TNO is developing technology for use in small satellites (SmallSats) that can offer tangible solutions to societal problems. Here, we are focusing on small, affordable earth observation instruments that are capable of making independent daily measurements of air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions throughout the world. We are also working on technology for radar and satellite communication.
Please contact Anton Leemhuis.
TNO has more than 35 years of experience in designing and manufacturing earth observation instruments. Due to the miniaturization of this technology, it is now possible to make satellites and Earth observation instruments smaller and cheaper, and to speed up their production. Lower costs and faster time-to-market have brought the development of satellites within the reach of new players, such as national governments, companies, and non-governmental organizations. This offers them new opportunities and access to unique data. The advent of SmallSats has brought new mission concepts within reach. For instance, SmallSats can be flown in constellations, enabling them to provide better coverage of the Earth’s surface than a single large satellite could. In addition, the pace of innovation can be accelerated by bringing forward technology demonstrations in space, as TNO has shown with the PEASSS satellite.
The Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI) and Delft University of Technology successfully tested TNO’s Spectrolite instrument during a test flight over Berlin. This involved tasks such as measuring power-plant emission plumes.
TNO is working on the development of several families of Earth observation instruments (<10 kg):
Each of these instrument families is designed to be easily adapted for different applications, such as measuring various types of gases, and with a range of ground resolutions. This avoids the need for relatively expensive, one-off development processes for each individual application. Its expertise in satellite data applications enables TNO to design integrated applications, from information product to physical instrument.
Satellite communication is one of the largest markets in the aerospace sector. Optical communication is a technology with enormous potential, in terms of making broadband communication available in the future. TNO is one of the leading players in the development of satellite communication systems. We are developing the CubeCat satellite terminal especially for the SmallSat market, in cooperation with Hyperion Technologies.
TNO is also working on the development of radio frequency (RF) communication systems for SmallSats.
The use of SmallSats in an Earth observation role offers governments and companies an opportunity to collect new data. We want to reach out to potential partners, to understand their data requirements, and to explore ways of harnessing our expertise and technology to meet these needs. In this context, we can offer an integrated approach to instrument development and data processing.
Please contact Anton Leemhuis.
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