Select your type of satellite
Satellites have different purposes. Which type do you want to build?
Communication
These satellites are used for television, phone or internet transmissions. For example, the Optus D1 satellite is in a geostationary orbit above the equator and has a coverage footprint to provide signals to all of Australia and New Zealand.
Earth Observation
These satellites are used to image clouds and measure temperature and rainfall. Both geostationary and low Earth orbits are used depending on the type of weather satellite. Weather satellites are used to help with more accurate weather forecasting. These are used to photograph and image the Earth. Low Earth orbits are mainly used so that more detailed images can be produced.
Navigation
The global positioning system is made up of 24 satellites that orbit at an altitude of 20,000 km above the surface of the Earth. The difference in time for signals received from four satellites is used to calculate the exact location of a GPS receiver on Earth.
Select the purpose of your satellite
Make sure to take a note of the budget you have. You will need to make sure you don't overspend.
Satellite telephone system
Lets people talk over the phone from remote regions of the world using satellites.
| Budget: | 100 credits |
Satellite TV
Provide satellite TV to people on the ground. These satellites stay above the same point in the sky to receive TV signals from the ground and transmit them to other areas on Earth.
| Budget: | 500 credits |
Satellite internet
Connect to the internet from remote regions of the world using satellites. These satellites receive signals from the ground and transmit them to other areas on Earth.
| Budget: | 200 credits |
Weather forecasting
Monitor weather systems so forecasters can predict future weather. Weather satellites need to be able to take images of clouds and use infrared light to measure the temperatures of the ground and ocean.
| Budget: | 250 credits |
Vegetation mapping
Map the plants over the surface of the Earth using infrared images of the Earth's surface and transmit the images back to the ground.
| Budget: | 200 credits |
Natural disaster monitoring
When natural disasters occur, satellites are used to assess the damage. High resolution images are needed to see and transmit the detail of the damage, so satellites must orbit close to the Earth. Infrared cameras can show floods and fires. Radio waves can show regions of earth deformation, such as after earthquakes.
| Budget: | 800 credits |
Surface mapping
Measure the varying height of land and oceans over the Earth's surface.
| Budget: | 1000 credits |
Satellite Navigation System
Uses signals from four navigation satellites so satnav users can find their location on Earth. Need to be able to see half a hemisphere at a time, measure time accurately and transmit signals of the location.
| Budget: | 200 credits |
Map-making
Map the surface of the Earth. Need to be able to take images of small areas of the Earth's surface and measure the height of the ground in high detail.
| Budget: | 800 credits |
Choose the size of your satellite
The size of your satellite matters. It needs to be big enough to hold all the instruments you need. Be careful though. The bigger your satellite, the more expensive it is.
| Type: | Cube sat |
| Structure size: | 0.1 × 0.1 × 0.1 m |
| Structure mass: | 0.3 kg |
| Payload mass: | 1 kg |
| Structure cost: | 5 credits |
| Type: | Large satellite |
| Structure size: | 8 × 2.5 × 2.5 m |
| Structure mass: | 500 kg |
| Payload mass: | 1000 kg |
| Structure cost: | 500 credits |
| Type: | Medium satellite |
| Structure size: | 2 × 2.5 × 2.5 m |
| Structure mass: | 250 kg |
| Payload mass: | 500 kg |
| Structure cost: | 100 credits |
| Type: | Small satellite |
| Structure size: | 1 × 1 × 1 m |
| Structure mass: | 150 kg |
| Payload mass: | 100 kg |
| Structure cost: | 20 credits |
Select the orbit for your satellite
There are several different orbits around the Earth that you can choose from. Higher orbits need more powerful rockets to get to them.
Available orbits:
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Geo-stationary orbitAltitude:35786 kmPeriod:24 hoursSatellites in geostationary orbits stay above the same location on Earth near the equator and complete a full orbit in 24 hours. They are much higher above the Earth's surface than other orbits, so can see the entire hemisphere in less detail.
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Highly-elliptical orbitAltitude:20000 kmPeriod:12 hoursHighly-elliptical orbits are much closer to the Earth at one point in their orbit than another, giving an elongated (elliptical) rather than circular orbit. They are useful for covering areas including polar regions. More than one satellite can be used for continuous coverage of an area.
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Low-Earth orbitAltitude:400 kmPeriod:90 minutesSatellites in low-Earth orbit pass over a different part of the Earth in each orbit. It is cheaper to send satellites to Low-Earth orbit than other orbits and satellites here can be reached for repairs. Low-Earth orbit satellites can look at small areas in high detail for short periods of time.
