PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON TRADE AND

INDUSTRYBriefing by SunSpace

Bart Cilliers & Ron Olivier

1 September 2009www.sunspace.co.za

Objectives

• Brief overview of satellitesBrief overview of satellites• Current & future industry Current & future industry

developmentsdevelopments• Our role in local and international Our role in local and international

space industryspace industry• Sumbandilasat – what is it and what Sumbandilasat – what is it and what

is it good for?is it good for?• International space treatiesInternational space treaties

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Satellites overview

• Geostationary satellites – GEOGeostationary satellites – GEO• Main suppliers: Thales Alenia Space (Fr), EADS Astrium (Fr), Lockheed Martin (Usa), Ball Aerospace (Usa), Boeing (Usa), etcMain suppliers: Thales Alenia Space (Fr), EADS Astrium (Fr), Lockheed Martin (Usa), Ball Aerospace (Usa), Boeing (Usa), etc• Market cap: Mainly publicly listed from around 4 to 100 billion US $Market cap: Mainly publicly listed from around 4 to 100 billion US $• Satellites costs: From around 0,25 to 1 billion US$ Satellites costs: From around 0,25 to 1 billion US$

• Medium earth orbit satellites – MEOMedium earth orbit satellites – MEO• Main suppliers: Same as above + few othersMain suppliers: Same as above + few others• Satellites costs: Vary widely according to sizeSatellites costs: Vary widely according to size

• Low earth orbit satellites – LEO Low earth orbit satellites – LEO • Main Suppliers: SSTL (Eng), SunSpace (RSA), Satreci (Kor), Astrotech (Usa), SpaceDev (Usa), etcMain Suppliers: SSTL (Eng), SunSpace (RSA), Satreci (Kor), Astrotech (Usa), SpaceDev (Usa), etc• Market caps: Mainly privately owned from around 4 to 100+ million US$Market caps: Mainly privately owned from around 4 to 100+ million US$• Satellites costs: From around 1 to 250 million US$ according to size Satellites costs: From around 1 to 250 million US$ according to size

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LEO = IMAGING

MEO = NAVIGATIONMEO = NAVIGATION

GEO = COMMUNICATIONSGEO = COMMUNICATIONS

1,200-12,000 Km

36,000 Km

400-800 Km

COMPARATIVE SATELLITE GRAPHIC – NOT TO SCALE

LEO satellite overview

• Large Imaging LEO satellitesLarge Imaging LEO satellites• Some examples: Pleiades , Spot 5 (All Fr), Orbview, Ikonos, Quickbird (all Usa), Ofeq (Isr), Kompsat (Kor), Cartosat (Ind).Some examples: Pleiades , Spot 5 (All Fr), Orbview, Ikonos, Quickbird (all Usa), Ofeq (Isr), Kompsat (Kor), Cartosat (Ind).• Weight: 900 to 2850 kgWeight: 900 to 2850 kg• Performance: 0,41 to 5m GSD (Multispectral)Performance: 0,41 to 5m GSD (Multispectral)• Estimated cost: 200 to 500 million US$ Estimated cost: 200 to 500 million US$

• Small and medium LEO satellitesSmall and medium LEO satellites• Some examples: RapidEye (Ger), Nigeriasat -2 (Eng), Alsat-2 (Fr), DubaiSat (Kor), Sumbandilasat (RSA)Some examples: RapidEye (Ger), Nigeriasat -2 (Eng), Alsat-2 (Fr), DubaiSat (Kor), Sumbandilasat (RSA)• Weight: 85 to 230 kgWeight: 85 to 230 kg• Performance: 5-6.25m Ground Sampling Distance (Multispectral)Performance: 5-6.25m Ground Sampling Distance (Multispectral)• Estimated cost: 8 to 50 million US$Estimated cost: 8 to 50 million US$

• CubesatsCubesats

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Space Industry Developments

• International LEO satellite industry structureInternational LEO satellite industry structure• Countries with space heritage provide in their own needs & those who require accessCountries with space heritage provide in their own needs & those who require access• SunSpace is building upon its South African heritage with the objective of entering the developing SunSpace is building upon its South African heritage with the objective of entering the developing

world market with further productsworld market with further products

• Why small LEO? Why small LEO? • Affordable access to space - existing heritageAffordable access to space - existing heritage• Complex technical challenges without the cost of large programsComplex technical challenges without the cost of large programs

• Current developmentsCurrent developments• Developing world is waking up to small satellite possibilitiesDeveloping world is waking up to small satellite possibilities

• Future expectationsFuture expectations• Growing international demand for small satellites – TACSAT as exampleGrowing international demand for small satellites – TACSAT as example

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SunSpace – our role

• International small satellite industryInternational small satellite industry• Many countries competing for developing world small satellite ordersMany countries competing for developing world small satellite orders• SunSpace competing as part of team RSA SunSpace competing as part of team RSA

• Local space industryLocal space industry• SunSpace is part of a large number small RSA companies that contribute to local space effort SunSpace is part of a large number small RSA companies that contribute to local space effort • SunSpace provides both small satellite hardware and software as well as expert training for small satellite design, development testing and operations engineers.SunSpace provides both small satellite hardware and software as well as expert training for small satellite design, development testing and operations engineers.

