Gloria Garcia-Cuadrado
Celestia Aerospace
Spain
Title: Nanosatellites, the tool for a new economy of space: Opening space frontiers to a wider audience
Biography
Biography: Gloria Garcia-Cuadrado
Abstract
Space is still a frontier. The advantages of research in microgravity conditions are still somehow a private niche of the big aerospace contractors and main space agencies. But the landscape is changing and an incipient effort is being pursued to open space frontiers to small and medium-sized companies, universities, under-developed countries and non-profits. We will revise the advantages of microgravity research and a tool to conduct it at low-cost, rapid response and flexibility through the use of nanosatellites opening thus space frontiers to a wide audience. These highly capable satellites can support a wide range of mission objectives, from pure research to technology demonstrators and space qualification tests. The small satellites market is valued 600 M USD to 1.000 M USD yearly with an estimated 2.200 to 2.700 needed launches in the 2015-2020 timeframe. We will also introduce a new launcher under development to serve specifically the nanosatellite incipient market to help solve the scarce launching opportunities served today by conventional launchers.
