Cost-effective microsatellites for low Earth orbit communications

Recent proposals to use small satellites as an affordable and more rapid means of meeting space missions, complementary to large satellite systems, require a different approach to many established space engineering techniques. The University of Surrey has pioneered cost-effective satellite engineering techniques for small satellites, and has developed a series of highly sophisticated, yet inexpensive, `microsatellites´, each built and launched for under £2M. Ten such microsatellites carry a wide range of satellite communications, space science, remote sensing and in-orbit technology demonstration payloads as well as providing a unique facility for `hands-on´ training of young science and engineering students