This engaging and accessible book is designed as a quick and easy way to get up to speed on all things in space technology. It also offers extensive references and links that allow readers to delve deeper into the subject.
Whether you were a newcomer to space technology or a seasoned professional, this book is the best way to brush up on the basics of everything from satellite design and construction to the physics behind objects orbiting celestial bodies.
Written in an accessible tone that is easy to understand, this book is perfect for reading during a short flight or any other spare moment you might have. You can learn about the main laws of Physics behind objects in orbit, the environments that satellites face while in space, and the processes involved in designing and building these incredible machines. Along the way, you can also get a glimpse into the history of space technology, including the foundational technologies that have made it all possible.
So why not join the community of space enthusiasts and get up to speed on everything you need to know about space technology?
Author(s): Ignacio Chechile
Publisher: Springer
Year: 2023
Language: English
Pages: 123
City: Cham
Contents
List of Figures
1 Introduction
1.1 Space and Startups, a.k.a “NewSpace”
2 Artificial Satellites; The Shortest Introduction Ever
3 Semiconductors in Space: From Sand to Satellites
3.1 Let’s Meet at the Junction
3.2 The Transistor Drama
3.3 The Space Environment
3.3.1 Unpacking Single Event Effects (SEEs)
4 The Hectic Ride to Space
4.1 Rideshares, Dispensers, and Orbital Transfer Vehicles
5 Configuring Spacecraft
6 A Peek Under the Hood
6.1 The Skeleton: Structures and Mechanisms
6.2 The Data Links: From Sparks to Mobile Networks, Lasers, and In-Orbit Networks
6.2.1 Mobile Networks and Satellites
6.2.2 Lasers in Orbit
6.2.3 Connectivity
6.3 The Software: Hello World in Space
6.3.1 What Does It Take to Run Software on a Spacecraft?
6.3.2 How Is Software Updated or Changed in Orbit?
6.3.3 What Type of Languages Are Used for Coding Flight Software?
6.3.4 Can I Run Linux on a Satellite? What About Windows?
6.3.5 Can I Host a Website on a Satellite?
6.3.6 What Kind of Skills Are Required for Doing Flight Software?
6.3.7 How Is Flight Software Designed?
6.3.8 What Does “Software-Defined Satellites” Mean?
6.3.9 Bugs and Glitches in Orbit
6.4 The Orientation: Attitude Control
6.5 The Space Sauna: Thermal Control
6.6 The Avionics
6.7 The Payload
6.8 Putting It Together: Assembly, Integration and Test
6.8.1 Mechanical Tests
6.8.2 Thermal Vacuum Test (TVAC)
6.8.3 Software Verification
6.8.4 Concluding and Shipping
7 Satellites and Machine Learning
7.1 Can There Be Too Much Data?
8 Operating Distant Machines Floating in Space
9 Making Reliable and Dependable Spacecraft
10 TL:DR; Frequently Asked Questions About Space
10.1 Q0: Why Launch a Metal Box into Space?
10.2 Q1: What Are the Rules for Launching Something into Space?
10.3 Q2: How Are Satellites Designed and Developed? Also, Is It Done Differently in NewSpace Versus Classic Space?
10.4 Q3: What’s Typically Under the Hood of a Satellite?
10.5 Q4: How Are Satellites Launched?
10.6 Q5: Ok the Thing Is up in Space, Now What?
10.7 Q6: How Do Satellites Orient Themselves in Space?
10.8 Q7: How Are Satellites Operated?
10.9 Q8: What Does the Software on Board of a Satellite Do Exactly?
10.10 Q9: How Do Satellites Generate Power?
10.11 Q10: How Big and Heavy Are Current Commercial Satellites?
10.12 Q11: What Is the Lifetime of a Satellite?
10.13 Q12: What Can Affect the Lifetime of a Satellite?
10.14 Q13: What Is an Orbit Exactly?
10.15 Q14: Why Are Orbits Crowded and How Is This an Issue?
10.16 Q15: Why Are Satellites Assembled in Clean Rooms?
10.17 Q16: How Are Satellites Currently Distributed Across Different Orbits?
