Antenna Design for Small Satellites

[rick m]

In my new issue of Microwave Journal there is a long article entitled Antenna Design Challenges for New-Generation Nano Satellites.
In it they classify satellites based on their mass:
Mini is 220-1,200 pounds
Micro is 22-220 pounds
Nano is 2.2-22 pounds
Pico is 0.22-2.2 pounds
Femto is < 3.5 ounces


Perhaps Paul needs to call this the F-Prize or up the mass limit to 22 pounds ( :

Rick

[Xan]

Normal satellite has a mass of several tons.
Then the satellite with a mass of several kilograms would be "milli".
with a mass of several grams — "micro".
milligrams — "nano".
ISS — "kilo".
So — u-prize.

[Jay]

Use the largest orbiting “object” as the standard. Start with the International Space Station (NASA’s ISS page says 419,455 kg). Add a docked Soyuz TMA-M (approximately 7150 kg) plus five crew members and all their food, water, oxygen and other supplies and equipment for a total of about 450,000 kilograms (says Wikipedia), then…

milli- = one thousandth = 450 kilograms;

micro- = one millionth = 450 grams (about a pound);

nano- = one billionth = 0.45 grams

and so on.

“Nanosatellite size 22” = 22 X 0.45 grams = 9.9 grams

“Nanosatellite size 44” = 44 X 0.45 grams = 19.8 grams

That puts the N-Prize restrictions right in the ballpark for nanosatellites (“N-sizes” 22 to 44)! All sales final. No returns. No exchanges.

Paul says the N stands for “negligible resources” and the nines, but I still say the N stands for nerd. If you don’t believe me, consider what I just wrote and you just read with genuine interest!

Jay

[rick m]

Jay,

From one nerd to another, since Paul started this when the shuttle was still flying AND docking with ISS, you'll have to add another 110,000 kg from the Orbiter to the orbital mass.

Rick

[Jay]

But the ISS wasn’t finished then! The heaviest space shuttle was Columbia with an unladen mass of about 81,000 kilograms, although Columbia never docked with the International Space Station. The other shuttles were several tons lighter, so add 100,000 more kilograms to correct for the lower mass of the ISS and the added mass of a fully laden space shuttle; 450,000 kg + 100,000 kg = 550,000 kg for the “standard” mass. That gives a “Size one” nanosatellite a mass of 0.55 grams.

“Size 18” nanosatellite = 18 X 0.55 = 9.9 grams

“Size 36” nanosatellite = 36 X 0.55 = 19.8 grams

It still works! The fashion industry has been adjusting sizes downward for years. Why shouldn’t the aerospace industry do the same? Nerdier and nerdier.

Jay