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Breaking New Ground with Small Satellites

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Breaking New Ground with Small Satellites ....Small Satellites LauncherOne courtesy of VirginGalactic LauncherOne courtesy of Breaking new ground with small satellites The satellite industry has seen a surge of game-changing technology in recent years, not the least of which is the growth in popularity of small satellites. With access to space remaining price- prohibitive, alternative, more cost-efficient technologies have really taken-off, allowing new countries, companies and scientific institutions to launch their own space programmes for the first time. This has had a large impact in Asia, where finances are often restricted; the surge of new programmes has enabled ground-breaking new space projects like China’s Dark Matter Particle Explorer (DAMPE) satellite. The level of change documented in the satellite sector in chance to create new technologies that make small satellites the last decade has been truly astounding; what’s more, the better with each iteration. By their very nature, small satellites major areas of new innovation, namely high throughout require smaller and more efficient parts, including satellites (HTS) and small satellites, are on completely transponders, on-board computers, modems, amplifiers, and opposite ends of the scale. Both serve their purpose well. electronic thrusters. HTS provide a great solution for the booming data market, It’s clear that the small satellite sector is here to stay. In while small satellites open up new windows of opportunities the ‘Global Small Satellite Market (By Type, By Application, for new market entrants, whether they be companies, By End-Use): Trends, Opportunities and Forecasts (2016- countries, or research institutes. Small satellites can be 2021)’ report, Research and Markets has forecast that the manufactured and launched more rapidly, and cost less to global small satellite market will grow at a CAGR of 19.53 produce, launch and operate, than traditional satellites. percent in 2016-2021 as the number of potential applications In addition to providing new opportunities for space rises. Earth observation, space observation, communications access, the small satellite trend has presented a challenge and technology demonstrations are in high demand with to manufacturing companies, which have embraced the customers around the world, particularly those in the 28 www.satellite-evolution.com | November/December 2016 satellites.pmd 28 16/11/2016, 23:51 Small Satellites.... agriculture, disaster management, climate and environmental will include unique ‘in-space’ automatic network management, monitoring and infrastructural planning sectors. While North which is part of Sky and Space Global’s unique disruptive America is expected to be the biggest market in the reporting technology and IP. We also plan to provide private, secured period, Japan and China will drive growth in the APAC region. communication services to premium customers, based on our ‘store and forward’ capability.” Asia must play an important role Virgin Galactic’s LauncherOne vehicle has been under Malaysia’s Communications and Multimedia Minister Salleh development since the end of the last decade, and is currently Said Keruak believes that Asia needs to play an important in the advanced testing stage. The rocket will carry satellites role in pioneering new communications technology and up to 200kg in weight, and will be launched from air on a innovation as requirements, expectations and demands are Boeing 747-400 plane known as Cosmic Girl, which was evolving. purchased outright by Virgin Group. “Whilst some of the innovations are being driven by Silicon “We are thrilled to partner with Virgin Galactic on our Valley, it is important that Asia plays a role. We have already exciting missions and LauncherOne’s first low-inclination seen Asian operators being amongst the first to operate all- launches,” said Moalem. “Our partnership with Virgin Galactic electric satellites, and I trust Asia will continue to adopt and will allow us to rapidly establish our full constellation of up to pioneer new technology and innovations,” said Said Keruak 200 nanosatellites that will provide equatorial narrowband at the 2016 Asia Pacific Satellite Communications Council communications infrastructure for billions of people globally.” (APSCC) conference. According to Said Keruak, Malaysia is a major user of Rocket lab creates new launch possibilities satellite capacity for television, cellular backhaul, VSAT In September 2016, Rocket Lab completed the construction networks and Internet access. The Government’s Universal of ‘the world’s first private orbital launch complex’ on a New Service Provision programme, which aims to bridge the digital Zealand peninsula. The company