ONION - Operational Network of Individual Observation Nodes
The space industry is currently witnessing two concurrent trends: the increased modularity and miniaturisation of technologies and the deployment of constellations of Distributed Satellite Systems (DSS). As a consequence of the first trend, the relevance of Small Satellites (below 500 kg) in line with the "cheaper and faster" philosophy is increasing. On another note, DSS open up completely new horizons by enabling the design of architectures aimed at improving the performance, reliability, and efficiency of current and future space missions.
The ONION (“Operational Network of Individual Observation Nodes”) EU-funded project, coordinated by Thales Alenia Space France, has leveraged on a DSS-inspired novel concept called Fractionated and Federated Satellite Systems (FFSS), which envisions the distribution of satellite functionalities amongst multiple cooperating spacecraft, flying on different orbits, for various applications ranging from Earth Observation to Space Science.
The ONION team has designed a methodology and a tool for end-to-end preliminary design studies of space missions involving DSS and FFSS. The project eventually demonstrated that these architectures offer higher cost-effectiveness, performance and reliability with respect to the conservative paradigm of large monolithic spacecraft.
As part of the ONION project the Department of Automation and Aeronautical Systems performed an extencive survey of past, current and planned missions related with the concepts of DSS and FFSS involving satellites with mass lower than 10kg (nanosatellites). A comprehensive satellite simulation model has been developed allowing research in the fields of satellite dynamics, control, navigation and formation flying. Additionality the analysis of small satellite performances has been done regarding the parameters offered by electrical power system, attitude determination and control and communication.
promotional movie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LF7alaLTSyc
website: http://www.onion-h2020.eu/
