Phones are getting larger, but satellites are getting smaller— and proving to be a cost effective and practical way to get sensors, comms, and other hardware into space for scientists as well as warfighters.
Nanosatellites are an emerging low-cost space technology being developed by Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center (SSC) Pacific and other organizations in the Navy.
The Naval Research Laboratory developed some of the first military nanosatellites, and it continues to develop technologies such as miniature solid propellant thrusters, environmental monitoring sensors, and automated satellite operations software. The Naval Academy and Naval Postgraduate School also are heavily involved in developing nanosatellites.
Nanosatellites are less than a foot long and weigh less than 25 pounds. A common form factor is the CubeSat, which was developed as a low cost means to teach university students how to develop space systems. CubeSats were originally 10 centimeters on each side and weighed less than a kilogram. That size was later called one unit or “1U,” and larger sizes were developed. Now 3U is common, and many organizations are building 6U or larger satellites.
Nanosatellites are launched into orbit when a larger satellite mission has spare room, similar to riding on a space-available airline flight. Once the primary space mission separates from the launch vehicle, the nanosatellites are deployed from a spring-loaded canister. More than 100 were launched in both 2013 and 2014, and hundreds
more nanosats are in development by academic, commercial, and military organizations.
A number of factors limit nanosatellite capabilities. Smaller size means less power, which means less time to operate sensors or communication links. When communication links are available, they are generally very low
bandwidth. Hitchhiking into space means nanosatellites don’t always get their preferred orbit, which is critical for certain space missions. Few nanosatellites have propellant to keep them in their orbits or to maintain their spacing with other satellites. These factors limited the capability of early nanosatellites.
Nanosatellites nonetheless make up for limited capabilities in a number of ways. Entirely new missions can be developed for less than $10 million, and copies can be produced and launched for less than $1 million each.
The development and production timeline is measured in months instead of years. And nanosatellites provide strength in numbers, enabling dozens or even hundreds of satellites to be launched quickly and at low cost.
Ongoing science and technology investments have steadily improved nanosatellite capabilities. Program Executive Office (PEO) Space Systems invested Small Business Innovation Research funds in a number of enabling technologies. A high-gain, ultra-high frequency antenna that is stored in the satellite then pops out to nearly double the craft’s size providing improved communications.
Software-defined radio and encryption technology enables secure communications. New star-tracking technology gives nanosatellites precise information about their positions in space, which is critical for remote sensing. SSC Pacific is developing a low-power optical communications technique based on previous airborne work by the Naval Research Laboratory. SSC Atlantic is developing a platform to host the optical communications payload.
Recent work has led to the development of nanosatellites to demonstrate the military capabilities. The Vector Joint Capability Technology Demonstration launched two satellites to orbit in November 2013 to test advanced
communications capabilities. The system is currently being evaluated by a combatant command for potential operational use.
PEO Space Systems, with support from SSC Pacific, is developing a 3U CubeSat called the Integrated Communications Extension Capability, or ICE-Cap. After launch in 2015, the system will demonstrate the ability to communicate through the Mobile User Objective System to send data directly to users on secure networks. ICE-Cap also will show the ability to relay communications from a user near the North Pole to another user halfway around the world.
Commercial companies also have been quick to adopt nanosatellite technology. In the past year, one company has launched more than 40 nanosatellites that provide 3- to 5-meter resolution imagery. The company plans to launch more than 200 satellites total with the goal of taking a picture of every point on the Earth once a day. The company builds a new generation of satellite about every eight weeks and at peak production builds two per day.
Nanosatellites can’t replace every large satellite, but they are quickly becoming more capable. Future nanosatellites will provide capabilities in communications, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, environmental monitoring, and other missions. Nanosatellites can provide unique access to areas that undersea or airborne platforms cannot. Adversaries can hide from a handful of satellites, but dozens of satellites are nearly impossible to avoid. The naval forces need to adapt to their use by others — and adopt them for their own.
Austin Mroczek is the space systems engineering branch head at Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center (SSC) Pacific. He also is assigned to PEO Space Systems as the assistant program executive officer for
science and technology.
Patric Petrie is the lead staff writer for SSC Pacific.
Reprinted from Future Force, Winter 2015.