Paper Category: Systems Analysis
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INTERNET PROTOCOL ROUTING IN CIS-LUNAR SPACE
Over the last five years, integrating space systems into the global Internet paradigm has advanced significantly. Space constellations and networks are now commonplace; however, current implementations remain limited to networks managed as single terrestrially orchestrated systems or orchestrated hybrid mixtures of interacting space networks. This centralized orchestration approach constrains autonomous operations, requires continuous ground station…
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Enabling Secure Maritime Connectivity: MAIV of the MICE-1 CubeSat Mission
The increasing reliance of Maritime IoT and Internet of Vessels (IoV) applications on satellite connectivity places stringent requirements not only on system architecture and communications performance, but also on the robustness, manufacturability, and verification of spaceborne platforms operating in demanding environments. In this context, nanosatellite missions targeting maritime services must balance tight mass, volume, and…
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MediSat: A Secure Delay-Tolerant CubeSat Constellation for Medical Data Relay in Infrastructure-Degraded Environments
Reliable transmission of medical data during disasters and in remote regions remains a critical challenge due to damaged, congested, or nonexistent terrestrial communication infrastructure. This paper presents MediSat, a SmallSat-based system concept for secure, delay-tolerant relay of medical data using a constellation of CubeSats operating in low Earth orbit. The proposed architecture employs a store-and-forward…
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Catalysing Next Generation Solutions with Scalable Model-Based Software
Small satellite missions increasingly rely on software-defined payloads, onboard data processing, and automated mission operations, to meet performance, responsiveness, and cost constraints. In practice, payload software development, integration and test (I&T) and operations are often supported by fragmented toolchains spanning flight, ground, and payload domains, leading to duplicated effort, reduced reusability and increased operational risk.…
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Integrated Cyberattack Detection for Satellites
Next-generation satellites are evolving into highly interconnected cyber-physical platforms, where heterogeneous subsystems, widespread adoption of Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) components, and emerging multi-tenant payload paradigms fundamentally reshape the spacecraft threat landscape. These trends erode traditional trust assumptions and necessitate autonomous onboard cybersecurity mechanisms capable of detecting, localising, and mitigating attacks without reliance on continuous ground intervention.…
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A Modular Open-Source ADCS Framework for Small Satellite Development and Testing
Advanced attitude determination and control (ADCS) techniques are often difficult for small satellite teams to adopt due to tightly coupled implementations and the need to rapidly evaluate alternative architectures. Evaluating prospective ADCS options may require significant modification of existing code for specific actuator combinations, sensor hardware, orbits, mission goals, and control laws. Existing options are…
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Operational Implications of Dynamic Power Throttling on High-Performance LEO Edge Computing
The integration of high-performance COTS (Customer Of The Shelf) processors, such as the Nvidia Jetson Orin NX, into SmallSat architectures enables advanced on-orbit edge computing but introduces significant power management challenges. Standard manufacturer power profiles typically require system reboots and lack the granularity needed to respond to dynamic LEO (Low Earth Orbit) energy constraints, such…
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Flywheel Energy Storage as an Alternative for Chemical Batteries in Small LEO Satellites: Feasibility and Attitude Impact
Given the rapidly increasing number of satellites, mainly driven by the deployment of large constellations, manufacturers are under growing pressure to innovate in order to reduce both costs and environmental impact. In this context, the present work investigates the feasibility of replacing chemical batteries on Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites with mechanical storage systems based…
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The Final Barrier to High-Performance Computing in Space: Architectures for Mitigating Catastrophic Radiation Effects
The increasing ambition of commercial and institutional space missions is driving demand for onboard computing capabilities far beyond traditional spacecraft avionics. Applications such as orbital data centers, large satellite constellations, autonomous mission operations, and real time data processing increasingly depend on high performance GPUs, advanced processors, high density solid state storage, and complex commercial electronic…
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Satellite Testing Sensors
New accelerometers design advancements for spacecrafts vibration testing “from microg to pyroshock testing” The role of measurement sensors plays a fundamental role in various development tests and is also mandatory for all types of small satellites. In these pages, we will summarize some of the latest results achieved in the development of technologies to achieve…