The inexpensive injection of small satellites into GEO using Russian/Ukrainian solutions

CST has undertaken several studies of the methods available for the launch of GEMINI-1, a 400 kg test satellite being built by Surrey Satellite Technologies Ltd. (SSTL) in collaboration with Nigeria, for the BNSC which have included it in their MOSAIC UK small-satellite programme. The results of the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Acta astronautica 2006-10, Vol.59 (7), p.560-569
Main Authors: Webb, G.M., Fadeev, A., Pestmal, N.
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:CST has undertaken several studies of the methods available for the launch of GEMINI-1, a 400 kg test satellite being built by Surrey Satellite Technologies Ltd. (SSTL) in collaboration with Nigeria, for the BNSC which have included it in their MOSAIC UK small-satellite programme. The results of these studies with cost comparisons are presented in this paper. It is shown that the cost/kg of placing a mini-satellite into GEO need not be any more than that for larger satellites and in some special circumstances may be significantly cheaper. This interesting result could have far reaching consequences for the communication marketplace and technologies. It could also encourage research and development, innovation and independence.
ISSN:0094-5765
1879-2030
DOI:10.1016/j.actaastro.2006.04.005