For a lot of scientific tasks launching of microsatellites is highly efficient solution. The low cost of manufacturing of spacecrafts, the use of piggy-back launches and as a result of these factors – a short time between the appearance of scientific ideas and executing of respective space experiments are obvious advantage of such projects.
However, it should be noted that all of these factors apply to the space segments of the missions only. But this cannot be said about the ground segments. Of course, in some cases, for example, for some educational student projects, it is possible to create a Ground Segment under the simplified scheme. But to obtain a high scientific return, it should not much different from the cases of "large" space projects, as must solve the same problems and the same amount. Moreover, given the technical limitations of small spacecrafts, for a high scientific return it is offered more high functional requirements for operational capabilities of the ground segment.
The project Chibis-M was an attempt to create a fully functional low-cost ground segment for microsatellite for scientific purposes.
The mass of the microsatellite, is 34.4 kg, the mass of scientific instruments on board is about 12 kilograms. The one of distinctive features of the microsatellite “Chibis-M” is that it is assigned not for education proposes only but for investigation in the field of fundamental researches as well.
The main purpose of “Chibis-M” is a comprehensive study of physical processes in atmospheric lightning discharges in a wide range of energies - from radio to gamma radiation as well as extended measurements of parameters which may be described by term called “space weather”. And it contains an impressive list of the scientific instruments for resolving these tasks of course.
Extended measurements means using of high-speed telemetry channels which requires respective power supplying. And it corresponds to some problems for relatively small spacecrafts. Therefore three downlink and one uplink systems where used onboard the microsatellite.
Such architecture of the satellites links as well as using of modern technologies (like Web 2.0, SOA, etc.) and implementation of a few new approaches allowed us to create the ground segment for the “Chibis-M” operations with extended features on the background of low budget and high reliability.
As shown in the article there are comprehensive facilities of microsatellites in the field of fundamental researches and not directly for space investigations only. Some approaches (especially for ground operations and support) witches are have tryout during these missions may successfully implemented in the “large” science space projects.
The article describes current status of the ground segment for microsatellite “Chibis-M” as well as lessons learned after first year of its operations and shows prospective ways of evolutions of the described ground information system.