March 2015
Sky links: from multi-satellite systems to nano-launchers
.... Standardised technology is key A high level of standardisation and unification in complex technical systems (which include small satellites) helps move to serial production. Serial production lowers the overall cost of production and on-board...
March 2015
Small is the new big: why micro-satellites require new laws
... very soon. Just recently, two major commercial organisations have announced their intention to invest in huge constellations of small satellites (4,000 satellites for Space X and 650 for Virgin Galactic9) to broadcast the Internet to the world. This...
March 2017
Twinkle - a mission to unravel the story of planets in our galaxy
... for EChO with flight proven spacecraft systems designed by Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd, a world leader in building and operating commercial small satellites, we saw an opportunity to develop an innovative, independent new model for astronomy...
April 2017
Mega-challenges for mega-constellations
... are currently around 70 per year. This is in addition to the general increase in space traffic in LEO mainly fuelled by small satellites and cubesats as well as nanosats, which grant cheaper access to space. Even before these recent trends, space...
November 2017
Japanese space industrial policy in transition
... the current Japanese space industry because there is too much risk in challenging the NewSpace economy with a small satellite constellation or recycling the first stage of a launch vehicle. Instead, the Vision targets niche technologies and services...
April 2019
The changing economics of space
... provide global coverage via a large, or mega-constellation, of closely connected small satellites using inter-satellite links to adaptively route traffic, starting and ending with very small terminals at each end. This eliminates the need for the...
