Changing the economics of space

SEMW2010, Vilnius, Lithuania Oct 2010

Changing the Economics of SpaceSSTL Company Profile

Presentation Outline

• Space does not need to be expensive

• The development of Small Satellites has had dramatic effects

– Making some applications financially viable

– Creating new opportunities

– Widening access to space

• Small satellites are changing the economics of space

1. SSTL corporate overview

2. Overview of small satellite systems

3. SSTL programmes, technology and projects

Changing the Economics of Space

This is achieved through:

Rapid-response small-satellites built

from advanced terrestrial technology

SSTL within EADS

• “Autonomous Entity” within EADS Astrium NV

• Much stronger financial backing allows SSTL to prime

much larger contracts

• Access to additional

products and services

Astrium

Satellites

Astrium

ServicesSSTL

Tesat

Dutch Space

Etc…

Astrium

ST

N.V.

Astrium F

Astrium D

Astrium UK

Paradigm

Infoterra

Spotimage

SSTL - the company

UK-based satellite manufacturing company owned by EADS Astrium NV

(99%) and the University of Surrey (1%)

Formed in 1985, the Company now employs 300 staff and occupies dedicated

facilities in Surrey, Kent & Colorado

Changing the economics of space

Why small satellites?

Motivation for move towards small satellites

• The cost of failure of large projects

• Risk can never be reduced to zero

• The maturity of relevant technology, methods and applications

• Hands-on training for the next generation of scientists and engineers

• Fixed launcher mass/volume for deploying multi-satellite systems

7-10 year programmesare not unusual• User frustation with cost and timescales

What is a small satellite?

• Low mission cost

– NTE budgets: What can be achieved given a budget of „X‟

– “low cost” depends on context, e.g.

• <US100k to $1m in educational missions

• <US$10m for private missions

• <US$50m for small national missions

• <US$200m in Space Agencies

• Short schedules

– From 12 months up to 36 months

• “Innovative” or different approach from the norm

• Effective Design and Implementation Philosophy

– Engineering approach

• E.g. COTS

– Management principles

• E.g. What is important for this mission?

• E.g. “Skunk works”

– Organisational structure

• E.g. no major sub-contractors

– Simple operations concept

Some of these factors are subjective or relative

Categories

Small Satellites

Mini

Micro

NanoPico

Large Satellites

Mini

500kg

Micro

Nano/Pico

100kg

10kg

Large

Increasing trend towards launch of smaller satellites

Satellites launched

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

Year

>500kg

Mini

Micro

Nano

A big role for Small Satellites

Smallsat trends in use/application

• Predominant use in specialised

communications such as Store &

Forward communications

appears to have ended

• Educational use is increasing

• Use as technology demonstrators

is increasing

• There is a steady use in security

applications

• There is a steady use in space

science missions

• Use in Earth Observation

missions is steadily increasing

Smallsat application evolution

<500kg

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

1970

1972

1974

1976

1978

1980

1982

1984

1986

1988

1990

1992

1994

1996

1998

2000

2002

2004

2006

Communications

EO

Education

Science

Tech demo

Security

Totals launched

<500kg

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

1970

1972

1974

1976

1978

1980

1982

1984

1986

1988

1990

1992

1994

1996

1998

2000

2002

2004

2006

Mini

Micro

Nano

Smallsat trends in user/customer

• Steady background level of

amateur missions

• Security sector (mostly US)

were early adopters, and civil

users have now followed

• Commercial use so far

dominated by LEO comms

• Increasing use now in

educational missions

Smallsat customer evolution

<500kg

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

1970

1972

1974

1976

1978

1980

1982

1984

1986

1988

1990

1992

1994

1996

1998

2000

2002

2004

2006

University / Academic

Commercial

Government

Security

Amateur / private

Totals launched

<500kg

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

1970

1972

1974

1976

1978

1980

1982

1984

1986

1988

1990

1992

1994

1996

1998

2000

2002

2004

2006

Mini

Micro

Nano

LEO-comms

Smallsat activity

• Many nations now manufacture, use, or procure

smallsats

Small Satellite ActivityUser and manufacturers

Active (45)

World Countries

What are the benefits of small satellites?

