ANGELS nanosatellite, from a successful CDR up to its launch

Since the end of the 90’s, there is a strong worldwide interest in the Cubesat & Nanosatellite objects, with pedagogical, technological, then scientific and more recently applicative goals.

This trend in miniaturization is associated with the emergence of innovative design, challenging development, manufacturing and testing methods, as well as product assurance approaches in order to favor the unveiling of new ideas and low cost missions.

Since around 15 years, CNES started to support academic initiatives followed by various R&D projects to support the emergence of Cubesat equipment, then nanosatellite applicative programs with the industrial development of:

• some platform equipment (S-band modem, X-band emitter, On Board Computer, Power Conditioning and Distribution Unit),
• a miniaturized ARGOS instrument developed by Thales Alenia Space and Syrlinks,
• a 12U nanosatellite project (ANGELS for ARGOS Neo on a Generic, Economical and Light Satellite), as a precursor of an industrial nanosatellites product line. Its development is conducted by a consortium led by NEXEYA and will carry the ARGOS Neo instrument.

After a self-compatibility EMC/RFC test of a complete satellite engineering model and a successful CDR, the flight model has entered in its manufacturing and testing phase based on a proto-flight testing approach. The launch is planned mid-October 2019, followed by an in-orbit validation phase. Based on a short mission duration (2 years), a challenging development time, a low harsh environment, a reasonable performance mission and a medium authorized risk level, this project will open the way to more demanding missions and especially operational constellations.