Small Satellites: A Revolution in Space Science
Creators: name: Norton, Charles D.
name: Pellegrino, Sergio
name: Johnson, Michael
name: Arya, Manan
name: Steeves, John
name: Kulkarni, Shri
name: Martin, Christopher D.
Publisher: name: Keck Institute for Space Studies
Year: 2014

description: This report describes the results of a study program sponsored by the Keck Institute
for Space Studies (KISS) at the California Institute of Technology to explore how small
satellite systems can uniquely enable new discoveries in space science. The
disciplines studied span astrophysics, heliophysics, and planetary science (including
NEOs, and other small bodies) based on remote and in-situ observations. The two
workshops and study period that comprised this program brought together space
scientists, engineers, technologists, mission designers, and program managers over 9
months. This invitation-only study program included plenary and subject matter
working groups, as well as short courses and lectures for the public. Our goal was to
conceive novel scientific observations, while identifying technical roadblocks, with the
vision of advancing a new era of unique explorations in space science achievable
using small satellite platforms from 200 kg down to the sub-kg level.
The study program participants focused on the role of small satellites to advance
space science at all levels from observational techniques through mission concept
design. Although the primary goal was to conceive mission concepts that may require
significant technology advances, a number of concepts realizable in the near-term
were also identified. In this way, one unexpected outcome of the study program
established the groundwork for the next revolution in space science, driven by small
satellites platforms, with a near-term and far-term focus.
There were a total of 35 KISS study participants across both workshops (July 16-20,
2012 and October 29-31, 2012) from 15 institutions including JPL, Caltech, JA /
PocketSpacecraft.com, MIT, UCLA, U. Texas at Austin, U. Michigan, USC, The
Planetary Society, Space Telescope Science Institute, Cornell, Cal Poly SLO, Johns
Hopkins University, NRL, and Tyvak LLC. The first workshop focused on identifying
new mission concepts while the second workshop explored the technology and
engineering challenges identified via a facilitated mission concept concurrent design
exercise. The Keck Institute limits the number of participants per workshop to at most
30 to encourage close interaction where roughly 20% involved in this study were
students.
This report is organized to communicate the outcome of the study program. It is also
meant to serve as a public document to inform the larger community of the role small
satellites can have to initiate a new program of exploration and discovery in space
science. As such, it includes recommendations that could inform programmatic
1-5
decision making within space exploration agencies, both in the USA and
internationally, on the promise of low-cost, focused, and high impact science should a
strategic plan for small satellite space science be pursued. As such, the study
program organizers and all participants are available to respond to any aspect of this
report.