Space Mission Design

Spring 2023

Usama Ahmed
Institute of Space Technology, Pakistan

Lecture 3: February 20, 2023

 PREVIOUS LECTURE RECAP
1. Space Mission Design / Engineering

2. Evolution of Space Flight & Space Missions

3. Space Flight Technology

4. Space Flight Economics

5. Space Mission Applications

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 SPACE MISSIONS
Mission:
An expedition into Space

Strive for Human Presence beyond low earth

orbit, lunar space and onto mars

Major Technology has been developed

Processes significantly improved over the years

Issues:
1. Expensive
2. Slow paced

Work on JWST was started in 1989

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 MISSION OBJECTIVE: JWST
JWST's primary aim is to shed light on our cosmic
origins: it will observe the Universe's first galaxies, reveal
the birth of stars and planets, and look for exoplanets
with the potential for life.

Stephan’s Quintet, a visual grouping of five galaxies, courtesy: NASA

Webb during final integration, courtesy: NASA

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 SPACE MISSION DESIGN
Definition of parameters and refinement of requirements so as to meet the broad and often poorly
defined objectives of a space mission in a timely manner, minimum cost and risk.

Vague concepts to design, build, launch, operate and de-orbit

Courtesy: satsearch.co

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 SPACE TECHNOLOGY SPIRAL
Space Technology: Technology of Tradeoffs

Longer
Demand for
Schedules &
Higher
Fewer
Reliability
Missions

Higher Cost

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 HISTORY OF SPACE FLIGHT

1. War Rockets

2. Space Flights (V 2 Rockets)

3. Space Race

4. Space Stations

5. Reusable Rockets

6. Interplanetary Missions

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 SPACE FLIGHT TECHNOLOGY

1. Getting to space is hard

2. Rockets are lousy but better than all alternatives

3. Space Technology is all unique thus expensive

JSWT – Unique, Expensive and Complex

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 SPACE FLIGHT TECHNOLOGY
Technology Readiness Level

A numeric scale used to express the degree to

which any particular technology is ready for
applications in operational space missions.

Courtesy: NASA

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TECHNOLOGY READINESS LEVEL
Example

Courtesy: NASA

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 TODAYS TOPICS
1. Space Mission Applications

2. Space Communities

3. Evolution of Satellites

4. Types of Satellites

a. Planets
b. Applications
c. Orbits

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Space Mission
Applications
 SPACE MISSION APPLICATIONS
1. Communication

2. Navigation

3. Weather

4. Earth Observation

5. Scientific Observatories

6. Military Applications

7. Interplanetary Missions

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 SPACE MISSION APPLICATIONS

Characteristics Relevant Missions Utilization Sample Mission

Communication, Navigation, IntelSat, PAKSAT,

Global Perspective Weather, Surveillance
Mature Industries, Advances to come
NOAA Sats

Above the Well Developed; space observatories will JWST, Hubble Space
Scientific Observations
Atmosphere change our view of the universe Telescope

Gravity Free
Materials Processing in Space Largely Dormant ISS
Environment

Space Industrialization, Asteroid Space Colonies

Abundant Resources Mining and Solar Power
Essentially None
Asteroid Mining

Explorations of Moon and Planets,

Flybys, Landings, Limited Human Apollo, Martian Base,
Exploration of Space Scientific Probes, Asteroid and Comet
Space Rovers
Explorations
Missions

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Space Mission
Communities
 SPACE MISSION COMMUNITIES
1. Space an enterprise with different groups

2. Communities are different but related

3. Interconnected (Failures & Successes) – Technology & Processes

4. Communities:
a. Human Spaceflight
b. Interplanetary
c. Military & Intelligence
d. Commercial
e. Science & Applications
f. Education
g. Launch
h. Smallsat
i. Alternative Space
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 HUMAN SPACEFLIGHT
1. Generally a space program, widely publicized
2. Human side to the space program, largely technological
program
3. Most expensive community (Large and Heavy Spacecraft)
4. Human-rated Technology
Apollo Mission
5. Redundant Equipment
6. Human Dangers

Reasons

a. Tasks to be only performed by humans (efficiency) –

Exploration, Fixing issues in space
b. Political Element
c. Human Space Exploration (Reps of mankind)
ISS

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 INTERPLANETARY
1. Sending spacecrafts to other planets
2. Scientific Purposes (Learning more & History of Earth)
3. How the solar system formed and evolved
One way travel time for signals to Jupiter is 35-50 minutes
4. Is there any life?
5. All planets & satellites are unique (Challenging)
6. Expensive Programs
a. Autonomously

b. Extended periods (Travel & Stay)

c. Propulsion Systems

d. Communication Systems

e. Power Systems
Perseverance Rover

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INTERPLANETARY

Panoramic Photograph taken by Curiosity Rover

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 MILITARY & INTELLIGENCE
1. Designed for military data
2. Outer Space Treaty (1967)
3. Space the ultimate High Ground (Whoever controls the space,
controls the Earth)
4. Low cost, high reliability (Data wise)
5. Shifting towards CubeSats

