What are Small Satellites?
Satellites come in all sizes, from handheld devices to spacecraft as large as a school bus, like the Hubble Telescope. Small Satellites, often called SmallSats, refer to spacecraft weighing under 180kgs, roughly the size of a large kitchen refrigerator. Despite their smaller size, SmallSats vary significantly in mass and dimensions.
The rise of SmallSats began in the early 21st century, transforming the space industry by enabling cost-effective access to space. Satellites in this category, weighing less than 300kgs, are further divided into sub-categories:
| Small Satellite Type | Launch Mass |
| Super Micro-satellites | 100–300kgs |
| Micro-satellites | 10–100kgs |
| Nano-satellites | 1–10kgs |
| Pico-satellites | 0.1–1kgs |
| Femto-satellites | 0.001–0.01kgs |
These lightweight satellites are also compact. For example, a 1kgs nanosatellite can fit in your hand, while even the largest ones can rest on a kitchen countertop.
What are CubeSats?
CubeSats are a specific type of nanosatellite built using standardized form factors. The base unit, called “1U,” measures 10 cm x 10 cm x 10 cm. CubeSats can scale to sizes like 1.5U, 2U, 3U, 6U, or even 12U depending on mission requirements.
Originally developed in 1999 by California Polytechnic State University and Stanford University, CubeSats were designed for educational purposes and space exploration.
Today, they are a growing industry where government, academia, and private sectors collaborate to push technological boundaries. These satellites now play a critical role in scientific research, technology demonstrations, and advanced mission concepts involving constellations or swarm systems.
Benefits of SmallSats
From GPS navigation to international communications, satellites are essential to modern life. While traditional satellites were once large and expensive, small satellites have revolutionized space technology. In just a few decades, the number of small satellite launches has surged from a few per year to over a thousand annually.
Key advantages driving this growth include:
- Cost-Effectiveness: Small satellites are cheaper to manufacture and launch due to standardized designs and commercial off-the-shelf technologies.
- Technological Innovation: Advances in microprocessors and satellite systems have made small satellites more powerful, efficient, and capable over shorter life cycles.
- Operational Flexibility: Small satellites support a variety of missions, from Earth observation to communications, often outperforming traditional satellites in certain applications.
The miniaturization of satellite components and the efficiency of small satellite systems are expected to unlock further opportunities in education, science, commerce, and government applications. This trend will continue shaping the future of space exploration and technology.
Conclusion:
Small satellites are transforming how we explore and use space. Their cost efficiency, scalability, and ability to incorporate the latest technology make them a vital part of modern satellite operations and future innovations.