Episode 13 of the Space Industry podcast is a discussion with Solar MEMS about scaling up production, supply, and testing of sun sensors in order to meet the demands of large-scale constellations.
In this episode we speak with with Tamara Guerrero, Business Development Manager at Solar MEMS. Solar MEMS is a Spanish sun sensor manufacturer that provides products for the OneWeb constellation, and participates in the satsearch membership program. We discuss:
- The challenges and opportunities that scaling up production can bring.
- How Solar MEMS prepared their own testing, qualification, and supply chain management processes to increase throughput.
- How the company stayed open to new commercial opportunities and ensured product innovation was uninterrupted while serving a major client.
- Evolution in the sun sensor market, for both in-orbit and terrestrial applications.
About Solar MEMS’ products
The Solar MEMS Advanced Coarse Sun Sensor (ACSS) is designed for LEO, MEO, and GEO missions. The ACSS is a device for sun-tracking and attitude determination. ACSS technology acquired flight heritage in 2019 with hundreds of flight units delivered, and its manufacturing process has been developed and industrialized for mass production requested for satellite constellations.
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The Solar MEMS Technologies Specific Check Out Equipment (SCOE) also known as TA, TAID, is an equipment designed to test the right operation of the sun sensors (ACSS, nanoSSOC, SSOC). The TA equipment is designed for the satellite factory, in order to perform a quick evaluation of two sun sensors, at the same time, after integration. TA consists of electronic, mechanical, and optical parts such as a Control Cube (CC), Optical Fiber bundles (OF), and Optical Heads (OH).
The Solar MEMS nano Sun Sensor on a Chip (SSOC) D60 is an analog sun sensor designed for Nanosatellites. It is a low-cost and two-axis sun sensor for high accurate sun-tracking, pointing, and attitude determination. The sensor includes MEMS technology with flight heritage and electronic components that are space-grade. More than 1000 flight units have been delivered since 2016, with hundreds of units in orbit.
The Solar MEMS Technologies Specific Check Out Equipment (SCOE) also known as TA, TAID, is an equipment designed to test the right operation of the sun sensors (ACSS, nanoSSOC, SSOC). The TA equipment is designed for the satellite factory, in order to perform a quick evaluation of two sun sensors, at the same time, after integration. TA consists of electronic, mechanical, and optical parts such as a Control Cube (CC), Optical Fiber bundles (OF), and Optical Heads (OH).
The Solar MEMS HSNS is a Horizon Sensor designed for nanosatellites. It is a Quad Thermopile sensor for Earth detection and Nadir vector determination. This device measures the infrared radiation from Space and from Earth with 4 IR-eyes, providing accurate and reliable detection and attitude determination. The HSNS is based on previous experience with Solar MEMS making attitude sensors and long research projects on IR sensing devices.
The Solar MEMS nano Sun Sensor on a Chip (SSOC) A60 is an analog sun sensor designed for Nanosatellites. The nanoSSOC-A60 sun sensor is based on MEMS fabrication processes to achieve highly integrated sensing structures. It includes MEMS technology with flight heritage and electronic components that are space-grade. There are hundreds of units in orbit since 2016.
The Solar MEMS Sun Sensor on a Chip (SSOC) A60 is an analog sun sensor designed for space applications. It is based on MEMS fabrication processes to achieve highly integrated sensing structures for high accurate sun-tracking, positioning systems, and attitude determination. It also includes MEMS technology with flight heritage and electronic components that are space-grade. Every sensor is calibrated and characterized, and a look-up table is provided for its application.
The Solar MEMS Sun Sensor on a Chip (SSOC) D60 is a digital sun sensor designed for space applications. It includes MEMS technology with flight heritage, electronic components that are space-grade, and a microprocessor included has been tested for the space environment and has flight heritage. It is based on MEMS fabrication processes to achieve highly integrated sensing structures for high accurate sun-tracking, positioning systems, and attitude determination.