Major Categories

a. Reconnaissance and Surveillance

b. Signal Intelligence
c. Detection of Nuclear Explosions
d. Military Communications
e. Guidance & Navigation (GPS) GPS III Satellite

f. Space Situational Awareness

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 COMMERCIAL
1. Largest Community
2. Straightforward Objective: To make money
3. Communications & Broadcast (Large Mature Market)
4. Observational Satellite
5. Space Tourism
Virgin Galactic
6. Space Manufacturing
7. Impact on Non commercial communities
8. Cost of Launch

Starlink Satellites

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 SCIENCE AND APPLICATION
1. Monitor Earth – Main Objective
2. Purposes: Scientific Studies & Applications (Weather, Global
Conditions, Disasters)
3. Weather Forecast: Major Application
4. Categories: What to study & Wavelength to work with
5. Data about universe (Hubble Space Telescope)
6. Larger Observatories / Smaller Satellites
Image from Sentinel Satellite

Orion Nebula (HST)

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 EDUCATION
1. Provide Educational Environment (All stages of Education)
2. Build and Launch Student Satellites
3. Star shine Mission
4. Launch Issues
5. CubeSats & Deployers
6. iCube Star Shine Satellite

7. Pakistan National Student Satellite-1 (PNSS-1)

iCube - 1

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 LAUNCH
1. Purpose of the spacecraft is to act as ballast for launch vehicles
2. Different Community (Cost, Difficulty, Services)
3. 90% Success rate
4. Mission Cost Driver
5. Reusable Launch Vehicles

Saturn V Rocket

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 SMALLSAT
1. Satellites of less than 500 KGs Terminology Size
2. 1U CubeSat (10cm x 10cm x 10cm) – 1 kg MiniSat 100 to 500 kg

3. 3U CubeSat MicroSat 10 to 100 kg

4. Usually with single payload NanoSat 1 to 10 kg

5. Build in less time (1 to 3 years) PicoSat 0.1 to 10 kg
6. Simple with Simple objectives
7. Trading on Requirements

CubeSat

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 ALTERNATIVE SPACE
1. Spacers, Dreamers with the Objective of Full Utilization of Space
2. Colonizing, Mining, Going to Planets, Moons and Stars
3. First Step of the space program
4. Limitations of the Life on Earth
5. Very Big Community

Major Categories

a. Satellite Solar Power

b. Mining
c. Tourism
d. Extraterrestrial Life
e. Human Missions, Settlements
f. Space Manufacturing

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 SPACE MISSION COMMUNITIES
1. As Mission Chief, design better solutions by

a. Having a better understanding of the basic objectives of the particular community that represents the
costumer or the end user
b. By creating opportunities for multiple communicates to work together for a common goal or to benefit
the broader space enterprise
c. To potentially apply technologies, processes and methods developed in one space community to the
benefit of other space communities

2. Changes

a. Microelectronics
b. Implementation Processes
c. Launch Systems

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 SPACE MISSION COMMUNITIES
Characteristics Relevant Missions Sample Mission

Human Spaceflight Explore & Exploit Human Capabilities Apollo, ISS

Interplanetary Explore Beyond Earth Mars Rovers

Military & Intelligence Military Advantage GPS

Commercial Make Money IntelSat, PAKSAT

Science & Applications Gain / Apply Scientific Knowledge Hubble, JWST

Education Teach, Train & Inspire CubeSats

Launch Put Payloads or People In Space Ariane

Smallsat Demonstrate utility of small, low cost missions SurreySats

Alternative Space Advance civilizations’ expansion into space Human Mars Mission

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 Satellite
Technology
 SATELLITES

1. Any natural or artificial body moving around a celestial body

2. Artificial satellites orbiting the planet Earth
3. Arthur C. Clarke, a science fiction writer: Proposal of global
communication through orbit – 1945
4. 1945 – 1955: The era of sounding rockets with the scientific
experiment purposes (V2 / A4 Rockets)
5. Sputnik – 1: 1957 with the payload to give information on
temperature and density of upper atmosphere
6. Explorer – 1: 1958 – Cosmic Ray instrument as payload

Explorer - 1

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 SATELLITES
1. 1955-1965: Communications, weather forecasting, navigation
2. 1962: Telstar – 1 first commercially funded communication satellite /
Relay Program
3. 1963: Geosynchronous Communication Satellites: SYNCOM-2, Early
Bird
4. Molniya Orbits, Domestic Communication Satellites
5. Satellites in other applications also made progress, ESSA, NOAA,
DMSP
6. 1970s onwards: Other countries came into play (Canada, Japan, China)
7. The sensor technology was also revolutionized SYNCOM-2

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 SATELLITES CLASSIFICATIONS
Based upon mission applications

1. Communication

2. Navigation

3. Weather

4. Earth Observation

5. Scientific Observatories

6. Military Applications

7. Interplanetary Missions
Artistic View of a Communication Satellite

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 SATELLITES CLASSIFICATIONS
Satellite Classification by Application

