Small satellites set to tackle big jobs

Sriharikota: The mini satellites launched by PSLV-C23 on Monday may be small in size, but they are designed to carry out bigger tasks.

For instance, the AISAT is a global sea-traffic monitoring system with special emphasis on high traffic zones using AIS signals. Satellites NLS7.1 (CAN-X4) and NLS7.2, produced by University of Toronto, Canada, have been designed to move one behind another with a 500-metre gap and with an accuracy of 1 metre similar to formation-flying witnessed during Air Force shows.

In addition, one satellite will circle around another and these mini satellites can be used to follow and inspect the bigger satellites in future. The movement of the satellites will be controlled through GPS.

Velox, is Singapore’s first Nano satellite and it is a technology demonstrator for in-house design of image sensor, MEMS-based attitude determination and control system and inter satellite RF link.

Apart from the five foreign satellites launched on Monday, PSLV had launched 35 satellites developed by other countries including Germany, France, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Switzerland, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Denmark, Turkey, Belgium and Indonesia.