In this Master Thesis we begin with a short analysis of the current space market, with the
aim of searching solutions that allow us to implement femto-satellites (that is, satellites with
a mass less than 100 grams) and mini-launchers (in this case less than 100 kilograms).
New synergies will be explored in order to reduce drastically the cost of development,
construction, operation and disposal of femto-satellites and mini-launchers for operations
in LEO (Low Earth Orbits below 300 kilometers of altitude) and short duration, about one
week. http://code.google.com/p/moon-20
Two application examples based on current technologies that are not usually space compliance
will be shown. The first example pretends to fulfill the N-Prize requirements and it is
called WikiSat. The second example is an Earth observation application called EPSCSat.
The N-Prize is a competition that consists in putting into orbit a satellite of less than 20
grams with less than 10,000 sterling pounds of launch cost. This tiny satellite shall be
tracked for at least nine turns around the Earth at a height in excess of 100 kilometers
above the ground to qualify for the N-Prize.
The femto-satellite design will be extended to the EPSCSat and it is presented as an additional
application of this work. The EPSCSat is a satellite with a camera, an optic for Earth
observation and a fast download link thanks to the use of a radio-link in the S-Band.
