Today, small satellites have become the heart of space missions. With no payloads, it would be useless to launch a small satellite to space since it would only become an object orbiting the Earth without any purpose. In this article we will talk about various types of payloads that you can put in a small satellite, like a satellite camera, for instance.
Table of Contents
What Is a Payload? What Is Its Importance on a Space Mission?
Before we get into the gist of putting on a small satellite, let us learn some basics about payloads. Payloads can be described as part of the satellite that will be used to complete the mission. For instance, if a company wants pictures of the Earth from space, the satellite camera is the payload. Similarly, the payload could be an SDR (Software Defined Radio) if you want to receive, process, and send information.
All other components support the payload, like the solar panels, batteries, and the external structure. The importance of the cargo is absolute; it will help fulfill the objective for which it has been designed.
What Are The Various Tiny Satellite Uses?
Of course, the small satellite uses are pervasive. However, most payloads can be categorized into four main applications:
- Earth observation
- Navigation
- Communications
- Science and technology
Yes, there are many other possibilities, like marketing missions; however, we will talk primarily about these four categories in this article.
1. Earth observation
As the name suggests, these are small satellites for Earth observation that help observe various aspects of the Earth. The cameras fitted to these satellites can be panchromatic, multispectral, hyperspectral, or optical. The difference between each is the type of observation you require and the wavelength you want to capture.
For example, let us learn about observing the differences between detecting spills into the sea, watching the salinity of the ocean, amount of vegetation growth in a given area, humidity levels, observing constructions, etc. Each one of these missions will need a different type of camera.
Another essential element for these cameras is the type of image you want to capture and the resolution. In some projects, you would only require a resolution of less than a meter; for others, a resolution of 3-4m may be needed. You need to remember that the higher the resolution, the more prominent the small satellite sizes and the camera will be.
2. Navigation
Payloads for the tiny satellite that are used for navigation are no longer used as a communication service. They are used to provide navigational signals so that the ground-based receivers can be positioned. Before, this service was derived from satellite constellations deployed by agencies (like BeiDou, GLONASS, Galileo, and GPS) or the government. However, this use can also be fulfilled by small satellites.
Small satellites work on applications where there is no need for high precision or for complementing larger navigation constellations for navigation-related missions. These types of payloads today are commonly used for SDR (Software Defined Radio) platforms.
3. Communications
While this will depend on the type of payload, two main types of small satellites work as radio communications systems. They are:
Unidirectional Systems
These are types of systems that gather information. They use technologies like the AIS (Automatic Identification System) and the ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast) for tracking ships and aircraft.
Two-Way Systems
It’s a system used in VDES (VHF Data Exchange System) and IoT (Internet of Things). Apart from gathering information, these payloads are also capable of returning or sending commands and messages. For instance, you will be able to make automatic configurations of specific devices and objects in real-time.
4. Science and technology
In this section, we will talk about both In-Orbit Demonstration (IOD) projects and scientific missions. In the case of scientific missions, we will consider that a particular research group wants to carry out a biological experiment related to bacteria reproduction in space.
As for technological missions, small satellites can test various devices in space to check how specific products and devices function in orbit independently.
In both cases, the payloads would be the biological and technological components tested in space.
Is It Possible To Add Various Types Of Payloads In The Same Small Satellite?
There are some satellites where you can fit more than a single payload. It’s quite beneficial because you will get done with several missions with just one satellite. It will also distribute the costs and allow you to make simultaneous observations.
For instance, you can add payloads on a small satellite for analyzing the location of ships and the presence of oil spills in the ocean simultaneously. Such combinations of different types of loads for small satellites are limitless.
Final Thoughts
Once you understand what is a small satellite, it is important for you to know what payloads are and their different types. As mentioned previously, there are many more types of payloads, apart from the ones mentioned, which will depend on the kind of mission you want to carry out. Many companies manufacture loads required for specific tasks as well as custom developments. Both options are relatively common, particularly for observation and communication missions. If you have more complex projects, it is always better to opt for tailor-made solutions.
Let us know what your thoughts are in the comments!
