Small Satellite Missions - Quo vadis?

Kurzfassung

Small satellites contribute already significantly to the monitoring of our Earth and its environment. This is due to the advancement in many fields of technology and focusing on specific applications allowing the sensor systems optimization. One unique feature of small satellite missions is the construction of affordable distributed space systems from constellations to swarms. The paper brings to mind the visions formulated in the year 2006 in the IAA Study “Cost-effective Earth Observation missions” related to the main space mission components: ground segments, launch services and space segments. It reflects about the status of these missions and adds a new component: regulatory issues allowing to proceed to swarms of space systems mitigating for instance conflicts in space traffic and avoiding unnecessary space debris.