• Reducing the cost of entry into space

– Achieving more missions within fixed budgets

– Ownership for all - a mission focused and dedicated to the owner‟s specific task,

rather than sharing a government mission that has aggregated demand

• Reducing the time to get into orbit

– More frequent mission opportunities

– Responding rapidly from initial concept to orbital operation

• Making constellations and formation flying financially viable

– Higher spatial coverage

– Higher temporal resolution

– Larger apertures

• Making new space opportunities financially viable

– Scientific investigations

– Commercial ventures

– Public good

A bus provides a more cost effective service than a car when measured as a cost/person/unit distance, yet the less efficient car is more affordable to the average user

Analogy: The cost of transporting people from point A to point B

“Lowest cost” vs “most cost effective”

Lowest costProbably achieves goal fasterGets to the exact destination

Most cost effectiveTakes longerDestination is a compromise

Small satellites are largely targeted at lowest cost solutions to a specific problem

Changing the economics of space

Surrey Satellite Technology

Overview of activities

A history of success

HERITAGE: Flight proven - low risk

RESULTS: All projects fixed price, delivered on-time and on-budget

SUCCESS: Very high mission success – 100% mission success in last 10

years – proven equipment and full redundancy

CUSTOMERS: Variety of customers including many “blue chip” operators as well

as 15 successful training programmes

34 Satellites completed ~200 satellite years on-orbit experience

9 Further satellites (35-43) – currently being prepared for launch

18 payloads in progress (4 optical, 14 navigation)

Overview of SSTL spacecraft

SSTL# Mission Launch Orbit Mass

(kg)

Customer Payloads

1 UoSAT-1 1984 Delta 560 km 52 UoSurrey, UK Research

2 UoSAT-2 1984 Delta 700 km 60 UoSurrey , UK S&F, EO, rad

3 UoSAT-3 1990 Ariane-4 ASAP 900 km 45 UoSurrey , UK S&F

4 UoSAT-4 900 km 47 UoSurrey /ESA Technology

5 UoSAT-5 1991 Ariane-4 ASAP 900 km 48 SatelLife, USA S&F,EO, rad

6 KitSat-1 1992 Ariane-4 ASAP 1330 km 49 KAIST, Korea LEO comms

7 S80/T 1330 km 50 Matra, France S&F,EO, rad

8 HealthSat-2 1993 Ariane-4 ASAP 900 km 44 SatelLife, USA S&F

9 PoSAT-1 900 km 49 Consortium, Portugal S&F,EO, rad

6B* KitSat-2 900 km 49 KAIST, Korea S&F ,EO, rad

10 Cerise 1995 Ariane-4 ASAP 735 km 50 CNES/DGA, France ELINT

11 FASat-Alfa 1995 Tsyclon 873 km 55 FACH, Chile S&F,EO

12 FASat-Bravo 1998 Zenit-2 835 km 55 FACH, Chile S&F,EO

13 Thai-Phat-1 835 km 55 MU, Thailand S&F,EO

14 UoSAT-12 1999 DNEPR 650 km 312 SSTL and NTU, Singapore EO, Comms

15 Clementine 1999 Ariane-4 ASAP 735 km 50 CNES/DGA, France ELINT

16 Tsinghua-1 2000 Cosmos 650 km 8.3 UoTshinghua, PR China EO, Comms

17 SNAP-1 650km 50 SSTL Technology

18 TiungSAT-1 2000 DNEPR 1020 km 51 ATSB, Malaysia EO, Comms

19 PicoSAT 2001-Athena 650 km 67.2 USAF, USA Military

20 AISat-1 2002 Cosmos 700 km 82 CNTS, Algeria EO-DMC

21 NigeriaSat-1 2003 Cosmos 700 km 82 NASDRA, Nigeria EO-DMC

22 UK-DMC 700 km 90 BNSC/STL, UK EO-DMC

23 BILSAT 700 km 130 TUBITAK, Turkey EO-DMC

24 TopSat 2005 Cosmos 700 km 114 MoD, UK EO

25 Beijing-1 700 km 163 BLMIT, P.R.China Commercial

EO / DMC

26 GIOVE-A 2005 Soyuz 22,000km 649 ESA Navigation

27 CFESat 2006 Atlas-5 ESPA 600km 163 LANL, USA Science

28-32 RapidEye x5 2008 DNEPR 700km 154 MDA/RapidEye Gmbh, Germany Commercial

EO

33 Deimos-1 2009 DNEPR 700km 90 UoSurrey , UK S&F

34 UK-DMC-2 700km 90 Deimos, Spain Technology

Overview of SSTL missions under contract

# Mission Launch Orbit Mass Customer Payloads Status

35 N2 2010 LEO-SSO 300 NASDRA, Nigeria EO Awaiting Launch

36 NX 2010 90 NASDRA, Nigeria EO Awaiting Launch

37 Kanopus-1 2011 LEO 200 VNIIEM/FSA, Russia EO Delivered

38 Kanopus-2

(BELKA)

