I DEVELOPMENT OF THE POLAR SATELLITE SERVICE"

Small satellites, with total mass less than 250 kg. is rapidly gaining worldwide interest. So far. however, launch costs have prevented widespread development and use of such satellites. If launch costs are considerably reduced and a reliable launch vehicle is made available, this will promote the development of new and cheaper design and manufacturing methods. This will in stimulate the small satellite market. The Norwegian Space Centre (NSq and the Swedish Space Corporation (Ssq is studying the design of a dedicated launch facility for small polar orbiting satellites. called the Polar Satellite Service (PSS) This paper discusses the development of PSS. It focuses on the development of the first European facility that will offer integration. launch and operation of small satellites i