Page 60 - SAMENA Trends - April 2020

SATELLITE UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Smallsat Launch Delays Prompt Push for Greater Standardization

A study that found that every small satellite of launch delay causes than what a lot launch, but we’re committed to the idea,
launched commercially in the last five of people might assume,” he said. The with standardization, of decreasing that
years suffered delays is evidence of the survey found that 40% of delays were due time significantly, to a matter of weeks,”
need of greater standardization in payload to payloads, including those of the primary he said. Such standardization already
accommodations so that smallsats can payload on launches where smallsats exists for cubesats, most of which use
easily switch vehicles, one company were flying as secondary payloads. Issues deployers that can be easily moved from
argues. The study, conducted by Bryce related to launch vehicles accounted for one launch vehicle to another. Spaceflight
Space and Technology and released April 34% of delays, but most of those were wants to try to extend standardization to
22, found that all 1,078 smallsats — defined caused by launch vehicle development larger smallsats. “Locking in the electrical
as weighing less than 600 kilograms — and manufacturing delays, rather that interfaces, standardizing the mechanical
launched commercially in the last five delays caused by vehicle anomalies. interfaces, and standardizing how a
years suffered delays ranging from days to Most of the rest of the delays were due to spacecraft needs to be processed is really
years for a variety of reasons. The median administrative or programmatic issues, key,” he said. One reason for delays that
launch delay for the smallsats included in or changes in the International Space emerged since the Bryce report is linked
the study is 128 days. A little more than Station manifest for those smallsats being to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
150 smallsats had delays of no more than launched from the station. Whatever the Bonin said that several launch providers
two weeks, but a similar number suffered reason, delays can cause serious problems it works with, including Arianespace,
delays of at least one and a half years. The for many of Spaceflight’s customers. the Indian Space Research Organization
fact that so many smallsats have suffered “The facts of life have always been that and Rocket Lab, are encountering delays
launch delays is not surprising. “We’ve launches are delayed, and that can be because of lockdowns that have halted
always known anecdotally that launch extremely punishing on businesses who launch activities. It’s not clear when those
moves to the right,” said Grant Bonin, vice need satellites in space,” Bonin said. “A day launches will resume, although the New
president of business development at of slip in launch is a day they’re not making Zealand government backed down from its
Spaceflight, which arranges launches of money off the asset because it’s not in highest coronavirus alert level this week,
smallsats on a variety of rockets, in an April space.”He argued that the fact that many allowing some increased business activity.
28 interview. “What we hadn’t really done delays are caused by primary payload or He predicted a surge in launch activity once
yet is attempt to quantify just how likely launch vehicles issues underscores the those providers can resume launches and
delays are.” Spaceflight commissioned importance of having more standardized address their backlog. Demand for future
the Bryce study to both quantify the delays approaches to accommodating smallsats, launches, though, may be depressed. “With
and identify their causes. “I think some so that they can be easily remanifested the customer base right now, we’re seeing
of that data was eye-opening as well, from one launch vehicle to another. “That’s a lot of people taking a deep breath and
because it reflects a different distribution something we can do months before putting themselves on pause,” he said.

Nanosatellite Initiative Planned for Mexico

Nanosatellite manufacturer and mission space missions designed and built by over 75 successful satellite missions
integrator NanoAvionics, together with the Mexico’s youth. The project, starting in and commercial projects during the past
Mexican Space Agency (AEM), is planning September 2020, is, says NanoAvionics, several years. NanoAvionics’ engineers
to introduce a nanosatellite pilot project a testimony to the importance of space will share their space mission experience
for future space missions. Working with applications enabled by nanosatellites, and help the students and faculty at the
students from the Polytechnic University which are rapidly becoming essential Polytechnic University of Atlacomulco to
of Atlacomulco, the first development to national economies. NanoAvionics is develop the AtlaCom-1. The company’s
planned by the project partners will be a nano-satellite bus manufacturer and multi-purpose nanosatellite buses are
a nanosatellite for the State of Mexico, mission integrator. The company’s efforts pre-configured and pre-qualified, allowing
the most populous state in the country, are focused on enabling critical satellite mission teams to focus on their payloads.
which is located in South-Central Mexico. functions and optimizing their launch, As a result, says NanoAvionics, technology
Building the nanosatellite – the AtlaCom-1 hardware and operation costs – ranging development missions can produce results
– is part of a pilot project to establish from single missions to constellations. Its quicker and satellite constellations can
a nanosatellite infrastructure for future core engineering team has implemented enter commercial service much faster.

60 APRIL 2020