F-6 Fractionated Spacecraft Concept - part of the Small Satellite Constellation Systems and Technologies at CANEUS CSSP

System F6 (Future, Fast, Flexible, Fractionated, Free-Flying) fractionated spacecraft demonstrator program by DARPA emphasizing development of an open and ubiquitous space architecture and an associated set of open standards will be featured as part of the Small Satellite Constellation Systems and Technologies at the CANEUS Shared Small Satellite Workshop in Italy this month.

F6 fractionated spacecraft concept

The F6 fractionated spacecraft concept replaces large, monolithic space assets with clusters of smaller, wirelessly-interconnected modules that share resources to create, in effect, a “virtual satellite.”

Democratization of the innovation process

“The F6 promotes the emergence of an open community of researchers and developers around the fractionated architecture construct,” said Kaigham Gabriel, DARPA deputy director.

Paul Eremenko, System F6 program manager, who will present the F-6 program at CANEUS CSSP workshop, believes refocusing the program will introduce new perspectives and approaches to achieve program goals. “An explicit program goal is to enable multiple payloads supplied by different agencies, services or even countries to share common infrastructure at multiple levels of security. It is a unique architectural approach to enhancing the adaptability, survivability and responsiveness of future space assets—and really changing the dynamics of the space industry by lowering the barrier to entry.”

Dave Neyland, DARPA TTO Director will also present DARPA’s plans for international participation in new efforts. The System F6 program will culminate in an on-orbit demonstration in 2014 and plans to team with international partners to develop payloads and for one or more launches for the demo mission.

CANEUS Shared Small Satellites Concept

In synergy with DARPA's F6 program, the CANEUS workshop on October 20-22, 2010 will serve to review the various initiatives underway worldwide and explore the proposed concept called Shared Small Satellites whose purpose is to serve as the initial foundation for an international framework to establish global, transparent, cooperative and persistent situational awareness.

International Collaboration & Fractional Ownership Model

Over sixty countries will come together at this international event to cooperate in space. Government agencies, academic institutions and aerospace organizations, along with over 23 Space agencies, including NASA, ESA, ROSCOMS, JAXA, ISRO, ASI, CNES, DLR, the Agencia Espacial Mexicana from the Americas, Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East will present concepts and requirements and expertise to contribute to the proposed shared small satellite system.

By collecting this broad cross-section of support, the Small Satellite system will promote democratization of the innovation process through a fractionated ownership model. The system would be managed by an international consortium of participating nations with the cost of the entire system shared through fractional ownership. Partnership is provided in return for investment in the system.

Fractional ownership models have been successful in providing previously unaffordable capabilities to partner nations who cooperatively share and manage assets.

Next Newsletter on Small satellite Constellation Launch Opportunities:
Satellite launch opportunities are a necessary component of this small satellite system. The CANEUS Shared Small Satellite workshop will explore opportunities for launch. Among the presenters will be the United Launch Alliance and Space Exploration Technologies.

For more information about the CANEUS Shared Small Satellites CSSP Inaternational Workshop, visit www.caneus.org/cssp or email cssp@caneus.org.