Abstract
This paper presents an analysis of the scenario of small satellite and its correspondent launch vehicles. The miniaturization of electronics, together with reliability and performance increase as well as reduction of cost, have allowed the use of commercials-off-the-shelf in the space industry, fostering the Smallsat use. An analysis of the launched Smallsats during the last 20 years is accomplished and the main factors for the Smallsat (r)evolution, outlined. Based on historic data, future scenarios for different mass categories of Smallsats are presented. An analysis of current and future launch vehicles reveals that we are currently in a phase of transition, where old launch vehicles get retired and new ones enter the market. However, the satellite launch vehicle business has been established to carry payloads of thousands of kilos into low Earth orbit and has not adjusted itself to the market of Smallsats. As a result, there is only 1 launch vehicle for dedicated Smallsat launches commercially available, but it carries a high price tag. Several small lowcost launch vehicles under development are identified and the challenges to overcome, discussed. Since these small launch vehicles have similar complexity as huge launch vehicles, high development costs are intrinsic, leading to a high specific price (USD/kg payload).
Highlights
During the past 30 years, electronic devices have experienced enormous advancements in terms of performance, reliability and lower prices
Concluding Remarks In this review, the past, the present and future trends of Smallsats and their launch vehicles have been analyzed. This analysis includes 863 Smallsats under 500 kg wet mass launched between 1995 and 2014, comprising about 1/3 of all satellites launched in that period
The United States were responsible for half of the Smallsat manufacturing business
Summary
During the past 30 years, electronic devices have experienced enormous advancements in terms of performance, reliability and lower prices. The present research reveals that about 1/3 of the 2,500 satellites launched in the past 20 years had a wet mass (including fuel) below 500 kg, subsequently called Smallsats. What has begun as a research and development project has evolved and found commercial applications in areas like communications and remote sensing There is only 1 commercial Micro-LV available for dedicated launch of Mini- and Micro-satellites, permitting the definition of orbit and launch date. The emerging Pocketcube standard defines a satellite with a wet mass of m ≤ 0.125 kg and dimensions of 5 × 5 × 5 cm (Deepak and Twiggs 2012)
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