Session Track: Tech Brief

Deploying data centers in orbit offers radical benefits, but the logistical hurdles of getting them there and keeping them running are immense. This technical brief examines the physical infrastructure needed for space-based servers, including thermal management, power generation, and payload integration. We’ll outline the roadmap for making orbital compute nodes a physical reality.

Quantum sensing promises to revolutionize Earth observation by providing unprecedented precision in gravimetry, magnetic field mapping, and timing. This technical brief unpacks the transition of quantum sensors from laboratory experiments to space-rated smallsat payloads. We’ll discuss how this next-generation technology will unlock entirely new applications in geophysics and resource exploration over the next decade.

Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) is emerging as a highly attractive regime, offering ultra-low latency and reduced Size, Weight, Power, and Cost (SWaP-C) for Earth observation and communications. However, it requires innovative propulsion to counteract atmospheric drag. This session explores the economics of VLEO and how its inherent zero-debris compliance makes it a sustainable choice…

Disksats represent a radical departure from traditional form factors, offering unique advantages in volume, power generation, and orbital dynamics. This tech brief explores the engineering behind these next-generation smallsats and their potential to disrupt current constellation architectures. We’ll discuss when and where this novel geometry might become the new standard for specific mission profiles.