Small Satellites for Earth Observation, Digest of the 2nd International Symposium of the International Academy of Astronautics, Berlin, April 12-16, 1999

Abstract

This volume contains extended abstracts of the contributions to the technical sessions including invited special sessions, and the poster session. The papers cover a wide range of different areas like small satellite mission programs, objectives for small satellite missions, mature (off-the-shelf) systems, advanced technology approaches, low-cost management aspects, and results of small satellite missions and lessons learned. They reflect the growing interest in the use of small satellites for dedicated missions applied to Earth observation, from scientific Earth observation missions to technology demonstration missions. It will become obvious that this type of mission can be conducted relatively quickly and inexpensively and provide increased opportunity for access to space. The spacecraft bus and the instruments can be based either on optimized off-the-shelf systems, with little or no requirements for new technology, or on new high technology systems.