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Medium-Earth orbitAltitude:2000 kmPeriod:2 hoursSatellites in medium-Earth orbit are higher above the Earth than low-Earth orbits, but lower than geostationary orbits. They cover a different part of Earth in each orbit. They can see a larger area in less detail than low-Earth orbits.
Select the instruments for your satellite
To complete your mission you will need the correct instruments. Instruments are separated by size, shown by colour. Make sure the colour of your instrument matches an available slot. You only have a limited number of slots, so choose wisely!
Requirements
Available instruments:
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Atomic clock1 credits1 kg10 wattsVery accurate clock, required by navigation satellites to measure the time to very high precision. -
Atomic clock (compact)1 credits1 kg5 wattsVery accurate clock, required by navigation satellites to measure the time to very high precision.
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Atmospheric camera30 credits100 kg300 wattsProvides infrared images of the clouds and weather systems in the Earth's atmosphere, useful for weather forecasting and climate monitoring, even during darkness.
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Camera (miniature)5 credits1 kg10 wattsTakes images of the ground
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Vegetation camera20 credits50 kg100 wattsProvides infrared images of vegetation and land-usage on the ground. Only works in daylight, as it relies on reflected sunlight.
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Optical camera10 credits50 kg50 wattsProvides images of the ground, such as for mapping or for monitoring natural disasters. Can also be used to monitor cloud cover. The resolution depends on the orbit altitude.
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High-resolution optical camera15 credits100 kg50 wattsProvides very high-resolution images of the ground, such as for monitoring natural disasters, but only when used in low-Earth orbit.
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Radio dish (large)2 credits30 kg0 wattsRadio dish for controlling the satellite and transmitting data to the ground, as well as for the radar altimeter
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Radio dish1 credits20 kg0 wattsRadio dish for controlling the satellite and transmitting data to the ground
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Radio antenna (compact)0.5 credits0.5 kg0 wattsRadio dish for controlling the satellite and transmitting data to the ground
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GPS receiver2 credits0.5 kg5 wattsUsed to monitor the satellite's position to very high accuracy
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GPS receiver (miniature)2 credits0.5 kg5 wattsUsed to monitor the satellite's position to very high accuracy
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Internet encoder10 credits2 kg20 wattsUsed to broadcast the internet to people around the world.
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Phone encoder1 credits10 kg2 wattsBroadcasts signals to and from telephones across the world.
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Miniature phone encoder1 credits10 kg2 wattsBroadcasts signals to and from telephones across the world.
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Radar altimeter5 credits40 kg70 wattsUses radio waves to measure the height of the ground, or topography, in very high resolution. Can be used to map the surface, or provide information on the effect of earthquakes. Requires a large radio dish to work.
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Radio antenna (deployable)0.5 credits0.1 kg2 wattsDeployable radio antenna capable of controlling and transmitting images & data from up to 2 instruments.
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Atmospheric Spectrometer30 credits100 kg300 wattsUses infrared light to measure properties of the Earth's atmosphere, such as clouds, moisture level, surface temperature and air temperature, even during darkness.
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Vegetation Spectrometer20 credits50 kg250 wattsMeasures the properties of vegetation on the ground, such as type of vegetation and how healthy it is.
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Optical Spectrometer10 credits50 kg150 wattsMeasures detailed properties of the Earth's surface, such as deforestation.
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TV encoder10 credits2 kg40 wattsUsed to broadcast the TV to people around the world.
Add power
Your satellite needs power. There are different ways to do that. You can use solar panels on the sides of the satellite, deployable solar panels, and an RTG. Batteries can store energy in order to power the satellite when it's not in direct sunlight.
Requirements
Available power devices:
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Large battery20 credits50 kg0 wattsStores power from solar panels to allow operation when not in sunlight
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Medium battery10 credits25 kg0 wattsStores power from solar panels to allow operation when not in sunlight
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Small battery15 credits1 kg0 wattsStores power from solar panels to allow operation when not in sunlight
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RTG30 credits60 kg300 wattsA "Radioisotope Thermal Generator" (RTG) uses nuclear technology to provide power. Due to safety concerns, it can't be used in low-Earth orbit.
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Deployable solar panel20 credits10 kg300 wattsSolar panels deployed from edge of satellite, collecting sunlight to provide power. Can power instruments, or charge up batteries.
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Body-mounted solar panel15 credits5 kg150 wattsSolar panels mounted onto surface of satellite, collecting sunlight to provide power. Can power instruments, or charge up batteries.
Build your rocket
Now you have a satellite you need to build a multi-stage rocket. The top of the rocket will hold your satellite, so needs to be big enough. You can have up to three rocket stages, which need to be big enough to support those above - and provide enough thrust to reach your chosen orbit.