Three major types of the satellite with respect to their applications

1. Communication Satellites
2. Earth Observation Satellites
3. Navigation Satellites

Spatial Density of Known Satellites

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 COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITE
Satellite Classification by Application

1. Provide communication links between various points on Earth

2. Satellite communications play a vital role in the global telecommunications system
3. Approximately 2,000 artificial satellites orbiting Earth relay analog and digital signals carrying
voice, video, and data to and from one or many locations

Schematic of A communication Satellite System Communication Satellite

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 EARTH OBSERVATION SATELLITE
Satellite Classification by Application

Satellite used or designed for Earth observation from orbit,

a. Military Satellites (Spy, Surveillance)

b. Environmental monitoring

c. Meteorology

d. Cartography and others

Remote Sensing Satellite

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 NAVIGATION SATELLITES
Satellite Classification by Application

1. Satellites to provide autonomous geo-spatial positioning

2. It allows small electronic receivers to determine their location to high precision (within a few
centimeters to meters
3. GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo (24 Satellites)

GPS III Satellite

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 A-train constellation satellites
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 SATELLITES CLASSIFICATIONS
Satellite Classification by Orbit

1. An orbit is the curved path that an object in space (such as a star, planet, moon, asteroid or
spacecraft) takes around another object due to gravity.

a. Orientation of the orbital plane

b. Eccentricity

c. Distance from Earth

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 ORIENTATION OF THE ORBITAL PLANE
Satellite Classification by Orbit

1. Orientations with respect to the equatorial plane of Earth

2. The angle between the two planes is called the angle of inclination of the satellite

a. Equatorial orbits: A satellite in the equatorial orbit has a latitude of 0 degree

b. Polar orbits: an angle of inclination equal to 90 degree
c. Inclined orbits: an angle of inclination between 0 and 180 degree

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 ORIENTATION OF THE ORBITAL PLANE
Prograde & Retrograde Orbits

1. Prograde or direct orbit if the inclination is between 0 and 90 degrees

a. The satellite rotates in the direction of the earth rotation (east/counter-clockwise)

2. Retrograde or indirect orbit if the inclination is between 90 and 180 degrees

a. The satellite rotates opposite to the direction of the earth rotation

Prograde & Retrograde Orbits

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 ECCENTRICITY
Satellite Classification by Orbit

1. On the basis of eccentricity, the orbits are classified as elliptical and circular orbits
2. When the orbit eccentricity lies between 0 and 1, the orbit is elliptical with the center of the Earth
lying at one of the foci of the ellipse.
3. When the eccentricity is zero, the orbit becomes circular

Eccentric Orbits

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 MOLNIYA ORBITS
Satellite Classification by Orbit

1. Highly eccentric, inclined and elliptical orbits are used to

cover higher latitudes, which are otherwise not covered by
geostationary orbits.
2. Used by Russia and other countries of the former Soviet
Union to provide communication services
3. It is a 12 hour orbit and a satellite in this orbit spends about
8 hours above a particular high latitude station before diving
down to a low level perigee at an equally high southern
latitude.

Molniya Orbits

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 DISTANCE FROM EARTH
Type Satellite Orbits

1. Depending upon the intended mission, satellites may be placed in orbits at varying distances
from the surface of the Earth

a. Low Earth Orbits

b. Medium Earth Orbits

c. Geostationary Earth Orbits

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 LOW EARTH ORBIT
Type Satellite Orbits

1. These satellites are placed 500-1500 kms above the surface of the earth
2. As LEOs circulate on a lower orbit, hence they exhibit a much shorter period that is 95 to 120
minutes.
3. These satellites are mainly used in remote sensing
4. The biggest problem of the LEO concept is the need for many satellites if global coverage is to be
reached.
5. Several concepts involve 50–200 or even more satellites in orbit. The short time of visibility with a
high elevation requires additional mechanisms for connection

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 GEOSTATIONARY EARTH ORBITS
Type Satellite Orbits

1. GEO satellites are synchronous with respect to earth. Looking from a fixed point from Earth,
these satellites appear to be stationary.
2. These satellites are placed in the space in such a way that only three satellites are sufficient to
provide connection throughout the surface of the Earth
3. There are three conditions which lead to geostationary satellites.
a. The satellite should be placed 37,786 kms (approximated to 36,000 kms) above the surface of the earth.

b. These satellites must travel in the rotational speed of earth, and in the direction of motion of earth, that
is eastward.

c. The inclination of satellite with respect to earth must be 0

4. Lifetime expectancy of these satellites is 15 years

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 MEDIUM EARTH ORBIT
Type Satellite Orbits

1. MEOs can be positioned somewhere between LEOs and GEOs, both in terms of their orbit and
due to their advantages and disadvantages.
2. Using orbits around 10,000 km, the system only requires a dozen satellites which is more than a
GEO system, but much less than a LEO system.
3. These satellites move more slowly relative to the earth's rotation allowing a simpler system
design (satellite periods are about six hours).

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Thank you!