LEO 200 VNIIEM/FSA, Russia EO Delivered

39 Kanopus-3 2012 LEO 200 VNIIEM/FSA, Russia EO Delivered

40 Sapphire 2012 LEO 100 MDA/DND, Canada Space

surveillance

Passed CDR

41 ADS-1b 2010 LEO 90 Not disclosed Passed TRR

42 KGS 2012 LEO 160 Contract KO

43 ESMO 2015 Lunar 120 ESA Technology Contract KO

March 2009

Kanopus

N2, NX

SapphireKZ-MR

Optical payload capability

1982

2001

1991

1992

2004

2002

1998/2001

2000

20132005

2007

1987

1990

Subsystems

GPS

Power systems• Regulators• Batteries

TM/TC• Transmitters• Receivers• Antennas

Propulsion

Data Handling• Computers• Networks• Data recorders

Solar Panels

Structure• Primary structure• Separation systems• Mechanisms

Payloads, cameras

BasicPlatform:

ComplexPlatform:

MissionEnabling:

ADCS• Controllers and software• Sensors• Actuators

SSTL capabilities

Full mission capability from definition through to launch,

commission, operations & exploitation

Mission Definition and Design

Sub Systems Design and Manufacturing

Assembly & Integration

Testing

Environmental Testing

Launch

Mission Commission & Operations

Image Processing & Application

SSTL’s products & services

Core satellite products:

– SSTL 100, compact modular platform

– SSTL 150/300, enhanced modular platforms

– SSTL 900, geostationary modular platform

– Ability to rapidly design and qualify custom platforms

Sub-system products:

– Optical, RF Payloads

– Bus equipment

SSTL offers launch services and can supply ground systems or

operate satellites on behalf of its customers:

– using a global network of compatible ground stations

Training programmes

Know How Transfer and Training (KHTT)

• Provision of Training to Customer staff, in the form of

theoretical, hands-on and practical, instruction, tasks

or exercises related to a specific Satellite Project

• KHTT is carefully tailored to suit the customer:

1. Customer with a programme to develop national Capability

(SSTL has extensive heritage in this area, 15 previous

customers)

2. Technical organisations wanting to utilise SSTL approach

3. Training for Satellite Users / Product Licensing

Hand-on training and capacity building programmes

Nation Period Team Mission

Kazakhstan, KGS (2010-2011) 10 KZ-MR

USA, NASA / MSU (2007-2008) 3 Magnolia

Nigeria, NARSDA (2006-2008) 25 NigeriaSat-2

Nigeria, NARSDA (2001-2003) 12 NigeriaSat-1

Turkey, Bilten (2001-2003) 12 BILSAT-1

Algeria, CNTS (2000-2002) 12 AlSAT-1

China, Tsinghua Uni. (1998-1999) 12 Tsinghua-1

Malaysia, ATSB (1996-1998) 9 TiungSat-1

Singapore, NTU (1995-1997) 2 UoSAT-12 (payload)

Thailand, MU (1995-1997) 12 Thai-Phutt

Chile, FACH (1994-1998) 8 FASAT-A&B

Japan, Fujitsu (1992-1994) 3 (FjSAT)

Portugal (1992-1994) 6 PoSAT-1

S.Korea, KAIST (1989-1993) 12 KITSAT

S.Africa (1989-1992) 2 UoSAT 3/4/5

Pakistan, Suparco (1984-1988) 10 BADR-1

• 7 Space Agencies / Space programmes formed

• 6 Priming own space missions

• 2 Spin-out companies

All but 1 remain active in space

SSTL 100 - Compact modular platform

Lowest cost solution for operational

missions

Key parameters:

– 5-year design life

– Station keeping through cold-

gas propulsion system

– 8-80 Mbit/sec downlink (S-Band or X-Band)

– 16-32 Gbits on-board data store

– 3-axis attitude control system

– Payload accommodation: 35kg, 110W

(Peak), >50W (Average)

Flight heritage:

– Microsat-70 (14 missions)

– SSTL-100 (AlSat-1, Bilsat, NigeriaSat-1,

UK-DMC, Deimos-1, UK-DMC2)

Mission results – DMC

Fires: prediction, trackingFlooding, disaster response

Deforestation & Land Cover Global Science, Climate change

Multispectral imagery at 32m and 22m GSD

DMC – 2nd generation launched

29 July 2009 – Successful launch of UK-DMC2 and Deimos-1

UK-DMC-2 Imagery – Glaciers

UK-DMC-2 Imagery – Oil Slick

UK-DMC-2 Imagery – Forest Fires

UK-DMC-2 Imagery – Agriculture

SSTL 150/300 - Enhanced modular platforms

High-performance operational missions

Key parameters:

– 7-10 year design life

– Station keeping through Xenon propulsion system

– 105-210 Mbit/sec downlink (X-Band)

– 128 Gbits on-board data store (Hard disk option for 2 Tbits)

– 3-axis attitude control system

– Typical Payload accommodation: 70kg, 200W (Peak), 100W (Av.)

