A STEP FORWARD FOR SATELLITE MINIATURIZATION

Miniaturization advanced with lightning rapidity….

Alvin Toffler, American writer, one of the world’s outstanding futurists

The Third Wave (Chapter 14 The Intelligent Environment), 1980

CARD-SAT® Overview

Decrease in spacecraft mass, reduced overall cost, and increase in science capabilities ignited interest in miniaturization and maturity of aerospace technologies which have proven to be capable of producing more complex missions for less cost.

NASA

State-of-the-Art Small Spacecraft Technology

Small Spacecraft Systems Virtual Institute

Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California

NASA/TP—2024–10001462, February 2024

CARD-SAT® is a new structure for picosatellites.

The base CARD-SAT® has a thickness of 10 mm, and it can vary depending on the shape, structure and scope of the satellite.

The design is based on a single board PCB.

CARD-SAT® is a convenient and affordable solution for a fast development from the idea to finished product.

CARD-SAT® Solution

Miniaturization of existing technologies is a continuing trend in small spacecraft.

NASA

State-of-the-Art Small Spacecraft Technology

Small Spacecraft Systems Virtual Institute

Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California

NASA/TP—2024–10001462, February 2024

CARD-SAT® provides simple design solutions for engineers.

Scientific and educational initiatives can benefit from the low manufacturing and operational costs of miniaturized size and modular designs.

CARD-SAT® structures are currently equipped with deployable antennas, micro-switches, and passive attitude systems.

The developers will receive quick satisfaction due to the fast design of their project.

The frame structures are made of aluminum, CNC machined, anodized, and hard anodized, but they could also be 3D AM printed.

Miniaturization in the Space Industry

As space exploration demands more efficient and cost-effective solutions, CARD-SAT® was developed to harness the potential of miniaturization in advancing satellite capabilities.

The following graph highlights how, over time, space technology has not only become smaller and lighter but also more capable.

Size and Weight Reduction: The blue and green lines show the normalized reduction in size and weight of space components, respectively. These lines indicate a significant decrease in both size and weight over time, reflecting successful miniaturization efforts.
Functionality Increase: The red dashed line represents the increase in functionality (e.g. processing power, communication capabilities) of space systems, which has been improving as components have become smaller.