• Government supportGovernment support• The international competition is won only as a national team effortThe international competition is won only as a national team effort

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Sumbandilasat

• What is it?What is it?• 84 kg earth observation satellite with a multispectral imaging of 6.25m GSD at 500km. Can see the same point in RSA every 3-4 days.84 kg earth observation satellite with a multispectral imaging of 6.25m GSD at 500km. Can see the same point in RSA every 3-4 days.• Pathfinder objective is to increase scientific and engineering knowledge in space systems Pathfinder objective is to increase scientific and engineering knowledge in space systems • Satellite contains some heritage, some newly developed systemsSatellite contains some heritage, some newly developed systems

• What is it good for?What is it good for?• Designed and tested for operational use –provide scientifically useful images if operating as per design specifications Designed and tested for operational use –provide scientifically useful images if operating as per design specifications • Images will provide further scientific information for assessing ground cover, agricultural crop analysis, forestry composition analysis, water analysis and land use Images will provide further scientific information for assessing ground cover, agricultural crop analysis, forestry composition analysis, water analysis and land use

applicationsapplications• Provide clear indication of progress in RSA technical design, manufacturing and operating capabilities to the international communityProvide clear indication of progress in RSA technical design, manufacturing and operating capabilities to the international community• Signal for high level technical expatriates to return to our countrySignal for high level technical expatriates to return to our country

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Satellite Control Issues

• GEO (we do not operate there)GEO (we do not operate there)• Mandatory requirement for safe removal of satellite from orbit. Mandatory requirement for safe removal of satellite from orbit. • Safe removal applies also to the GTO and the insertion rocketsSafe removal applies also to the GTO and the insertion rockets• Safe removal mechanisms built into the satellite designSafe removal mechanisms built into the satellite design• Proof of operation for safe removal mechanisms required before launch Proof of operation for safe removal mechanisms required before launch

• MEO (we do not operate there)MEO (we do not operate there)• Removal requirements are not stringent or enforcedRemoval requirements are not stringent or enforced• No parked orbital slot in relation to terra locationNo parked orbital slot in relation to terra location

• LEO (Yes, we operate here)LEO (Yes, we operate here)• No mandatory controlNo mandatory control• Technical expertise required to launch into an unoccupied orbitTechnical expertise required to launch into an unoccupied orbit

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Other Controls in Space (1)

• Some local controls for spaceSome local controls for space• Missile Technology Regime – NPC (DTI), Missile Technology Regime – NPC (DTI),

• Prohibits and controls the transfer of technologies in spacecraft for use in intercontinental ballistic missilesProhibits and controls the transfer of technologies in spacecraft for use in intercontinental ballistic missiles

• Wassenaar Arrangement – NCACC (DOD),Wassenaar Arrangement – NCACC (DOD),• Control and tracks specific technologies used in spacecraft to prohibit their re-use in conventional arms such as other missiles or targeting systemsControl and tracks specific technologies used in spacecraft to prohibit their re-use in conventional arms such as other missiles or targeting systems

• Council on Space Affairs – (DTI), ICASA – (DOC)Council on Space Affairs – (DTI), ICASA – (DOC)• Controls the launch of all spacecraft from South African soil and South African spacecraft from other countries.Controls the launch of all spacecraft from South African soil and South African spacecraft from other countries.

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Other Controls in Space (2)

• International LEO Orbit IssuesInternational LEO Orbit Issues• The UN COPUOS is trying to introduce legislation to limit or eliminate LEO space debris, but accept that existing debris cannot be removed because:

– There is too much debris comprised of separation hardware and spent rocket final stages and the like.– There is no affordable existing system that could be used to remove the existing debris.

• The UN COPUOS accordingly is concentrating on promoting the responsible use of space as the only practical means to limit or avoid the proliferation of space debris. The most important items of space debris to be avoided is the following:– Since the titanium tanks used for hydrazine do not burn up upon re-entry, they have to be completely vented (emptied) at end of life to avoid contamination when they fall

back to earth as hydrazine is extremely poisonous.– The use of nuclear reactors to power satellites in LEO orbit are now regarded as irresponsible space use in the extreme. Most responsible nations will not launch any LEO

satellite with a nuclear reactor power source. Nuclear power sources are the only possibility for outer space exploration missions where insufficient solar energy is available.

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Other Controls in Space (3)

UN COPUOS treatiesUN COPUOS treaties• LEO orbit space bodies are difficult to regulate without international cooperation forums such as the UN COPUOSLEO orbit space bodies are difficult to regulate without international cooperation forums such as the UN COPUOS• Access to international markets for satellite manufacturers such as ourselves depends on our country being seen as a responsible space userAccess to international markets for satellite manufacturers such as ourselves depends on our country being seen as a responsible space user• UN treaties provides internationally recognised platform for responsible use by guarding against misuse of orbits, launches and provide legal UN treaties provides internationally recognised platform for responsible use by guarding against misuse of orbits, launches and provide legal

cover for when space debris lands on one’s soilcover for when space debris lands on one’s soil

• Recommendation on UN treatiesRecommendation on UN treaties• SunSpace gives its unqualified support to the 2 UN treaties namely the Liability Convention and the Registration Convention SunSpace gives its unqualified support to the 2 UN treaties namely the Liability Convention and the Registration Convention

under consideration and urges Parliament to ratify both!under consideration and urges Parliament to ratify both!

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RSA taking over in Baikonur

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Thank you

Any Questions?

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