Abstract. During the last decades, there has been an increase in use of satellites reduced dimensions. Among others, microsatellites (mass from 11 to 200 kg) and nanosatellites (1 10 have ones receiving increasing interest Universities for educational activities [1], [2]. Their cost, complexity developing time compared larger make them particularly suitable student projects. In this regard Cube...

With the aim to reduce cost and increase reliability, MEMS technology penetrates space market and new MEMS components are developed for Space application. Among them, micropropulsion devices is an active field of technological research. Several micropropulsion option are under development : the thrust is produced either from a electrical source (electrical thruster) or a chemical source (chemic...

One of the major reasons, why nanosatellites are still in a state vulnerability, is increase their thermal temperature, which many cases leads to failure missions they were originally designed for. In order maintain quality management system, while keeping electronic equipment reliable working conditions. This paper presents research on environment and passive control systems (PTC) nanosatellit...

A new way to perform space missions utilizes the concept of clusters of satellites that cooperate to perform the function of a larger, single satellite. Each smaller satellite communicates with the others and shares the processing, communications, and payload or mission functions. The required functionality is thus spread across the satellites in the cluster, the aggregate forming a "virtual sa...

Distributed space systems are often cited as a means of enabling vast performance increases ranging from enhanced mission capabilities to increased system flexibility. Achieving this vision, however, will require radical advances in the automated control of these multi-satellite systems. To explore this challenge, Santa Clara University and Stanford University have initiated development of a si...

Free-space optical communication attracts interest due to its promise of higher data rates for similar size, weight, and power costs compared with radio systems. However, while satellite-to-ground optical communication has been tested from low Earth orbit and the Moon, intersatellite optical links are still an area of active research and development. Second-harmonic generation (SHG, or “frequen...