Pre-built satellite platforms - the right fit for your mission?

With the wealth of new innovations and suppliers that have come to market in recent years, there are now more choices to make at every stage of a space mission’s development.

To simplify the process, some teams are opting to take advantage of pre-integrated and pre-qualified satellite platforms that include all of the basic architecture and components needed to fly their payload.

The global satellite bus market is estimated to be a $12 billion sector today, and could be set to grow to more than $20 billion by 2030.

In this newsletter, we take a closer look at the satellite platform sector and discuss whether this technology could be a good fit for your mission.

Useful terms of reference

Let’s start by sharing some of the common definitions of useful terms in this area (many of which are not actually as common as you might expect):

Satellite bus - this term has typically been used to mean the part of the satellite that enabled the primary payload.

Satellite platform - this term is often used when aspects of the integration process are included in the service, but can just as easily refer to just the bus.

Platform vs. bus - in practice, these two descriptions are interchangeable - one company’s bus is another’s platform, so we’ll use them in that way.

Hosted payloads or satellite-as-a-service - this is a model where the satellite is built and operated by a supplier who offers space for one or more payloads from third parties onboard.

These payloads are hosted by the primary operator and will share some of the satellite’s resources (e.g. power and telemetry bandwidth etc.) as well as some of the operator’s personnel time.

Rideshare missions - in most cases, a rideshare mission is the activity of the launch vehicle, and possibly covers the satellite deployment too.

In a rideshare mission the launch vehicle flies multiple satellites, from one or more third parties, on their system. SpaceX’s Transporter series of satellite launches are referred to as rideshare missions.

A rideshare mission might feature a primary payload, usually a larger satellite, that the launch operator has a major contract for. They can also be called piggy-backing or hitchhiking missions informally.

Mission terminology can sometimes cause confusion. There’s more than one way to describe lots of the processes and different phrases are custom for different countries or applications. When you're looking to procure, make sure you're speaking a common language with a supplier in the space industry!

Understanding the opportunities

There are a few interesting points to note about some of the terminology shared above, which might come up in planning a mission using a satellite platform.

Firstly, when the word payload is used it is always relative to the platform or vehicle that is to be launched. So the payload for 6U CubeSat might be an Earth Observation camera, whereas the payload for the launch vehicle might be the 6U CubeSat itself. Make sure you understand what the supplier is referring to when they use the term.

Next up is the term mission. This is probably a descriptor that we throw around a little too freely in the industry today.

If we really want space to be seen as an accessible and reliable domain, perhaps we need to move away from referring to the process of putting a satellite into orbit as a mission in itself.

It might not be a big deal, but for those outside of the industry looking in (with one hand on the budget) it might seem a little confusing to be a part of a Transporter or other launch mission before the satellite is deployed on its actual mission.

And then, if one or more of the payloads are from third parties (as they would be in a hosted payload mission) they might each be part of their own missions!

Maybe the industry isn’t mature enough yet - launches still capture the attention and imagination of all of us to some extent, though they are getting more routine.

But at some point we may want to start treating the launch and deployment of a new satellite more like the installation of a piece of high-tech kit in a dangerous location on Earth (such as placing sensors near an active volcano or the ocean floor) - a crucial, technically-impressive, and fascinating stage; but, ultimately, a precursor to the valuable data-gathering phase.

Finally, looking more closely at the different types of missions; we’ve seen plenty of examples of hosted payload missions being referred to as rideshares.

In practical terms the description obviously makes sense - in a hosted payload mission your payload is basically sharing the ride with payloads from other companies, and those of the satellite manufacturer/operator.

But most people tend to use rideshare when referring to sharing a ride on the launch vehicle.

Keep a lookout for these inconsistencies as you assess the market so you can be sure that you're speaking to the right suppliers and operators for your needs. And on that, here are some examples of the work of those suppliers in orbit.

Some examples of satellite platforms in orbit

As with all space technologies, it is important to carefully consider how any platform has performed in space in order to judge whether it is right for your mission.

Here are a few examples of the work of CubeSat and smallsat platform manufacturers in orbit. Please note that a number of the companies referred to below participate in the Satsearch Member Program.

Next-generation AIS on a 6U platform

Space Inventor is a Denmark-based satellite manufacturer that focuses primarily on systems in the 10-150 kg range. In October 2022 Space Inventor delivered a new satellite platform for Sternula, another Danish company, active in the field of maritime surveillance.

Sternula describes itself as the world's first commercial provider of connectivity using the satellite-based Automatic Identification System (AIS) 2.0 standard - also known as the VHF Data Exchange System (VDES). The successful launch and commissioning of the satellite in January this year have effectively made Sternula Denmark's first commercial satellite operator.

The system is designed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the AIS 2.0 standard for vessel tracking in the Arctic. It also aims to form the foundation of a satellite-based maritime Internet of Things (IoT) network to address a number of the issues and opportunities facing the maritime sector around the world. You can find out more about the project page here.

A 6U satellite is an increasingly cost-effective system to build and launch, while also offering high levels of performance for certain applications. An AIS or IoT system, for example, doesn’t rely on the physical size of an optical payload’s aperture to produce high-quality data, so a bus of this size can suit the mission requirements.

As mentioned, Sternula’s intention was to become the first Danish satellite operator and grow the business based on the quality, reliability, and availability of their service in the maritime sector.

