Earlier this month, a joint CubeSat mission between the UK Space Agency and Algerian Space Agency (ASAL) has shipped the satellite to India the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in India, where a series of final preparations will be conducted before begining integration into the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C35) for a launch in late September.
Following a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in 2014, the UK Space Agency and ASAL have enhanced collaboration in space programs. The MoU established AlSat Nano as a joint educational CubeSat development program to be delivered by the Surrey Space Centre at the University of Surrey (SSC) for Algerian graduate students.
AlSat Nano is Algeria’s first CubeSat mission. The design, build and verification of the spacecraft took place at SSC as a hands-on learning exercise for the students, to demonstrate the practical elements of low cost space technology, giving them experience that should help Algeria strengthen its domestic space technology capability. ASAL is providing the launch, and operations will be undertaken by Algerian operators trained in Surrey. During the spacecraft’s commissioning, the operators will make use of the SSC ground station in Guildford, with operations then transferring to ASAL’s newly developed ground station in Oran.
The AlSat nanosatellite. Photo is courtesy of SSC.
The spacecraft platform has been built using hardware sourced almost exclusively from UK suppliers, and approximately half of the satellite's volume has been made available to the UK CubeSat community as a free flight opportunity for self-funded payloads via an open call and competitive selection process.
The three selected payloads include...
- C3D2—a highly customizable CubeSat camera suite offering three fields of view and innovative on-board software processing capabilities. The payload will also be a remote experiment of the Open Science Laboratory - a suite of remote experiments that supports distance learning students studying science and engineering. C3D2 will offer these students the chance to operate a real payload on an orbiting spacecraft. The payload development is led by the Open University Centre for Electronic Imaging with sensor hardware provided by e2v Ltd and electronics from XCAM Ltd.
- Thin Film Solar Cell—a novel solar cell structure which is directly layered on cover glass just 1/10th of a millimeter thick. Effects from the space environment will be measured, with the aim of allowing the organizations involved a route to product development and commercial exploitation of this technology. This project is led by the Swansea University Centre for Solar Energy Research with contributions from the University of Surrey, Qioptiq Ltd and Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd.
- AstroTube Boom—a retractable CubeSat-compatible boom, deployable up to 1.5 meters in length from a volume around the size of a small business card holder. This technology would enable CubeSats to carry out a greater range of science experiments that require sensors to be held as far away from the spacecraft as possible to reduce interference, and could also form the basis of de-orbit systems for future missions. The payload also carries a magnetometer, one of the most compact of its class, to carry out measurements of the Earth’s magnetic field, and RadFET radiation monitors. The payload is led by Oxford Space Systems Ltd, collaborating with partners including the Science and Technology Facilities Councils RAL Space and Bartington Instruments Ltd.
..In The Pursuit Of SmallSat Expertise…
SmallSat Symposium—Silicon Valley 2017
Workshop: Monday, February 6th, 2017
Symposium: Tuesday, February 7th — Wednesday, February 8th
Venue: Computer History Museum, Mountain View, California
As with any industry trade event, one of the major draws as far as the time commitment necessary for attendance most assuredly revolves around the expertise that will be offered to those who participate... is the ROI for event participation and the hoped-for knowledge acquisition worth a company's or an individual's engagement at the venue?
For the SmallSat Symposium, just reading through the list of subject-matter experts who will be presenting at this event should offset any doubts as to the value of "being there." SmallSat Symposium—Silicon Valley in 2017 will offer a superior blending of expertise and unparalleled networking opportunities with the industry's smallsat, SATCOM and MILSATCOM actors.
This extraordinary event will be held at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, California, which happens to be a perfect location for the technology-rich smallsat environs.
Listed below are the accepted speakers to date, in alphabetical order, for the SmallSat Symposium.
The Speakers…
- Chad Anderson, Managing Director
Space Angels Network
The first 100 registrations qualify for a $200 discount off the standard event admission —take advantage of this savings and register to attend the SmallSat Symposium today! Register Now...
For information regarding the various workshops, please select this direct link.