Small Satellite Home Page - Established 1995

 

Small Satellite Constellations

A large number of small satellite constellations have been proposed for communications, and more recently for remote sensing and space science missions. Most communications missions are planned to be launched before the turn of the century. This list collects together the basic information regarding these systems, particularly the 'little LEO' systems proposing to use small satellites for data communications..

Constellations for non-real time communications, termed 'Little LEO' systems, have been granted frequency spectrum in the VHF and UHF bands, and are planned to provide a variety of services ideally suited for small inexpensive satellites. .

These satellites aim to provide simple messaging, asset tracking, meter reading and paging services. The greatest problems facing these systems currently are obtaining frequency allocations. Little LEO service frequencies have been allocated by WARC-92, but currently insufficient spectrum available for all applicants and potential system leading to complicated operating requirements for proposed systems. WRC-95 and WRC-97 have added little extra.

Some 'Big -LEO' systems, offering conventional global mobile communications via constellations are employing minisatellites at the top of the mass range. An example is the Globalstar system, further described here in the record of   their first launch in 1998.

Communications constellations summary

System Satellites Planes Orbit Mass (kg) Status
Courier-1 (Konvert) 8-12 700 at 76deg 250 (Russia)
ECO 8-12 1 2000km, 0deg 425
E-SAT 6 1 circular sun-synchronous 210 Launch, space and ground segment negotiated.
FAISAT 26
4 spares
2 exp.		 2+4 1000km, 4 planes at 66 deg, 2 at 83deg 115 2 experimental satellites launched
GEMSTAR 36+2 4/8+1/6 1000km  50,90deg 45 1 satellite failure. Abandoned.
Globsat 30-66
Gonets D 36 6 1400km, 82.6deg 231 18 satellites launched
Gonets R 45 1400km, 82.6deg
IRIS (LLMS) 2 835 (SS), 800-1000km 50, 67.5 Attached payload for trials to be launched in April '98(Belgium)
KITComm 21 3 2800 proposal for asset tracking and localisation network.
LEO-ONE 48 8 950km, 50deg 125 FCC licence received in Feb '98
Spacecraft contract awarded
Leqo 8 1 967km, 0 deg 50 Proposal
ORBCOMM 36 3/8+1/8 785km, 70, 45deg 42 35 satellites launched
SAFIR 670, 98deg (Germany) Attached payload launched, second free-flyer launched 1998.
SIGNAL 12 4 300
Spacequest Proposal
Starsys 24 4 1067km, 60deg 70 S80/T demonstrator launched. Returned licence to FCC end of 1997
TEMISAT 938, 82deg 1 satellite launched and later lost
VITA

More...

Lloyd Wood's constellation pages
Brian McIntosh's Mobile Satellite Communication Library
Federal Communication Commission WRC 97 Homepage
Satellite personal communications services in the European Union (95)
Leslie Taylor Associates - Signal magazine
Regulatory Update: Little LEOs (Non-voice, Non-geostationary MSS)

Earth observation small satellite constellations

System Satellites Planes Orbit Mass (kg) Status
ROCSAT-3 8 8 800km 50 proposal for global weather monitoring
DMC 5 1 686km 100 Disaster Monitoring Constellation (Nigeria, Algeria, China, Thailand, UK)
NEqo 8? 1 LEO   Equatorial imaging constellation (Malaysia)

Military small satellite constellations

System Satellites Planes Orbit Mass (kg) Status
Microsat 7 1   22.4 Mission completed

Scientific small satellite constellations

System Satellites Planes Orbit Mass (kg) Status
Profile 12 2 elliptical, near equatorial 17 proposal for megnetospheric mapping constellation
Sisssat         proposal for magnetospheric mapping
GANDER 16 2 LEO 100 proposal for altimetry constellation

 

 

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