Earth\u2019s atmosphere<\/a> in just a few days if the satellites are not equipped with a suitable propulsion system.<\/p>\nA unique, fuel-efficient engine built by\u00a0Aliena, a spin-off company from NTU Singapore, has been designed to overcome this issue. The engine will ionise and accelerate inert propellant, generating thrust at a low power that will maintain the satellite\u2019s orbit.<\/p>\n
The microsatellite will also house the nation\u2019s first locally designed space camera by tech firm\u00a0LightHaus Photonics, which can take high-resolution images of objects as small as 0.5 metres and 20 times more powerful than X-SAT\u2019s camera. It is useful for industrial applications, such as supply chain monitoring, agriculture, mining, and real estate analytics.<\/p>\n
Optimised model<\/h3>\n In addition, NTU researchers will be developing a predictive aerodynamic model to optimise the satellite design for reduced drag, evaluating different materials that can protect against atomic oxygen corrosion, and measuring the plasma concentration, velocity and temperature in the ionosphere to enhance the understanding of spacecraft charging.<\/p>\n
Spacecraft charging is a phenomenon where a negative charge starts to build on a satellite\u2019s surface due to hot electrons found in space (similar to how static electricity builds up when humans walk across carpets), which can cause damage to electronic systems onboard the satellites.<\/p>\n
The microsatellite will also collect valuable data to enable the development of the next generation of commercial VLEO satellites with multiple applications, from communications and imaging to climate and weather monitoring, which will help to position Singapore as a VLEO solutions hub.<\/p>\n
Sustainable satellite<\/h3>\n This new satellite is also designed to be sustainable. At the end of its operational life, its engine can be turned off and the satellite will de-orbit and descend to Earth within a few days. It will eventually burn up in the atmosphere during re-entry, leaving no debris in space. This \u2018passive clean-up\u2019 will help to minimise risk of collisions in the future for VLEO spacecrafts, in contrast to operating at Low Earth Orbits where it is becoming increasingly overcrowded.<\/p>\n
Led by\u00a0NTU\u2019s Satellite Research Centre, the consortium also includes\u00a0Temasek Laboratories at NUS and NTU, and\u00a0ST Engineering Satellite Systems\u00a0\u2013 a joint venture between ST Engineering, DSO National Laboratories and NTU \u2013 which serves as the lead advisor on the systems development and manufacturing of the satellite.<\/p>\n
Singapore milestone<\/h3>\n Professor Lam Khin Yong, Senior Vice President (Research), NTU Singapore,\u00a0said the new microsatellite will be yet another milestone for Singapore and the University, which has spearheaded Singapore\u2019s microsatellite research efforts in the last 22 years. NTU has successfully launched and operated nine satellites that incorporates made-in-Singapore space technologies.<\/p>\n
\u201cSatellite technologies are always multidisciplinary and complex, requiring the best minds in various fields, from power systems engineering to aerodynamics and software design, to work together as a team to develop new solutions that do not exist today,\u201d Professor Lam explained. \u201cNTU is also proud to partner our own spin-off company Aliena and joint venture company ST Engineering Satellite Systems, both great examples of how NTU\u2019s space technologies have successfully made it from lab to market, contributing to the nation\u2019s rising reputation in the global space industry.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr David Tan, Executive Director, OSTIn, commented:\u00a0\u201cThe establishment of a new consortium to develop solutions that will enable satellites to operate at very low earth orbit is testament to the diverse capabilities of Singapore\u2019s industry and academia in developing disruptive technologies for space. OSTIn is pleased to support this collaboration, which showcases the advanced capabilities of our local space industry ecosystem, with more than 50 companies employing over 1,800 professionals, complemented by several research centres of excellence.\u201d<\/p>\n
Close to Earth satellite orbit<\/h3>\n Dr Lim Jian Wei Mark, CEO of Aliena,\u00a0said that the company\u2019s involvement in this project is aligned with its corporate vision of providing high resolution images through enabling future satellite constellations to orbit closer to the Earth. \u201cAt the heart of any Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) mission are the engines that enable extended operations in such a challenging domain, to make future opportunities commercially viable. Aliena is proud to contribute towards the deployment of our MUSIC engines on such a satellite platform in VLEO, and to showcase that the VLEO domain in space can now be accessible even to smaller satellites with the systems we are bringing to market,\u201d concluded Mark.<\/p>\n
This sets the stage for the deployment of Aliena\u2019s VLEO microsatellite imaging constellation that will begin to be populated by 2027, thereby illustrating the seamless translation of technologies that can address new business segments through market capture and creation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
New Singapore consortium are set to launch an advanced microsatellite at very low Earth orbit to trail new technologies. Singapore intends to engage in the production of new space technology and participate within the frontiers in space. To do this they are using advanced space technology to create a microsatellite and launch it at very […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":18098,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[771],"tags":[818,3477,809],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
Advanced microsatellite launched at low orbit<\/title>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n