ABSTRACT

The days of large satellites for space missions seem numbered as micro
satellites, their smaller cousins, are now providing affordable access to space
Recent years have seen an increase in efforts to design, build and operate small
satellites in laboratories and all over the world. These micro satellites provides numerous
flight opportunities for science experiments at a fraction of the cost of traditional large
missions.
Micro satellites are transforming the space buisiness the same way as personal
computers changed the computing industry in the 1990s. with their power and flexibility,
these will make space technology more accessible for a larger and diverse number of
uses. While small satellites have been around since the dawn of the space age, large
satellites and programs have dominated the industry. Now, major advaces in micro
electronics have made smaller satellites a viable alternative . inspired by the flight
patterns of migrating birds, micro satellites would be able to fly in close formation.these
are versatile, quick to build, reable and much cheaper than the traditional optical
satellites. Despite their small size and weight (50 to100)kgs, these carry a wide range of
payloads, including satellite communication, space science and remote sensing and in-
orbit technology demonstration payloads, for both civilian and military purposes.

INTRODUCTION:

Space companies are working on even smaller ‘nano’(1 to 10)kgs and ‘pico’(upto
1 kg) satellites. The launch cost of micro satellites is less for these can ride piggyback on
larger satellites. Microsatellite images are being used in remote sensing applications
including:
1. Environmental change and disaster monitoring.
2. Cartography for civil engineering and town planning.
3. Foresty and habitate mapping.
4. Offshore pollution monitoring for government agencies and oil companies.
The micro satellites would orbit as close as 10 meters from each other and open
new opportunities for orbital research. Because they weigh very less, the diminutive
crafts cost much less to launch less fuel once aloft.by combining several smaller
satellites, the combined system will have greater flexibility and power than a single
traditional satellite.

MICRO SATELLITES—SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME: -

Although most of the space missions today uses Mini satellites as the
lower end of weight (~250-500 kg), it is our belief that more and more
missions will eventually carried out by micro satellites. Advanced
propulsion solution, such as combination of solar powered HALL engine
will allow future micro satellites to adjust their orbit, maintain height in
very low earth orbits and maneuver themselves to desired locations.
The variety of missions that can be carried out by micro satellites is
very wide. To name a few:
  Electro optical remote sensing (visible light, IR, Multi spectral &
more)
 SAR
 Commint Elint
 Designated communication.

STORE AND FORWARDING PAYLOAD: -

On top of this are special protocols developed specifically for store and forward
satellite E-mail networking. This protocol stack represents a compromise between
compatibility with existing systems at the lower levels and customisation for the
particular requirements of the low Earth orbit communications links at the higher levels.

Antenna Pattern and polarisation

The microsatellite platform allows for only a single simple broadbeam antenna
array. Traditionally small satellites have used simple circularly polarised antennas such as
the canted-turnstile. Experience with these antennas shows serious deficiencies at low
elevation angles due to the ellipticity of the signal from the satellite. The low elevation
angle performance is of prime importance ot the single microsatellite store and forward
system. More than 80% of available communications time being below 20 at medium
latitudes for a polar LEO satellite. For this reason, from UoSAT-3 onwards
SSTL/UoSAT micro- satellites have adopted the use of shaped broad-beam linear
satellite antennas on the microsatellites. Ground station are equipped with circularly
polarised antennas. The 3dB loss in link budget is more than compensated for by the
stability of the link at low elevation angles. At higher elevation angles the change in
range and reduction in fading compensates for the linear-circular link.
Low elevation angle communications
In a single satellite network the use of low elevation angles for communications is
important in increasing the available access time. Although the satellite is mainly visible
at low elevation angles the change of range between satellite and ground station gives rise
to a change in path loss of some 12dB greater at the horizon than at nadir for an 800km
orbit. Additional propagation effects including ionosphere scintillation and multipath
fading particularly affect the low elevation angle communications link at VHF and UHF.
Data for the proposed low Earth orbit satellite frequencies is not currently available.
Examination of the data available from Geo-stationary systems shows that the low
elevation angle effects are not covered by existing geo-stationary propagation models or
terrestrial land mobile communications models and in addition that the scintillation
effects are dependant upon location and latitude.

