SmallSat Standardized Architecture

SmallSat Standardized Architecture is architecture that is modularized, pressurizable, thermally controlled spacecraft-designed to host ruggedized commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) instrumentation in a terrestrial-like environment on orbit. The architecture takes advantage of a pressurizable volume for both spacecraft and payload systems. The pressurizable volume provides multiple benefits, primarily in thermal design. By maintaining one atmosphere of pressure inside the SmallSat, materials that might otherwise outgas and/or fail and/or cause significant contamination issues, are no longer a concern. This also means that certain vibration-absorbing materials/designs used in COTS hardware can be used on orbit. Additionally, printed circuit boards do not have to be redesigned for thermal requirements, plus conformal coating and contamination bake-outs are no longer required. The SmallSat architecture is designed to take advantage of the United States Air Force (USAF) Rideshare Program and the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle Secondary Payload Adaptor (ESPA) ring. The ESPA ring comes in two sizes: standard and Grande. The architecture has two main configurations, one designed for the ESPA Grande, and the other for the standard ESPA ring. The ESPA Grande version is a hockey-puck-shaped spacecraft bus measuring approximately 40 inches in diameter and 20 inches in height. This version takes full advantage of the ESPA Grandes 300-kilogram capability per attachment point. Over the past decade, SmallSats have been established as having great potential for science exploration and commercialization of space. SmallSats aim to decrease the cost of space development, making space exploration more accessible. Space agencies, as well as the commercial and defense sectors, are considering innovative uses of disaggregated SmallSat constellations to accomplish the same objectives previously achievable by large singular spacecrafts, which have long lead times and high cost. Smaller satellites can be launched more affordably by launching with larger primary payloads. In general, SmallSats represent an emerging class of satellites, with small size, mass, and cost.