Major advances are often driven by small changes, and space tech is no exception. New space technology 2024 trends, with upcoming lunar base construction, plans for Mars colonization, and missions to research deep space have all been influenced by advances in small satellite technology — because that’s where innovation is most easily tested, simply due to lower scale and more affordable budgets.
Rapid advances in small satellite tech are, in turn, dependent on innovation in space bus manufacturing. Below, we will explain exactly what those buses are and how space bus trends affect the future of space tech.
Space Buses in Satellites Explained
A space bus is a platform that carries all essential equipment to power and operate a satellite, along with its payload. The essential components typically include power (usually solar panels and batteries), thermal controls, propulsion, and communication equipment to stay in touch with the ground stations.
Payload is any equipment a satellite needs to fulfil its mission goals; it can vary from relatively simple cameras for Earth monitoring missions to advanced chemical probes for deep space exploration.
Still, regardless of satellite type or its mission, both essential components necessary to operate a satellite along with the payload needed to fulfil its goals are installed on a space bus — the metaphorical heart and soul of any spacecraft.
Space Bus Trends Affecting the Industry
Now, it should be clear why new technology in space exploration depends on advances in bus manufacturing — without those, spacecraft would not be able to function or carry out its tasks. Fortunately for the industry, the future of satellite technology looks promising because bus technology keeps evolving. Here are just some trends that affect the entire industry:
Miniaturization & Standardization
This development is not exactly new; ever since the first CubeSats were developed, the space industry has been moving towards unification and miniaturization to reduce manufacturing costs.
Expectedly, spacecraft buses also become more unified as universal bus designs allow manufacturers to produce satellites more quickly and cost-effectively. Besides, standard bus platforms like the ESPA-class, abbreviated from Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle Secondary Payload Adapter, become ever more widespread.
Modular Design
Modular design, also inspired by CubeSats, is a significant aspect of standardization. It allows different modules or components to be easily swapped or upgraded without redesigning the entire satellite. This flexibility is particularly beneficial for satellite constellations, enabling rapid deployment and maintenance — eventually, granting us high-speed internet access in remote areas (among other things).
Interface Standards
Another spacecraft bus trend promotes unification by setting interface standards, with Space Plug-and-Play Architecture (SPA) as a great example. Here, the idea is to promote interoperability among different satellite components to ensure that components from different manufacturers can work together.
This, in turn, reduces integration time along with space bus cost and makes satellite bus technology accessible to different clients, including research institutions that do not enjoy massive budgets.
Open Source & Collaborative Development
Open-source initiatives, logically resulting in collaborative development, are another example of a driving force pushing the entire industry forward. Platforms like the OpenOrbiter project provide standardized tools and frameworks that anyone can use to develop small satellites. This democratization of space and bus technology is encouraging innovation by reducing entry barriers, thus paving the way for new ideas.
What are the Space Trends in 2024?
All of these advances in space bus technology logically lead to advances in spacecraft design and applications, driving the entire industry forward. So, what is the latest technology of satellite technology? Several trends are already apparent, and more exciting developments are in the making. Here are the top ones:
Advanced Propulsion Systems
The propulsion system is one of the essential components of a space bus, ensuring spacecraft can change its position — for example, to avoid collision with space debris. Innovations in bus propulsion systems, along with the development of advanced thrusters and electric propulsion, are expected to further enhance small satellites’ capabilities and increase their operational lifespans.
Swarm Technologies
Satellite swarms, or multiple small satellites that work together in a coordinated manner, are gaining traction. Such technology can provide more comprehensive coverage and redundancy, enhancing mission reliability, and is already being developed by NASA.
On-Orbit Servicing
Servicing and refueling technologies directly in orbit are set to extend satellite lifespans, reducing the need for frequent replacements and further lowering manufacturing costs. Besides, tugs that refuel and service spacecraft in orbit can potentially be used to de-orbit defunct spacecraft, thus addressing the ever-growing problem of space debris accumulating in low-earth orbit.
Final Words
These are only some of the most prominent advances in space tech, driven by innovations in satellite bus technology. Over the past few decades, space technology has become more affordable, accessible, and versatile — and this direction is expected to go on in the years to come. This, in turn, means more innovations we will rely on — starting with space bus platforms and reaching way beyond.
