The Student Satellite Series at the Satellite Research Centre at Nanyang Technological University Singapore
Abstract
The Satellite Research Centre (SaRC) at NTU has a rich history in space technology development having built and operated 8 satellites ranging from 1U cubesats to 100 kg microsatellites. Singapore's first satellite, XSAT a 100 kg microsatellite was built and launched in 2011 from the ISRO PSLV. XSAT continues to operate successfully having passed its eighth year in operation. SaRC has also built and operated the VELOX II 6U cubesat which recently completed 4 years of operation on orbit. SaRC today has four small satellite missions in development with mission objectives ranging from studying Ionospheric dynamics, Earth atmosphere monitoring and Solar observations. It is also developing a versatile University small satellite education program for training the next generation of students in satellite development. An S/X-band ground station for small satellites enables high data downlink from these platforms. To create sustainable space program at universities, capacity building is required that goes beyond space engineering. Over the last decade and a half, about 45 countries have built and operated their first satellite. In the next five to ten years another 50 are poised to do so. Miniaturization in sensor technologies and the development of CubeSat and small satellite programs have made satellites affordable to most countries. Small Satellites offer countries a means to start space science research programs, which didn't exist before. Satellite technologies can help immensely in disaster management, crop monitoring, resource utilization, etc. It is important to share knowledge of such technologies, so that new players in this field can apply lessons learned to their own design and development processes. In this presentation, we will share design philosophies, lessons learnt and documentation practices for achieving mission success that is followed at SaRC.
- Publication:
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43rd COSPAR Scientific Assembly. Held 28 January - 4 February
- Pub Date:
- January 2021
- Bibcode:
- 2021cosp...43E2166C