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PRESS RELEASE |
ÅAC Microtec satellite project creates new opportunities for testing of innovations and new space science
The project concerns the development of an electrical Point of Load component and a nanosatellite platform enabling space qualification of such new components.
The first part of the project, funded by the Swedish National Space Board (SNSB), concerns the continued development of the µPOW™ Point of Load (POL) component originally designed by ÅAC Microtec in cooperation with OmniSys and SNSB in a previous project.
Today, most satellites are designed with one or two redundant power distribution and control units (PDCUs) and separate power lines. This increases the weight of the platform dramatically and makes it very hard to move subsystems or make changes. ÅAC Microtec’s POL power chip set reduces the weight and enables standardization of the power blocks for future satellites. The goal of the new project is to manufacture a radiation tolerant POL that can be radiation hardened for ESA applications.
This development will then require space qualification. The second part of the project, performed jointly with the University of Applied Sciences and OHB Systems of Bremen, Germany, targets a low cost, highly capable satellite platform where the µPOW components can be validated.
QuadSat-PnP will be a low-cost, high performance microsatellite for technology demonstrations and future science missions. Based on ÅAC’s highly miniaturized avionic and power components, QuadSat-PnP will be the first nanosatellite in the world featuring flexible support for Micro/Nano technology (MNT) derived platform subsystems and payloads. The QuadSat concept has been developed to offer a low cost standard and versatile platform for nano- and microsatellites ranging between 5 kg to 25 kg.
“Like all other innovation projects supported by the SNSB, the POL chip set needs flight qualification. The development of a microsatellite platform is an interesting spin-off which might bring new opportunities for other Swedish companies to test their innovations in space in the future. ÅAC Microtec has excellent technology to support the development of such a microsatellite,” says Christer Nilsson, Head of technology development, Swedish National Space Board.
“We now get the opportunity to develop the world’s first complete satellite based on the SPA (Space Plug and Play Avionics) standard. In addition to the POL device, we will also use a number of other components, RTUs/ASIMs and onboard computers, previously developed by ÅAC Microtec in cooperation with SNSB and FMV, which are all SPA compatible,” says Fredrik Bruhn, Vice President ÅAC Microtec AB.
“A low-cost, high performance microsatellite will also open up new research areas in space science, as it enables advanced scientific exploration in space at much lower cost than hitherto. For example, it will now become economically feasible to use multiple satellites for advanced experiments,” Fredrik Bruhn adds.
For further information:
Mats Magnell, CEO ÅAC Microtec AB
Phone: +46 707 519 234
e-mail:
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Christer Nilsson, Head of technology development, Swedish National Space Board
Phone+46 8 627 64 96
e-mail:
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About the company:
ÅAC Microtec develops, manufactures and markets miniaturized and robust multifunctional electronics systems. By combining the best suitable packaging techniques ÅAC offer solutions based on state-of-the art microelectronics and MEMS technology, and services for optimal life cycle performance. ÅAC Microtec was founded in 2005 as a spin-off from Uppsala University’s Ångström Laboratory.
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