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Satellite bus

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Communications satellite bus and payload module

A satellite bus (or spacecraft bus) is the main body and structural component of a satellite or spacecraft, in which the payload and all scientific instruments are held.

Bus-derived satellites are less customized than specially-produced satellites, but have specific equipment added to meet customer requirements, for example with specialized sensors or transponders, in order to achieve a specific mission.[1][2][3][4]

They are commonly used for geosynchronous satellites, particularly communications satellites, but are most commonly used in spacecraft which occupy low Earth orbit missions.

Examples

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Main article: Comparison of satellite buses
Diagram of the James Webb Space Telescope's spacecraft bus. The solar panel is in green and the light purple flats are radiator shades.[5]

Some satellite bus examples include:

Components

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Main article: Spacecraft § Subsystems

A bus typically consists of the following subsystems:[6]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "TU Delft: Spacecraft bus subsystems". Lr.tudelft.nl. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2014-04-23.
  2. ^ "Spacecraft Systems". Braeunig.us. Retrieved 2014-04-23.
  3. ^ "The James Webb Space Telescope". Jwst.nasa.gov. Retrieved 2014-04-23.
  4. ^ "Antrix Corporation Ltd - Satellites > Spacecraft Systems & Sub Systems". Antrix.gov.in. 2009-09-24. Archived from the original on 2014-02-20. Retrieved 2014-04-23.
  5. ^ "Status of the JWST Sunshield and Spacecraft" (PDF).
  6. ^ Satellite Bus Subsystems Archived 2012-09-05 at the Wayback Machine, NEC, accessed 25 August 2012.
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