ORB-50F

• • The platform utilises an OrbAstro Telos-40 OBC.
  • The OBC is based on Xilinx Ultrascale+ MPSoCs with ARM cortex A53 and R5 64-bit processing cores, 2GB LPDDR4, 64GB eMMC, 250GFLOP double precision FPU, software and hardware based mitigation for SEU and SEL.
  • Hardware-level ECC for boot ROM.
  • Additional customer-dedicated onboard computers can be provided for various applications.

• • The platform hosts an optical communications system for data relay through the Guardian Network satellites. Subscription packages vary, but 500MB/day uplink/downlink with up to 24 links per day is the baseline. Service available from mid-2025.
  • As a back-up, and until the Guardian Network satellites become operational, the platform contains an S-band transceiver and antenna with a 5Mbps typical data rate at 1,000km for conventional ground link. All Guardian Network ground stations are capable of supporting S-band, X-band, and Ka-band links. 
  • The S-band transceiver can be complimented with a Ka-band transmitter and antenna. The transmitter typically provides an additional 2Gbps downlink at 2,000km range.

• • The ADCS is based on an array of reaction wheels, magnetorquers, dual star-tracker cameras, Earth and Sun cameras, magnetometers, gyroscopes, and GPS unit, with a relatively comprehensive level of redundancy built in.
  • It provides highly accurate pointing control authority (<0.1deg/s) and pointing knowledge (<0.01deg/s) in both Solar and Eclipse phases.
  • High precision dual star-trackers heads for redundancy.
  • Dual redundant 3-axis magnetorquers.
  • It provides extremely high torque authority (78mNm) and momentum storage capacity (2.45Nms), typically an order of magnitude higher than what is conventionally available for 6U satellites. This ability for agile steering/pointing enables the customer to increase the amount of useful data collected by their payload (i.e. by jumping between points of interest through the orbit rather than say maintaining a fixed NADIR-pointing angle). The overhead for this type of target-tracking operation is much compressed when coupled to the Guardian Network autonomous mission operations service.

• • The platform will utilise a 280Wh variant of the OrbAstro EPS technology.
    Utilisation of conventional lithium-ion chemistries for batteries are one of the primary causes of early decommissioning of nanosatellites, due to cycle lifetime and vulnerability to the thermal environment.
  • OrbAstro uses an alternative cell chemistry far better suited to the LEO environment and satellite mission requirements.
  • The battery can operate at an 85% depth of discharge over a period of 30,000 cycles at 2C.
  • Maximum power consumption 1.6kW (upgradeable to 16.5kW with upgraded EPS).
  • The battery is extremely robust to the thermal environment, with an operating temperature range of -20⁰C to +60⁰C with minimal impact on capacity and lifetime.
  • There are optional upgrades available, to increase power capacity of the battery to 560Wh, 860Wh, or 1,440Wh.

• • As a baseline, platform mounted solar panels are provided, generating 52W.
  • Deployable solar panels (static or articulated) can be provided to increase power available to 300W.

OrbAstro has built every subsystem on this platform from scratch and in unison. This provides significant mass, volume, power, and assembly process optimisation advantages not possible otherwise. And it compresses the supply chain significantly (i.e. fewer margins-upon-margins). A lean batch-production philosophy has also been adopted. We do not provide customers with a custom-built solution that involves months of negotiations over requirements and shopping around with suppliers. What we offer is a standard platform which as a baseline is massive overkill in most cases, from a performance requirements perspective. This allows us to addresses 95%+ of the nanosatellite/smallsat market without significant modification.

Rather than procuring independently developed subsystems, and attempting to bolt them together, OrbAstro has built everything as an integrated system from the ground up, from every subsystem to every line of flight-code, allowing for huge savings in volume consumed.

The company recently transitioned from R&D to commercialisation. All subsystems are flight-qualified and have flight heritage. With launches in 2022 and more than a dozen launches scheduled in 2023, significant heritage and flight data is being accumulated quickly.

Vibration testing. Sequence: LLS HLS, LLS, RV, LLS. Functional/health checks are carried out at every step. TVAC, EMC, and Shock testing can be provided as required, but as a baseline, this is not typically required for nanosatellites.

If the failure is on the platform side, either the defunct subsystem or the entire platform will be swapped out for a back-up free of charge (along with payload integration, and another round of flight-acceptance testing). If the failure is on the payload side, you will either need to make a quick fix on-site or take your payload home and come back with a suitably modified system when ready. In either case you will be charged an additional £75,000 to repeat the satellite rebuild, payload integration and flight-acceptance activities.

Yes. If you do not, there is a high likelihood that there will be numerous bugs that will take weeks to resolve when it comes to payload integration to the actual satellite platform. It works out more cost-effective for both us and you, to do all of that on the flat-sat before you come on-site.

No. You will get those subsystems anyway. In exceptional circumstances, it will be possible to remove some components if it is critical for the operations of your payload (e.g. removal of solar cells for line-of-sight or deployable structures). This approach minimises non-recurring expenses for us associated with handling, assembly, testing, and paperwork. Also, most subsystems onboard are required for connectivity with the Guardian Network, which will be a baseline part of the service package when it comes online.

We have three Guardian Network ground stations coming online. You will be able to access your satellite through these ground stations through either S-/X-/Ka-band, before the Guardian Network provides you with persistent access. We can assist or lead with associated spectrum filings.