| Session Details | |
| Section | PS - Planetary Sciences |
| Session Title | Small Satellites and Advanced Technologies for Planetary Science Missions |
| Main Convener | Mr. Dhiren Kataria (University College London, United Kingdom) |
| Co-convener(s) | Prof. Masato Nakamura (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, Japan) Dr. Jun Cui (Nanjing University, China) |
| Session Description | Advances in all areas of small satellite technologies and miniaturised sensor systems are set to revolutionize future space applications. While reduction in cost is a key benefit, these advancements promise considerably enhanced capabilities, enabling applications that would not have been feasible otherwise. Planetary science missions are a particular area that will benefit significantly and several technology developments are currently being pursued worldwide in this context. Key developments include, for example, solar sails and novel deployable structures, nano-satellites particularly in the CubeSat form factor and highly integrated satellite and sensor systems. The aim of this session is to provide a forum for discussions of the technical challenges of planetary and inter-planetary missions, particularly with very small satellites like CubeSats, and stimulate the exploitation of small satellites for planetary sciences. The session solicits contributions on all aspects of small satellite missions in planetary and interplanetary space, focussing on but not limited to CubeSats, ongoing and planned developments in the area of advanced small satellite platform technologies, in the area of enabling miniaturised payload and sensor technologies and on the technical challenges of building, launching, transferring and operating very small satellites in planetary and interplanetary space. |