GOMX-5 (GomSpace Express-5)

Quick facts

Overview

Summary

Mission Capabilities

The advanced payloads to be hosted on board GOMX-5 are an imager, a radiation monitor, two Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers, an X-band transmitter for ground-based communication, an electric propulsion system, a star tracker, a reflectarray antenna, Advanced Payload Processors (APPs), and an AI (Artificial Intelligence) interface.

Performance Specifications

The X-band transmitter has a downlink rate of 225 Mbps.

Space and Hardware Components

The GomSpace 12U platform has a mass of 10 kg. The bus can handle high-power payloads with its Sun Tracking Solar Panels (TSP).
Telemetry and Telecommunications (TMTC) will be communicated via S-band radio frequencies at an uplink rate of 6 Mbps and a downlink rate of 90 kbps.
 

Overview

Expected to launch in 2023, GOMX-5 is a 12U CubeSat operated by GomSpace. The mission is primarily funded by Denmark in the ‘Fly’ element of ESA’s General Support Technology Programme. The 5-year GOMX-5 mission aims to demonstrate new nanosatellite capabilities, including increased communication rates, better maneuverability, and higher position accuracy.

Previous GOMX missions have included GOMX-1, -2, -3, -4A and -4B. GOMX-1 demonstrated Software Defined Radio (SDR) capabilities, while GOMX-3 assisted with getting the Danish ESA astronaut Andreas Mogensen onboard the International Space Station (ISS) in 2015. GOMX-2 was planned to test deorbit methods, but unfortunately failed on launch. GOMX-4A and -4B, similar to GOMX-1, tested the SDR capabilities of inter-satellite communication.

Spacecraft

The 12U GomSpace platform has a mass of 10 kg, a payload volume of 8U, and a maximum payload mass of 14 kg. It has a battery capacity of 154 Wh and data storage of up to 120 GB. The bus can handle high-power payloads as it is equipped with Sun Tracking Solar Panels (TSP). There are three panels on each of the two wings which rotate about the solar wing axis to track the sun and increase power generation.

Launch

GOMX-5 is expected to launch in late 2023.

Mission Status

• February 10, 2020: GomSpace and ESA sign a contract for the continuation of the GOMX-5 mission worth €1,225,000. Additionally, the once-proposed Ka-band inter-satellite link will be replaced by an X-band transmitter developed by GomSpace. The GOMX-5 mission will now only include one 12U CubeSat.

• June 5, 2019: Third-party payload contributions are announced. The announced payloads are:
  • X-band high gain reflectarray antenna developed by TICRA (Europe’s first reflectarray)
  • Propulsion systems developed ThrustMe, ExoTrials, and GomSpace
  • Star tracker developed by EICAS
  • GNSS precise pointing positioning receiver developed by Syrlinks
  • High-accuracy GNSS receiver developed by Deimos, and GMV
  • Onboard computers developed by Cobham Gaisler, and LIRMM (Laboratoire d’Informatique, de Robotique et de Microélectronique de Montpellier)
  • EO (Earth Observation) imager developed by Tartu Observatory
  • AI automation module developed by AIKO
  • Radiation monitor developed by the Surrey Space Centre, and the Institute of Experimental and Applied Physics within the Czech Technical University
  • Ka-band inter-satellite link developed by GomSpace

Further contracts between GomSpace and ESA are expected and required beyond 2019 for launch.

• March 12, 2019: Phase A of the GOMX-5 mission is initiated. ESA and GomSpace are seeking parties interested in flying payloads aboard the CubeSats.
• December 20, 2018: GomSpace and ESA sign a €300,000 contract for the new GOMX-5 mission. This contract includes the design and specification work of the two 12U CubeSats which are expected to launch in 2021.

Sensor Complement

As of 2020, the payload consists of the following:

• X-band high gain reflectarray antenna developed by TICRA (Europe’s first reflectarray)
• X-band transmitter developed by GomSpace (225 Mbps downlink speed)
• Electric propulsion system (NPT30-I2-1.5U) developed by ThrustMe
• Star tracker developed by EICAS
• GNSS precise pointing positioning receiver developed by Syrlinks
• High-accuracy GNSS receiver developed by Deimos and the University of Padova
• APPs developed by Cobham Gaisler, GMV, LIRMM (Laboratoire d’Informatique, de Robotique et de Microélectronique de Montpellier), and UFSC (Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina)
• EO (Earth Observation) imager developed by Tartu Observatory
• AI automation module developed by AIKO
• Radiation monitor developed by the Institute of Experimental and Applied Physics within the Czech Technical University

Ground Segment

Telemetry and Telecommunications (TMTC) will be communicated via S-band radio frequencies at an uplink rate of 6 Mbps and a downlink rate of 90 kbps.

References  

1) “ThrustMe wins ESA GSTP contract for electric propulsion system.” SpaceWatch.Global, 15 June 2022, https://spacewatch.global/2022/06/thrustme-wins-esa-gstp-contract-for-electric-propulsion-system/. Accessed 25 May 2023.

2) “Smart design of flat 'reflectarray' satellite antennas.” European Space Agency, 1 July 2020, https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Engineering_Technology/Smart_design_of_flat_reflectarray_satellite_antennas. Accessed 25 May 2023.

3) “12U.” GOMspace, https://gomspace.com/12u.aspx. Accessed 25 May 2023.

4) “ESA and GomSpace sign contract for continuation of the GOMX-5 mission.” GOMspace, 10 February 2020, https://gomspace.com/news/esa-and-gomspace-sign-contract-for-continuati.aspx. Accessed 25 May 2023.

5) “Payload collaboration initiated for the GOMX-5 mission.” GOMspace, 6 May 2019, https://gomspace.com/news/payload-collaboration-initiated-for-the-gomx-.aspx. Accessed 25 May 2023.

6) “GomSpace and ESA sign contract to initiate work on new GOMX mission.” GOMspace, 20 December 2018, https://gomspace.com/news/gomspace-and-esa-sign-contract-to-initiate-wo.aspx. Accessed 25 May 2023.

7) “ESA - Apply for payload space on GOMX-5.” European Space Agency, 12 March 2019, https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Engineering_Technology/Shaping_the_Future/Apply_for_payload_space_on_GOMX-5. Accessed 25 May 2023.