Satellite bus explained

A satellite bus (or spacecraft bus) is the main body and structural component of a satellite or spacecraft, in which the payload and all scientific instruments are held.

Bus-derived satellites are less customized than specially-produced satellites, but have specific equipment added to meet customer requirements, for example with specialized sensors or transponders, in order to achieve a specific mission.^{[1] [2] [3] [4]}

They are commonly used for geosynchronous satellites, particularly communications satellites, but are also used in spacecraft which occupy lower orbits, occasionally including low Earth orbit missions.

Examples

See main article: Comparison of satellite buses. Some satellite bus examples include:

• Boeing DS&S 702
• Lockheed Martin Space Systems A2100
• Alphabus
• INVAP ARSAT-3K
• Airbus D&S Eurostar
• ISRO's I-1K, I-2K, I-3K, I-4K, I-6K, and Indian Mini Satellite bus
• NASA Ames MCSB
• SSL 1300
• Orbital ATK GEOStar
• Mitsubishi Electric DS2000
• Spacecraft bus of the James Webb Space Telescope
• SPUTNIX TabletSat
• SPUTNIX OrbiCraft-Pro

Components

See main article: article. A bus typically consists of the following subsystems:^[5]

• Command and data handling (C&DH) system
• Communications system and antennas
• Electrical power system (EPS)
• Propulsion
• Thermal control
• Attitude control system (ACS)
• Guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) system
• Structures and trusses
• Life support (for crewed missions).

See also

• Comparison of satellite buses
• Service module
• Satellite

External links

• Satellite Glossary
• JWST Observatory: The Spacecraft Bus
• Spitzer's Spacecraft Bus
• Gunter's Space Page: Spacecraft buses

Notes and References

1. Web site: TU Delft: Spacecraft bus subsystems . dead . 2014-04-23 . Lr.tudelft.nl . 2016-03-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160303183439/http://www.lr.tudelft.nl/en/organisation/departments/space-engineering/space-systems-engineering/expertise-areas/spacecraft-engineering/design-and-analysis/configuration-design/subsystems/subsystems/ .
2. Web site: Spacecraft Systems . Braeunig.us . 2014-04-23.
3. Web site: The James Webb Space Telescope . Jwst.nasa.gov . 2014-04-23.
4. Web site: Antrix Corporation Ltd - Satellites > Spacecraft Systems & Sub Systems . Antrix.gov.in . 2009-09-24 . 2014-04-23 . 2014-02-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140220164322/http://www.antrix.gov.in/sss_systems.html . dead .
5. http://www.nec.com/en/global/solutions/space/satellite_bus/index.html Satellite Bus Subsystems