mail header
   
 
South Africa explores to join CANEUS
  
     
 

CANEUS welcomes the expression of interest from South Africa to join as a “member” in order to establish and promote closer collaboration / cooperation in activities related to Micro and Nano Technology development for aerospace applications.

A joint working group consisting of membership from CANEUS and participating MNT organizations within South Africa will be commissioned to examine potential areas of cooperation. A step-by-step approach will be undertaken to formulate and sign the MOU at CANEUS 2008.

CANEUS is an international organization, originated in Canada, and formed to promote rapid and cost-effective transition of emerging Micro/Nano Technology Concepts to Aerospace Systems, which now boasts participation from a majority of the industrialized nations across the world.

  
     
     
     
  Canada’s VINA-Sat 1 (Pico-Satellite): - A Step closer to the goal of making space affordable and available on-demand via low cost small satellite  
     
 

VinaSat 1 is the first Canadian-built fully commercial Pico-Satellite by CANEUS NPS Inc. that weigh no more than 1 kg, and developed with two manufacturing methods in mind: individual and assembly and factory scale PCB manufacturing and assembly techniques. This satellite uses modular satellite construction techniques and will carry a camera and a commercial payload to an orbit of 650 km. One of the goals is to develop a library of modular and reusable parts for future small satellite missions.

Mass Manufacturability and Modular approach:

One of the innovations in this satellite is the development of a standard interface for small spacecraft. The standard interface is a standardized design of the satellite with COTS parts. This means that once a design for the satellite is approved there will be no need to go back to the drawing board for the next satellite and all others to be built. This will allow for shorter assembly times and thus result in greater productivity in mass production. Furthermore, the overall cost of the satellite is significantly reduced.

Industry-University and NASA Partnership:

VinaSat will also experiment with MEMS based attitude sensors from NASA for future use on small satellite missions. CANEUS NPS Inc. has formed an alliance with Ryerson University and the project also provides hands on experience to students and researchers, using their exceptional talent and savvy, to develop the majority of the sub-systems in house.

VinaSat 1 is on track to be launched via Access2Space.

CANEUS NPS Inc. is a unique, first-of-its-kind international undertaking based in Canada, and at the forefront of advanced Micro, Nano and Pico Satellite (NPS) Technology Development. CANEUS NPS Inc. aims to seize the small satellite service market for civilian and defense applications. The CANEUS-NPS business model include, "Henry Ford" approach to Nano and Pico satellites, essentially a "cookie cutter" approach to satellite missions, whereby the customer is billed $$ per mission for providing him or her with downlinked data as the primary deliverable. The price tag covers all recurring costs associated with the satellite manufacture, integration, launch, and ground operations. CANEUS NPS offers a high volume, low cost approach to satellite missions that is enabled by the novel, multifunctional nanosatellite architecture.

Video 1

Figure. prototype assembled (not to structure specs)

  
     
     

 

Copyright reserved by CANEUS.org