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Authors
Schmidt, Marco; Priya, Rajesh Shankar; Schilling, Klaus

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
10.3182/20070625-5-FR-2916.00123

Page Numbers:
721-725

Index Terms
small satellites,IP in space,ground control station network

Abstract
Pico-satellites are satellites at a mass below 1 kg, implemented by use of modern miniaturization techniques. They offer interesting potential to perform in-orbit tests of software and hardware components in a cost efficient way. UWE-1 (University Würzburg's Experimental satellite) was launched end of 2005 to demonstrate such miniaturization technologies and to analyse performance of GaAs solar cells. The scientific objective was to characterize and adapt IP protocols in space. Together with an internet based network of ground stations, essential steps towards tele-science applications were studied within the UWE-1 mission. This contribution addresses the design of the satellite and its subsystems, as well as the ground station. The results obtained during the UWE-1 mission are summarized.

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