Femtosatellite mission architectures and mission assurance strategies

Since its inception, the femtosatellite has developed into a complex and capable spacecraft. However, despite such advances the implementation of predicted applications remains elusive. In response, this paper explores three femtosatellite mission architectures, the drone, swarm, and hive, to characterize what possible femtosatellite mission could be envisioned for true space applications. Starting from a single femtosatellite, each architecture represents an increase in network complexity, so the use of graph theory is proposed as a means for characterizing, understanding, and modelling femtosatellite systems. A simple reliability model is also proposed for each of the mission architectures, and a simulation is carried out to generate a profile of the system’s lifecycle. The results are discussed for each of the architectures in relation to potential applications. Each of the architectures was shown to be feasible for short duration missions due to the inherent unreliability of femtosatellites. Additionally, mid- and long-duration missions were shown to be possible for swarms and hives with sufficiently large populations. Finally, applications are re-examined considering the lifecycle profile exhibited by each system. • Femtosatellite mission architectures are introduced, each representing an increased level of complexity and capability. • A mission assurance strategy is established for the characterization of femtosatellite mission lifecycles. • A mission lifecycle is predicted from simulation and reliability calculations, and application recommendations are made.