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Welcome to the Small Satellites Home Page! The purpose of these page is to provide up to date information, resources, references and links for space researchers and enthusiasts via the medium of the internet, and in particular the World Wide Web. While small satellites have literally been around since the dawn of the Space Age, large satellites and programmes have dominated the industry. However, recent emphasis in the industry on "Smaller, faster, better, cheaper" has focused increased attention on the capabalities and advantages of small satellites.

The pages presented here should answer such questions as "What is considered a small satellite?", and "What could you do with a small satellite?". These pages commence with a history of small satellites, and go on to show why small satellite missions have recently gained considerable interest. The SSHP concentrates on 'modern' small satellites, but data on many of the original small satellites has also been included. The SSHP classifies and lists past, present and future small satellite missions. Launchers are also dealt with in detail, because cost reduction is a one of the major driving forces in reducing satellites size, and small satellites therfore place challenging demands on existing launchers and launch services.

Interest in small satellites is growing fast world-wide. Businesses, governments, universities and other organisations around the world are starting their own small satellite programmes. Our goal is to provide a central link for this rapidly expanding area of space research. This page is maintained by researchers in the Center for Satellite Engineering Research at the University of Surrey, U.K, to provide the latest and most accurate information and links to WWW users. The information in these pages may be used freely, and all we ask is for you to support us by quoting the SSHP as your reference, and to help us by providing information, feedback and corrections.

These pages are under continuous construction, please read the disclaimer

Contents

 
What's new?
Introduction
The anatomy of a small satellite.
The launch phase.
Satellite orbits.
Control and operations.
 

Small satellite lists

Mini-satellites
Micro-satellites
Traditional Micro-satellites (1957 - 1981)
Modern Micro-satellites (1981 - 1996)
Nano and Pico-satellites list
Interplanetary small satellites
Future launches
 
Specialist lists
Military small satellites
GPS on small satellites
Attitude Control and Determination on small satellites
Remote Sensing small satellites
Communication small satellites
 
Small Satellite Organisations
Educational Institutions
Resources not on the internet.
 

Local data

Satellite Classification
Launchers
Conversion constants
Acromyms and abbreviations
Orbits and orbital elements
Picture gallery
 

Links

Links to satellite projects on the Web
Links to satellite project support
Links to satellite sub-systems
Other Resources
International Journal for Small Satellite Engineering
Press releases
 

DIY.

So you want to build your own small satellite...
Anatomy of a Small satellite
 

And finally, just for fun...

Akin's laws of spacecraft design
Spacecraft Project Normal Bitterness curve

Credits, feedback and corrections

Last update November 16th, 1996. These pages are sponsored by

First of all, credit where it is due! I maintain a list of specific information I would like to add, and examples on what I would like to see for each small satellite mission, company profile etc. Please send comments, links or information for inclusion in these pages via the feedback page Alternatively use snail-mail for any brochures, papers or other non-digitised material:

Feedback R.A.da Silva Curiel
A.da-Silva-Curiel@ee.surrey.ac.uk
Center for Satellite Engineering Research
University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey GU2 5XH
United Kingdom

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