plans to launch small divide, has established more than 700 Internet centres and satellites on its Electron rocket from the new site. Since air almost 3,000 Community WiFi hotspots in across rural areas. traffic in the region is sparing, the complex is licensed to “The government of Malaysia uses satellite to provide free launch every 72 hours, although Rocket Labs expects to satellite broadband to almost 450 libraries and community complete four or five launches each month, which is still the centres in the state of Sarawak. With its remote locations highest launch frequency in the world. and, sometimes, dense jungle habitats, Sarawak is best “Completing Launch Complex 1 is a significant milestone served by the ubiquitous coverage and instantaneous rollout in the build-up to our first Electron test flight,” said Rocket afforded by satellite. Students, entrepreneurs, local leaders Lab’s CEO Peter Beck. “It’s wonderful to celebrate the and entire communities are able to enjoy the benefits of not completion of the site with those who have helped us get this just surfing the net but also remote education and far and welcomed us into their community. Launch Complex telemedicine,” said Said Keuak. 1 presents a considerable opportunity to change how we It is of vital importance that Asian countries maintain pace access space.” with the rapidly-changing satellite sector so that they do not The new site will allow more cost-efficient access to space, become left behind. Moreover, with the wealth of world- with prices expected to be around US$5.5 million per launch. leading educational institutions and top-class research facilities, Asia has a lot to offer to the world at large. Sky Space and Global advance constellation plans In September 2016, Australian company Sky and Space Global entered an agreement with Virgin Galactic to purchase four dedicated missions on the LauncherOne vehicle to launch up to 200 nanosatellites into space. Sky and Space Global plans to deploy a constellation of up to 200 nanosatellites to create a narrowband low-cost voice and data network, which it will sell to telecommunications providers in equatorial Asia, South America, Central America and Africa, as well as shipping and airline companies operating in those regions. The nanosatellites will cost between US$400-500 million and weigh between 1kg and 10kg. A pilot network of three nanosatellites will be launched in the second quarter of 2017 on a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Sky and Space Global plans to deploy its full constellation by 2020, with the first launches set to start in 2018. “Our communication network will be constructed from between 150 and 200 satellites in different orbital planes that will cover earth from Latitude 15 North to Latitude 15 South, providing 24/7 availability of service,” said Sky and Space Global CEO, Meir Moalem. “Our services will include voice conversation, instant messaging (texting), and also data transfer through our ‘store and forward’ service. Our network Rocket Lab orbital launch complex Rocket www.satellite-evolution.com | November/December 2016 29 satellites.pmd 29 16/11/2016, 23:51 ....Small Satellites The Electron launch vehicle can carry satellites up to 150kg September 2015, SECM launched its first small satellite, into sun-synchronous orbits. Test launches are expected to Tianwang-1A, at the same time as Tianwang-1B and commence in late 2016. Rocket Lab has deals with NASA, Tianwang-1C. The three satellites will demonstrate formation Planet Labs and Moon Express for launches lined up. flying and inter-satellite communications sessions using radio technology from Tekever. According to the CEO of Tekever, Small satellite projects expand throughout East Asia Ricardo Mends, the GAMALINK technology will enable the East Asia is a major hub for the small satellite sector, home three satellites to work together as a constellation, rather to many start-up companies and niche organisations. A great than three individual satellites. deal of small satellite development is taking place at higher SECM was also involved in the late 2015 launch of China’s education institutions, non-governmental organisations, and Dark Matter Particle Explorer (DAMPE) satellite, having government groups. designed the probe’s dark matter detector. In the first two The Asia Pacific Space Cooperation Organization years of its three-year lifetime, DAMPE will scan the universe (APSCO) was established in 1992 by Bangladesh, China, in every direction and concentrate on areas where high- Iran, Mongolia, Pakistan, Peru, Thailand and Turkey in order energy dark matter is expected after this initial scan. The to promote multilateral cooperation in space technology and data sent back to Earth will be analysed by more than 100 its applications in the Asia-Pacific region.
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