable for small sats.
TROPICS constellation:
12 x 3 U Cubesats
To study the insides
of hurricanes with a
Credits: MIT Lincoln Labs.

48. © A. Camps, UPC, 2018 48
… and space mining is “just” around the corner
5. Current Trends in E.O. Missions with Small Satellites (iii)

49. © A. Camps, UPC, 2018 49
New “low cost” launchers
5. Current Trends in E.O. Missions with Small Satellites (iv)
© Celestia Aerospace

50. © A. Camps, UPC, 2018 50
6. Conclusions
• Small Sats may provide much shorter revisit times and much better connectivity,
but not better quality or bandwidth:
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/why‐did‐google‐dump‐skybox‐tom‐segert/
• “Small Sats are the Next Big Thing…” and we want to be there
• “Rocket science” is not easy, but we have a lot of fun!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2nZSrSnbnE
Thanks for your attention!