FreeForm Microsatellite Platform
U-Space
High-capacity microsatellite bus with a large, unobstructed Nadir-face payload volume and agile, sub-millidegree pointing for demanding Earth-observation and constellation missions.
Technical specifications
- Max payload mass
- 80 kg
- Payload volume
- 480 x 600 x 800 mm
- Peak power
- 250 W (comparative platform spec sheet: 200 W)
- Payload Average Orbit Power (PAOP)
- LTAN 6H: 195 W; LTAN 10H30: 102 W
- Downlink
- S-Band: 400 kbit/s; X-Band: 522 Mbps
- Pointing error (APE)
- < 7 mdeg (164 urad, PAR 126 urad)
- Absolute knowledge error (AKE)
- < 5 mdeg (133 urad, PAR 94 urad)
- Relative pointing error (RPE, 1s)
- < 0.012 mdeg (11.5 urad, PAR 0.2 urad)
- Slew maneuver
- 90 degrees in 60 seconds, with focal motion compensation (FMC)
- Design life
- 5 years in LEO
- Command link
- Omnidirectional S-band, AES-256 encrypted
- Propulsion total impulse
- Up to 18,800 N.s
- Architecture
- Redundant subsystems, triplicated flight software
About
FreeForm is U-Space’s microsatellite platform, designed for missions requiring a high payload-mass-to-bus ratio and a large, well-separated payload volume on the Nadir face. It combines agile and precise guidance, navigation and control (pointing error under 7 mdeg, with 90-degree slews in 60 seconds and integrated focal-motion compensation for high-resolution imaging) with a design life of 5 years in LEO, redundant architecture and triplicated flight software for high reliability. Communications use an encrypted (AES-256) omnidirectional S-band link for command and control and a high-rate X-band downlink up to 522 Mbps. FreeForm supports payloads up to 80 kg in a 480x800x600 mm volume, up to 250 W peak power, absolute knowledge error under 5 mdeg, and scalable propulsion delivering up to 18,800 N.s of total impulse for station-keeping, collision avoidance and safe disposal. Applications include high-resolution Earth observation, RF surveillance/signals intelligence, in-orbit servicing and inspection, and ‘zero debris’ compliant constellation deployment. U-Space also offers optional turnkey services alongside the platform: end-to-end integration and validation with full ground-segment interoperability, hardware-in-the-loop simulator training, and standard satellite command, control and in-flight maintenance operations.
Documentation
Need the full ICD, test reports or a specific revision? Ask the supplier directly.
