What are nanosatellites?

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Nanosatellites are a new category of small spacecraft ranging from 1 to 50 kg. They are composed of a "payload" that allows the scientific experiment to be conducted, and a "platform" that allows it to be transported and powered.

Different size of nano-satellites from 1U (10cm par 10cm par 10cm) to 16U (20cm par 20cm par 80cm)

Why nanosatellites?

They are used in many missions related to Earth observation, climate study or satellite communication.
They are perfect devices to train students to the constraints and specificities of space.

The advantages of nanosatellites and CubeSats compared to conventional spacecraft are:
 
  • The following easy access to space techniques: for SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises), laboratories and students
  • Design time: the manufacturing time of a nanosatellite is about 5 years, much shorter than a conventional spacecraft
  • Lower costs: the approximate average cost is 1.5 million euros compared to several tens of millions of euros for standard satellites
Published on  December 14, 2017
Updated on June 8, 2022