. 24/7 Space News .
MICROSAT BLITZ
ESA's first technology nanosatellite reporting for duty
by Staff Writers
Paris (ESA) Oct 20, 2015


Led by GomSpace in Denmark, GomX-3 is a 3-unit CubeSat mission to demonstrate aircraft ADS-B signal reception and geostationary telecommunication satellite spot beam signal quality using an L-band reconfigurable software-defined radio receiver. A miniaturised high data rate X-band transmitter developed by Syrlinks and funded by France's CNES space agency is being flown as a third-party payload. The satellite was deployed from the International Space Station on 5 October 2015. Image courtesy ESA

ESA's first technology-testing CubeSat, released last week from the International Space Station, is in good health and is set to start work on its six-month mission. "This tiny satellite was developed in only a year and now we are very pleased with the rapid progress made during the first few days in orbit to check its readiness for its mission," notes Roger Walker, overseeing ESA's technology CubeSat effort.

GomX-3 was designed and built for ESA by Denmark's Gomspace company. Engineer David Gerhardt adds: "Following its release from the Station on 5 October, much of the satellite's proving phase is complete, demonstrating that it is operational and in good health. "We are now taking the first steps towards putting its technology payloads through their paces."

Despite its small size of 10x10x30 cm, the nanosatellite precisely controls its orientation by spinning miniaturised 'reaction wheels' at varying speeds. This precision is an important factor in the effectiveness of the mission's technology-testing payloads. One task will see GomX-3 pointing up towards to detect radio signals from telecom satellites in geostationary orbit to assess their overall transmission efficiency.

The processing software can be changed in flight, allowing the receiver to be reconfigured and used in extremely flexible ways, of wider interest for future ESA missions.

The CubeSat also carries a miniaturised version of a transmitter being flown on ESA's Proba-V minisatellite for downloading data rapidly at X-band radio frequencies. Developed by the French Syrlinks company in cooperation with France's CNES space agency, the antenna will aim at X-band ground stations in the CNES network.

Once the communications link has been tested over the coming months, the transmitter will be available to fly on future nanosatellites to boost their amount of downloaded data.

GomX-3 also sports a receiver to detect navigation signals from aircraft. The satellite points its distinctive helical antenna to Earth and has already picked up a tens of thousands of Automatic Dependent Surveillance - Broadcast, or ADS-B, signals from aircraft since the day after launch.

ESA's 2013-launched Proba-V first confirmed the feasibility of ADS-B detection from orbit, opening up the prospect of a global aircraft monitoring system incorporating remote regions not covered by ground-based air traffic control.

Gomspace's GomX-1, launched in 2013 and still operational, showed ADS-B detection could also be performed from smaller satellites, like CubeSats. GomX-3's receiver is an improved design.

"This is the first of many ESA nanosatellite missions," concludes Roger. "Our aim is to test new technologies and techniques or fly promising payloads in a more rapid affordable way, with more CubeSat launches next year."


Thanks for being here;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly


paypal only


.


Related Links
GomSpace
Microsat News and Nanosat News at SpaceMart.com






Comment on this article via your Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

Previous Report
MICROSAT BLITZ
NASA awards launch services contracts for CubeSat satellites
Washington DC (SPX) Oct 15, 2015
NASA's Launch Services Program (LSP) has awarded multiple Venture Class Launch Services (VCLS) contracts to provide small satellites (SmallSats) - also called CubeSats, microsats or nanosatellites - access to low-Earth orbit. The three companies selected to provide these new commercial launch capabilities, and the value of their firm fixed-price contracts, are: Firefly Space Systems Inc. o ... read more


MICROSAT BLITZ
Europe-Russia Lunar mission will make them friends again

Mound near lunar south pole formed by unique volcanic process

Lunar Pox

Space startup confirms plans for robotic moon landings

MICROSAT BLITZ
Landing site recommended for ExoMars 2018

You too can learn to farm on Mars

The Martian Astrobiologist

Opportunity parked for solar panels to charge up for winter

MICROSAT BLITZ
Hold on to your hoverboard: 'Back to the Future' is now

Journaling: Astronauts chronicle missions

Brands eye big bucks with 'Back to the Future' nostalgia

Russian Cosmonauts Taste 160 Meals Ahead of Space Station Expedition

MICROSAT BLITZ
China aims to go deeper into space

Latest Mars film bespeaks potential of China-U.S. space cooperation

Exhibition on "father of Chinese rocketry" opens in U.S.

The First Meeting of the U.S.-China Space Dialogue

MICROSAT BLITZ
RSC Energia patented inflatable space module for ISS

Clearing the Space Fog on ISS

International Space Agencies Meet to Advance Space Exploration

Meet the International Docking Adapter

MICROSAT BLITZ
ORBCOMM Announces Launch Window For Second OG2 Mission

10th Anniversary of the Final Titan

China puts new communication satellite into orbit for HK company

ISRO to Launch 6 Singapore Satellites in December

MICROSAT BLITZ
Cosmic 'Death Star' is destroying a planet

Most earth-like worlds have yet to be born, according to theoretical study

Airbus DS ready to start testing exoplanet tracker CHEOPS

Hubble Telescope Spots Mysterious Space Objects

MICROSAT BLITZ
U.S. Air Force long-range radar systems reach full operational capability

A 'hot' new development for ultracold magnetic sensors

Mother-of-pearl's genesis identified in mineral's transformation

Exciting breakthrough in 2-D lasers









The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.