Fading margin: -

Although the ARQ protocol can cope with large levels of slow fading it becomes
increasingly less efficient for terminals with low margins and for fast fading effects
comparable with packet lengths. Unlike the random effects of the terrestrial cellular
models the simplest approach to modelling the LEO micro satellite link is that of the
Rician environment. An additional factor is the LEO satellite. Simple measurments and
simulations show good correlations between the satellite received signal strength and that
predicted for a single scattering signal when compensated for change in range and
satellite antenna pattern as azimuth and elevation change. Using measurements from a
small terminal equipped with omnidirectional circularly polarised antennas a fading
margin of 6dB over the 'best case' link has been estalished for use in combination with
the LEO microsatellite link at low elevation angles in a partially blocked urban
environment. The presence of this 'typical' signature has also been observed in
measurements of signal strength from a range of environments including ship-borne
stations. Larger fades due to blocking and the satellite antenna pattern are coped with
using the ARQ facility
APPLICATIONS IN VARIOUS FIELDS
COMMUNICATIONS:
At a time when satellite communications were synonymous with larger
geostationary satellites for transparent real time wide band services ,proposing the use of
low-earth orbits for communications was considered a somewhat retrograde
step.however, the closed proximity of the satellites in LEOs , to the users and the
consequent reduction in transmission loss and delay time are big attractions-holding out
the promise of less expesive ground terminals and regional frequency reuse.
Nevertheless , the communication characterstics associated with a LEO constellation
pose quite different and demanding problems , such as varying communication paths and
links , high Doppler shifts and handover from satellite to satellite.
Micro satellites pioneered the use of early internet techniques to provide world
wide,non real time,digital data store and forward e-mail connectivity , especially in
remote areas where the telecommunication infrastructure is inadequate or non-existent .
SPACE SCIENCE:
Microsatellites can offer a very quick turnaround and inexpensive means of
exploring well-focused, small scale science objectives(eg: monitoring space radiation
environment,etc) or providing a proof of concept prior , to the development of large scale
instrumentation in a fully complimentary manner to the expensive ,long gestation, large
scale space science missions.
TECHNOLOGY VERIFICATION:
Micro satellites are also an attractive and low cost means of demonstrating ,
verifying and evaluating new technologies or services in a realistic orbital environment
rapidly and within acceptable risks prior to the commitment to a full scale,expensive
mission. For example, satellites depend upon the performance of solar cell arrays for
production of primary power to support on board house keeping systems and payloads
throughout their 7 to 15 years of operational lifetime in orbit.
EARTH OBSERVATION:
 Conventional earth observation and remote sensing satellite missions are
extremely costly.hence there relatively few such missions under taken and the resulting
data , whilst providing impressive spatial and spectral resolutions ,yields poor temporal
resolution of the ground targets due to the small number of these space crafts actually in
the orbit.
MILITARY APPLICATIONS:
Demands for military style satellite procurement and a cost effective approach to
microsatellite engineering might at first sight appear incompatible.however,whilst
retaing the essential charteristics of low cost and rapid response , a military version of
the microsatellite platform with deployable solar panels has been developed to support
various military payloads .the ‘commercial’ and ‘military platform versions differ in the
specification and procurement of components , particularly in the amount of paperwork
that traces hardware and procedures.
Trade-off between the constraints of a military programme and economy has
been sought that increases the and the timescale by a factor of around 1.5 compared to the
commercial microsatellite procurement process.
SOME COMMERCIAL ASPECTS: -
Presence in space is expensive, but for some small nations – essential. In
principle, small nation must choose the best alternative for its space needs – the best
performance to cost ratio. Although the analysis of different space architectures from
financial point of view is still lacking accurate models and is, in many cases,
approximate, several points are clear today :

• Micro satellites and aerial launching could dramatically reduce

the price of a satellite in orbit.
• The cost of operational micro satellite in space could be a low as
5-15 Million USD in comparison with a price tag of around 100
Million USD for mini satellite and ground based launcher
• The market of micro satellite is still in its infant stage. Many
analysts predict that it will grow scientifically, for military and
civilian uses alike.
 • Development of micro satellite will boost other technological
fields such as micro electronics, MEMS and nano technology, to
name a few.

