A SmallSat Standard for ESPA-Sized Spacecraft to Maximize Rideshare Launch Opportunities

Abstract:

The space industry has found significant utility in short turn-around, small satellite missions. There has been a significant increase in rideshare and dedicated launch opportunities for small satellites around the world. Small satellites can be developed in much shorter timelines than the traditional, large spacecraft missions. Additionally, constellations obtaining full coverage for Earth observations become more financially viable. In order to leverage the short-development time of small satellites, a standardized design approach is required. Following the success of the CubeSat Design Specification, it is clear that a standard set of specifications in a concise document allows developers to design their spacecraft without knowledge of their specific launch opportunity. A standard provides developers and launch vehicles with a set of common parameters for initial design and analyses. To make this a reality for small satellites Cal Poly has created the Small Satellite Design Standard (SSDS).

As is evident from the utilization of the CDS, a standardized form factor allows launch providers to plan for a number of these spacecraft, and then make accommodations available before any specific spacecraft is manifested. One of the benefits of building spacecraft to a standard is that spacecraft developers and launch providers can minimize the time to orbit and the amount of non-recurring engineering costs that go into a small satellite and launch. Rideshare opportunities have increased significantly, but each rideshare mission involving small satellites that are designed beyond the CubeSat-defined parameters, interfaces are no longer standardized and both the launch vehicle and the spacecraft need to “re-invent the wheel” for each launch. This is where standardization can streamline the process. However, it is crucial to design a standardized form factor without limiting innovation and technology development. The ultimate goal of this document is to maximize launch opportunities and minimize time to launch for ESPA-sized spacecraft.