Flight heritage:– TopSat, DMC+4, CFESat, Rapideye (5

Satellites), NigeriaSat-2 (2010)

Mission results- Tehran, Iran

DMC+4 - 4m PAN Image

Data Fusion: simultaneous acquisition of MS & PAN

Mission results – California & UK

• TopSat Images– 2.8m Pan

– 5.6m 3-band

Multispectral

(RGB)

Agricultural area near Sao Paulo (Brazil), acquired by

CHOROS (RapidEye 4) on Nov 11 2008

Space Segment

- 2 of the 5 RapidEye spacecraft -

Changing the economics of space

Looking to the future

Next generation optical system

Nigeriasat-2 contract signed in

November 2006

– Hi-Res imager, 2.5m PAN & 5m GSD

4-band multispectral

20km swath

– Medium-Res Imager, 32m GSD

4-band multispectral

320km swath

– 7 year life

– Advanced imaging modes

– Dual X-band downlink (300Mbps)

– 150,000 km2 per day (1 station)

SSTL 900 - Geostationary modular platform

“Beyond LEO” - designed for MEO, GEO, HEO, Interplanetary Orbits

Two variants:

– GMP-D, Direct Injection

– GMP-T, GTO Injection

Key parameters:

– 12+ year design life

– Station keeping through hydrazine or bi-prop propulsion system

– Modular & flexible design

– Payload accommodation (GMP-T)

• 200kg, 2.5kW (Typical comms)

• 260kg, 1.0kW (Other apps)

Flight heritage:

– ESA GIOVE-A (2005-)

– Development through ESA ARTES-4

GIOVE-A Satellite

• GIOVE-A was the first Galileo Satellite

• Test bed for claiming ITU frequencies, flight testing Galileo equipment,

generating representative signals and characterising radiation environment –

required 2 year life (now operating for >4 years)

• Delivered in 28months for €28M; launched 28 December 2005, Navigation

signals generated 12 January 2006

• 2008 – ESA declares “Full Mission Success”

Galileo – Full Operational Capability (FOC)

SSTL’s role in Galileo FOC:

– EC programme, ESA procurement

– Payload prime for 14 satellites

– Working with OHB-System

– £200m+ contract for SSTL

– Satellites ready from H2 2012

– Production line delivery of 1 satellite every

6 weeks

Beyond LEO - the Moon

MoonLITE:

- A polar orbiter for communication, navigation plus orbital remote sensing

- Multiple micro-penetrators far-side and near-side deployment and in-situ geophysics & geochemistry

ESMO:

– European Student Moon Orbiter

– ESA & European Universities

– Launch 2014

Ultra-high resolution EO system

SSTL can provide a system that is capable of providing

0.6-metre GSD (RGB) images of 95% of the Earth’s land

surface in 2.5 years

– Applications – mapping, web based GIS

The system includes…

– An ultra hi-res satellite

• 16km swath

• Final product, 0.6-metre GSD RGB imagery

– Ground network & systems…

Huge commercial potential:

– Raw imagery costs $0.20 /km2

(currently sold at $20 /km2)

Project status

8/2008 – 7/2009 – “One Year, Seven Satellites”

Contracts underway for 9 further satellites:

– NigeriaSat-2 (2.5m, 5m, 32m) plus NX

– Vniiem “Kanopus” (3 satellite platforms)

– Sapphire – Canadian surveillance of space mission

– A rapid paced commercial mission

– Kazakhstan medium resolution imaging mission

– ESMO – European Student Moon Orbiter

– Galileo – 14 Navigation payloads

Potential for Lithuania in Space

• Space is now part of our daily lives. Weather forecasting, satellite navigation, satellite television and long distance communication are all essential.

• Space is also necessary to solve problems which are increasingly global such as climate change, food security and fresh water management. Few of these problems stop at national borders.

• Space is a high tech industry, with a high value-added index per employee, and can therefore help improve the economy and develop export opportunities.

• A space programme must be sustainable. Applications using small satellites are a cost effective means to develop capability

Changing the economics of space

Changing the economics of space

Thank you

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