ESR – High Aspect Ratio Satellite Platforms

The space sector has evolved into a commercial hub attracting investment and interest from private companies. This has led to a focus on decreasing costs to maximize profits, fostering research and development and innovation. There is a trend towards minimizing the mass and volume of satellites to launch more at once, resulting in the popularity of CubeSats and new design approaches like 3D printed satellites and high aspect ratio (HAR) satellites. HAR satellites offer benefits such as higher performance, mass manufacturability, stackability, and the use of drag. Larger aspect ratios provide more surface area for components and systems, increasing power-to-volume and power-to-mass ratios. For example, AST Mobile's BlueWalker 3 satellite unfolded after deployment to reveal a 64 m2 antenna covered in solar arrays, providing significant power for Direct-to-Device communication.