Achieving this aim doesn’t necessarily require the company to become an expert in satellite engineering and integration. Using a pre-integrated platform has (presumably) enabled Sternula’s AIS engineers to focus on these high-value aspects of the service rather than satellite engineering tasks in which they don’t currently specialize.

Demonstrating innovation on a shared satellite platform

EnduroSat offers a shared hosted payload service for companies looking to perform In-Orbit Demonstration (IOD) or In-Orbit Verification (IOV) tests of their technology.

The company ran 2 such missions last year and is aiming to complete a further 10 by the end of 2023. In the missions, EnduroSat handles the payload integration, functional testing, legal registration, launch, and MissionOps - the customers just need to provide their subsystem or component.

These missions are a core part of EnduroSat’s strategy. They share details of the launch and deployment of each satellite, as well as of some of the customers onboard (for those willing to go public).

For example - on the most recent mission a high-power electric plasma thruster developed by UK-based propulsion company Magdrive is being tested. Along with support to test and integrate the thruster on the satellite platform, EnduroSat has also worked with the team to understand and facilitate the right data-sharing processes and resources.

When evaluating platform providers, particularly for IODs/IOVs, it is vital to understand what is provided in this area. Begin with your ideal mission outcomes in mind and make sure that the supplier can provide the level of data accuracy, redundancy, security, and availability that you’ll need in order to reach them.

Click here to find out more about how EnduroSat’s shared satellite service works.

The 12U foundation of a global 5G network

Lithuania-based Kongsberg NanoAvionics is another specialist platform manufacturer offering nanosatellite and microsatellite buses on which many different types of missions can be developed.

In 2022 Kongsberg NanoAvionics provided a 12U platform to prime contractors Omnispace and Thales Alenia Space in a mission designed to demonstrate the world’s first global hybrid mobile (5G) network.

The system was dubbed Omnispace Spark-2™ and launched in May 2022. It forms, along with Omnispace Spark-1™ launched in April 2022, the foundation of the Omnispace Spark™ program for satellite direct-to-device connectivity.

This program aims to develop a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellation operating in the 3GPP band n256. This band has been standardized for non-terrestrial network (NTN) usage, making adoption easier for Omnispace Spark's target users. Find out more about this program here.

In the project, Kongsberg NanoAvionics worked with other suppliers including ANYWAVES who developed payload antennas to direct the satellite's signal to terrestrial users. It is important for platform suppliers to have an element of flexibility in their technologies so that they can be adapted to specific use cases and payloads.

There are clear advantages to using a standardized bus as the foundation for a constellation. Along with potential cost-savings that come from the economies of scale, the ability to develop collaborative relationships with the supplier’s team is of huge value during assembly, integration, and testing (AIT) processes.

The platform manufacturer themself can also be a useful source of data and intelligence to develop the constellation, bringing lessons and perspectives from other missions and services, as well as from improvements to their own bus technologies. Many platform suppliers have a heritage of developing subsystems too and so have a range of practical engineering experience that can be utilized.

These examples demonstrate just a few of the use cases of satellite platforms in real-world missions. But they aren’t the only option on the market.

The alternative - a DIY system

The main alternative to a satellite platform (or another form of hosted payload mission, as discussed above) is to build and/or purchase all of the subsystems and components present in a bus and then integrate and test these yourself. There are many factors at play when making this choice.

For example, if your goal is to build engineering capacity at your organization (such as in educational programs), a pre-built platform might not be for you. In addition, vertical integration is always a hot topic in the space industry (particularly when you run a global marketplace for space!) and well beyond this article to address fully.

But clearly, if vertical integration is a medium- to long-term objective for a space company, then the choice not to use a bus provided by a third party is likely to be a pretty easy one!

The application area and target end-users/clients can also dictate the option. Sensitive, government- and military-related missions might well demand an in-house build, or the satellite’s primary objective might require too much customization to make a pre-integrated system worth it.

However, for many space-based commercial services in development today, the satellite itself is a means to an end. It is the data, connectivity, or other aspects of the mission that they are really interested in - and a standardized platform could offer a simple, cost-effective way to achieve it.

Beginning with the end

Now we’ve discussed common terminology in this sector, examples of platforms in action, and the main alternative to buying a bus - let’s finish by mentioning perhaps the most important thing that will drive your decision; the commercial value that you want to generate.

The actual contents of a satellite platform will vary from supplier to supplier. Some will include all aspects of the power, telemetry, computing system, attitude control, and propulsion needed for a variety of mission requirements, whereas others will offer one or more of these as options.

Assess these, as with all the other aspects of the platform, by thinking through exactly what you want to achieve and what is required in the current mission plan (or concept of operations (CONOPS), depending on what stage you’re at) that has been devised to achieve it.

But also remember that the mission plan might change, the engineering timelines might slip, and the end-users' requirements might evolve - so ensure that you have early conversations with potential suppliers about what should happen in such cases.

As mentioned above; if your aims are to achieve a certain level of performance and reliability, and you’re agnostic to the technology that achieves it, a pre-qualified bus could be the best choice for your company.

You can find out more about the exact types of satellite platforms and buses on the market today, for CubeSats and microsatellite form factors, at this link. 

Also, if you need free support for a trade study or procurement of a platform (or any other space-related product or service) please click here to share your requirements with us today.

Finally - to find out more about how this service works, please click here to take a look at one of our previous articles in the newsletter.