The Success Story of Sky and Space's Pathfinder Nanosatellites: Red Diamond, Green Diamond, and Blue Diamond

Background

In an era where space technology is advancing rapidly, Sky and Space's Pathfinder mission has emerged as a beacon of innovation and success. The mission's goal was ambitious: to launch and operate three nanosatellites—Red Diamond, Green Diamond, and Blue Diamond—and demonstrate groundbreaking capabilities in satellite communication and formation flying.

Constructed by the renowned Danish satellite manufacturer GomSpace, these nanosatellites were launched on June 23rd, 2017, aboard India's PSLV launch vehicle. This mission was a testament to the power of international collaboration and technological prowess.

International Partnerships

The Pathfinder mission was a collaborative effort, bringing together expertise from around the globe:

• Sky and Space Global (SAS): The UK and Australia-based satellite owner and operator led the mission.
• GomSpace (Denmark): Responsible for constructing the three nanosatellites.
• Ayecka (Israel): Manufactured the ground device units that played a crucial role in communication.
• RBC Signals: Provided ground services, ensuring reliable data transmission and reception.
• ISILaunch (Netherlands): Acted as the launch broker, coordinating the successful launch.
• PSLV (India): The launch vehicle that carried the nanosatellites into orbit.
• Marsh Space (UK): The insurance broker facilitating the world's first fully insured nanosatellites.

This diverse and robust international partnership was key to the mission's success, highlighting the space industry's collaborative spirit.

Achievements

The Pathfinder mission achieved several world-firsts in space technology:

• World's First IP-Based Nanosatellite Network: Successfully established an Internet Protocol (IP) network in space using nanosatellites.
• First Inter-Nanosatellite Links: Demonstrated the capability of nanosatellites to communicate with each other over long distances and at a fast rate.
• World's First VOIP Call: Enabled Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) calls via nanosatellites, using proprietary header data compressions and tailor-made SIP structure.
• World's First Instant Messaging with Attachments: Demonstrated the transmission of instant messages with attachments in space.
• World's First Financial Transaction: Conducted a secure financial transaction using nanosatellites for peer-to-peer banking applications.
• World's First Encrypted Call: Ensured secure communication with an encrypted call, integrating existing hardware into the network.
• The World's First Device-to-Server IoT Demonstration Showcased the Internet of Things (IoT) capabilities by connecting devices and sensors in the field to customer servers via nanosatellites.

These achievements marked significant milestones in space communication, setting new standards for nanosatellite capabilities.

Differential Drag Formation Flying

A remarkable aspect of the mission was the use of differential drag techniques to maintain the relative distances between the satellites. Without propulsion systems, the satellites achieved and sustained distances ranging from 500 km to 800 km apart by adjusting their surface area exposure to atmospheric drag.

The following graphs demonstrate the effect of attitude pointing on drag reduction and the relative distances between the satellites during the mission:

These techniques showcased advanced satellite control and opened new possibilities for future satellite formations and constellations.

Insurance

Red, Green, and Blue Diamond were the world's first fully insured nanosatellites. Marsh Space's insurance coverage ensured the mission had financial protection against potential risks. The mission maintained its Third-Party Liability (TPL) Insurance from 2017 to 2024, demonstrating a strong commitment to safety and compliance.

End of Life

The satellites' end-of-life strategy was meticulously planned to ensure safe decommissioning. On their end-of-life date, the nanosatellites re-entered the Earth's atmosphere, where they safely burned up. This process complies with international space treaties, ensuring the mission did not contribute to space debris.

Conclusion

The Pathfinder mission of Sky and Space's Red Diamond, Green Diamond, and Blue Diamond nanosatellites is a remarkable success story in space technology. From groundbreaking achievements and innovative engineering to international collaboration and safe decommissioning, this mission has set new benchmarks in the industry. It is a testament to what can be achieved when visionary goals are pursued with global cooperation and cutting-edge technology.

References

1. [Sky and Space Global Official Website](https://www.skyandspace.global)

2. [GomSpace Official Website](https://gomspace.com)

3. [Ayecka Official Website](https://ayecka.com)

4. [RBC Signals Official Website](https://www.rbcsignals.com)

5. [ISLaunch Official Website](https://www.isilunch.com)

6. [PSLV (ISRO) Official Website](https://www.isro.gov.in/launcher/pslv)

7. [Marsh Space Official Website](https://www.marsh.com)

This LinkedIn article celebrates the technological triumphs and the spirit of collaboration and innovation that define the modern space industry.

Meidad Pariente: Chief Engineer and Architect

Meidad Pariente, the project's chief engineer and architect, played a pivotal role in the success of the Three Diamonds project. With a rich background in aerospace engineering, Meidad has been instrumental in numerous space missions. He holds a Master's degree in Systems Engineering from the Technion–Israel Institute of Technology and has almost three decades of experience in the field. His leadership and expertise were crucial in overcoming the technical challenges of the Pathfinder mission.