Tech Briefs Magazine - September 2024 - 18
Engineering a New
Approach to Satellite
Constellation Design
S
atellite propulsion systems have traditionally been designed
for high reliability over large-scale production. Engineered
for specific, high-stakes missions, these systems
are produced in limited quantities - often only a few dozen
units or less. Today, the advent of Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
satellite constellations is changing this dynamic, ushering in new
commercial and military opportunities that involve deploying
hundreds or thousands of satellites designed for research, telecommunications,
and Earth observation applications.
Small (under 500 kg), low-latency, and deployed as swarms
with the same purpose and shared control, these units must be
quick and economical to develop and launch. It's a strategy
that represents a big shift in satellite development: Propulsion
systems that were once crafted in very limited quantities now
need to be manufactured by the thousands. This scale-up necessitates
a new design and development approach that blends
modern manufacturing principles with legacy systems.
Defining the Challenge: Balance of Quality,
Cost, Timelines, and Volume
Traditional space technologies are known for their exceptional
quality, made even more valuable with the validation of successful
spaceflight. Yet their accordingly low production volumes,
long development timelines, and high costs pose a significant
challenge. These factors simply do not align with the development
pace and budget requirements of constellation innovators.
Lower-cost materials can be found from alternative sources such
as industrial component manufacturers or hobby rocketry firms;
however, their associated levels of quality are insufficient to meet
the stringent requirements for satellite components.
Working collectively, LEO
constellations enable the fast
signal transmission necessary for
applications such as remote
sensing, high-speed data
transmission, weather and
environmental monitoring, rural
internet access, navigation, and
global communication. (Image:
Marotta Controls)
18
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Tech Briefs Magazine - September 2024
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Tech Briefs Magazine - September 2024
Tech Briefs Magazine - September 2024 - Intro
Tech Briefs Magazine - September 2024 - Sponsor
Tech Briefs Magazine - September 2024 - Cov1
Tech Briefs Magazine - September 2024 - Cov2
Tech Briefs Magazine - September 2024 - 1
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Tech Briefs Magazine - September 2024 - 16A
Tech Briefs Magazine - September 2024 - 16B
Tech Briefs Magazine - September 2024 - 16C
Tech Briefs Magazine - September 2024 - 16D
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Tech Briefs Magazine - September 2024 - 18
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Tech Briefs Magazine - September 2024 - Cov3
Tech Briefs Magazine - September 2024 - Cov4
Tech Briefs Magazine - September 2024 - PIT-Cov1
Tech Briefs Magazine - September 2024 - PIT-Cov2
Tech Briefs Magazine - September 2024 - PIT-1
Tech Briefs Magazine - September 2024 - PIT-2
Tech Briefs Magazine - September 2024 - PIT-3
Tech Briefs Magazine - September 2024 - PIT-4
Tech Briefs Magazine - September 2024 - PIT-5
Tech Briefs Magazine - September 2024 - PIT-6
Tech Briefs Magazine - September 2024 - PIT-7
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Tech Briefs Magazine - September 2024 - PIT-9
Tech Briefs Magazine - September 2024 - PIT-10
Tech Briefs Magazine - September 2024 - PIT-11
Tech Briefs Magazine - September 2024 - PIT-12
Tech Briefs Magazine - September 2024 - PIT-13
Tech Briefs Magazine - September 2024 - PIT-14
Tech Briefs Magazine - September 2024 - PIT-15
Tech Briefs Magazine - September 2024 - PIT-16
Tech Briefs Magazine - September 2024 - PIT-17
Tech Briefs Magazine - September 2024 - PIT-18
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Tech Briefs Magazine - September 2024 - PIT-20
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Tech Briefs Magazine - September 2024 - PIT-22
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Tech Briefs Magazine - September 2024 - PIT-24
Tech Briefs Magazine - September 2024 - PIT-25
Tech Briefs Magazine - September 2024 - PIT-Cov4
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