Space 4.0 – a common, democratic European space, part 4
Abstract
One of the dominant common denominators of the
Space 4.0 idea in the domain of space technologies are small
satellites. The characteristic features of this group of technologies
are relatively low costs, the possibility of very rapid hardware
prototyping and modularization, the construction of hardware and
software libraries for quick reuse, a significant number of
manufactured and orbited satellites, incomparably easier ability to
test numerous varieties of new technologies, while maintaining
high reliability in a relatively short period of their orbital
operation. It is small satellites that have become a solid foundation
for the rapid development of the Space 4.0 idea. They require a
completely different, much simpler ecosystem to maintain and
safely, efficiently operate, especially large, highly functional
microsatellites constellations throughout their life span between
orbit and deorbit. The year 2012 can be considered the beginning
of the development of the small satellite industry, a few years
before the formal definition of the idea of Space 4.0. Small satellites
and the involvement of the private sector in their production and
operation were the engines thanks to which the technological and
economic components of the Space 4.0 idea were defined. From the
perspective and experience of over a decade of development of the
small satellite industry, we look into the future and analyse trends
also in terms of the situation of the space sector in Poland.
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