Benefits Of Micro satellites:

Direct benefits from the use of micro satellites my be identified depending on
their field of application. However , those benefits result from an application that could
also be provided by larger spacecraft small satellites provide their own contribution in
following areas.
1.improvement of agricultural and animal productivity in medium to large size farms
owing to the better weather predictions, identifications of soil characteristics,
improvements in communication and tranporyation.
2.Lowering of transportation costs,made possible through optimization of truck , bus and
ship routing,and location and early roberry detection ,withfavourable impact on the price
of goods .
3.Provision of communication for the basic needs of small rural settlements in remote
areas
4.Improvement in natural disaster detection and relief made possible by systems that
integrate scientific , communication and remote sensing satellite networks
5.Educational programmes for people in remote areas
NASAs Small Space craft:
The small space craft technology Initiative of National Aeronautics and Space
Administration , USA, aims at advancing the technologies for reducing the cost and time
of getting civil and commercial space missions from the drawing board to the orbit . the
programming follows new approaches to satellite design and development that will not
only significantly lower the cost but also permits the builder to incorporate commercial
standards in the case of design and qualification process. Thus, it will survey NASAs
needsby allowing more frequent space missions within lower budgets , and enhance the
competitive edge of US space system manufacturers in global market.
Small Satellites in Japan:
 In japan,small satellites of 100 to 300 kg were first used for a programme of
Institute of Space and Astronautical Science(ISAS) .The amateur radio JAS 1a and 1b (40
to 50 ) kg satellites are additional examples.Japanese researchers are also studying
concepts and trading designs against geosynchronous earth orbit (GEO) approaches ,
attempting to identify appropriate applications for small satellites.

THE GLOBAL PICTURE:

Even small or poor counties can now run their own space programmes using
microsatellites ,which generally have no more than 100kg of mass at launch
.Algeria,turkey and Nigeria have been assisted in their space ambitions by the Univesity
of Surrey in the UK.their Earth-observing space-crafts provide unusually wide fields of
view for a multinational disaster-monitoring constellation.China will join the
constellation this year.
The British University and Surrey Satellite Technology have been building and
operating small space crafts for more than 20 years . The low cost and high speed
operation of their space crafts recently won them a contract from the Europeon Space
Agency(ESA) to build an early test-bed satellite for Europe big Galileo system of
navigation satellites .Europe’s first nanosatellite (<10kg) was Surrey’s below 7kg SNAP-
1 launched in 2000.
Students at Danish Univesities have designed and built Pico satellites weighing
only 1kg each.Aalborg University (AAU) and the technical University at Denmark(DTU)
made the first two.
AAU cubesat was fitted with a digital camera for Earth observation . DTU sat
was a technical innovative project to deploy a 450-meter copper wire, or ‘tether’, to
interact with electrons and the earth’s magnetic field so as to generate an electromagnetic
force that could drive the satellite out of its orbit.
The two student satellites were launched by Russian Rocket on June 30 ,2003
together with American , Canadian and Japanese Pico satellites .Unfortunately, for
unknown reasons, the DTUsat failed. The AAU cubesat is working, but communication
difficulties have so far prevented initiation of the planned mission .
Undaunted by this, students at Aalborg are now planning a 1kg lander for the moon
complete with a lunar rover vehicle just 8cm long.

INDIAN INITIATIVE:
India has already launched micro satellites of South Korea, Belgium and
Germany. It has also agreed to launch small satellites of Indonesia. Besides, Anna
University in Chennai was developing India’s first microsatellite weighing around 60 kgs
, this microsatellite is slated for launch this year.
India has signed an agreement with Isreal on civilian space cooperation. The two
countries are among the select group of countries in the world who build and launch
satellites entirely on their own.
The world’s first microsatellite came out of a University project in Israel in the
late 1990s. developed at the Israel institute of technology in Haifa and launched in 1998,
TechSat 2 was a marvel in miniaturization.It was a 45 cm cube that weighed less than
50kg.packed with small computers and powerful sensors.
CONCLUSION:
Micro-electro mechanical systems (MEMS) and emerging nano tachnologies
driven by terrestrial, industrial and consuming requirements will soon make pico and
fempto satellites smaller than credit cards a reality.
 The launch cost of microsatellites is less for they can ride piggyback on larger
satellites.
But for the time being, there is still a need for large satellites alongside their
smaller brethren to provide high power communications to small mobile or TV terminals,
to image the earth at submetre resolution and to carry scientific instruments requiring
large apertures or heavy sensors.
BIBILIOGRAPHY:
1. www.google.com
2. Electronics For You-Magazine
3. Mission and Science of Munin: The First Sweedish Nano Satellite, 23rd ISTE
Proceeding’s, 2002