Roberts, PCE;
Crisp, NH;
Romano, F;
Herdrich, GH;
Oiko, VTA;
Edmondson, S;
Haigh, SJ;
... Schwalber, A; + view all
(2019)
Discoverer - Making commercial satellite operations in very low earth orbit a reality.
In:
(Proceedings) 70th International Astronautical Congress (IAC).
IAF: Washington D.C., USA.
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Abstract
DISCOVERER is a €5.7M European Commission funded Horizon 2020 project developing technologies to enable commercially-viable sustained-operation of satellites in very low Earth orbits. Why operate closer to the Earth? For communications applications latency is significantly reduced and link budgets improved, and for remote sensing improved link budgets allow higher resolution or smaller instruments, all providing cost benefits. In addition, all applications benefit from increased launch mass to lower altitudes, whilst end-of-life removal is ensured due to the increased atmospheric drag. However, this drag must also be minimised and compensated for. One of the key technologies being developed by DISCOVERER are materials that encourage specular reflection of the residual atmosphere at these altitudes. Combined with appropriate geometric designs these can significantly reduce drag, provide usable lift for aerodynamic attitude and orbit control, and improve the collection efficiency of aerodynamic intakes for atmosphere breathing electric propulsion systems, all of which are being developed as part of DISCOVERER. The paper provides highlights from the developments to date, and the potential for a new class of aerodynamic commercial satellites operating at altitudes below the International Space Station.
| Type: | Proceedings paper |
|---|---|
| Title: | Discoverer - Making commercial satellite operations in very low earth orbit a reality |
| Event: | 70th International Astronautical Congress (IAC) |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| Publisher version: | https://www.iafastro.org/events/iac/iac-2019/techn... |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | Copyright © 2019 by the International Astronautical Federation (IAF). All rights reserved. This version is the version of record. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions. |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Maths and Physical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Maths and Physical Sciences > Dept of Space and Climate Physics |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10120602 |
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