A Modular Satellite Bus Architecture to Enable Rapid Configuration and On-Orbit Servicing

Future satellite architectures must readily support the on-orbit maintenance and servicing that is vital for maintaining and dynamically reconfiguring both commercial and military satellites during orbital operation. A well-founded architectural designmust also address the need to reduce costs associated with satellite development, fabrication, and operation; improve flexibility in response to mission needs; improve modularity; and enhance survivability. The advent of satellite clusters andconstellations for communications and reconnaissance purposes places a premium on microsatellites that are small (multiple vehicles per launch), low cost, easily (and dynamically) reconfigurable, on-orbit serviceable, and simple to manufacture in quantity.To solve the problems related to on-orbit servicing, dynamic reconfiguration, and manufacturing, AeroAstro proposes to investigate during Phase I a satellite bus architecture that features modular mechanical and electrical elements coupled withstandardized, non-proprietary interfaces and protocols. When applied to microsatellites, this design will result in a highly capable, reconfigurable, and serviceable spacecraft that is built around a set of extruded metal