Satellite bus

Communications satellite bus and payload module

A satellite bus or spacecraft bus is the general model on which multiple-production satellite spacecraft are often based. The bus is the infrastructure of a spacecraft, usually providing locations for the payload (typically space experiments or instruments).

They are most commonly^{[citation needed]} used for geosynchronous satellites, particularly communications satellites, but are also used in spacecraft which occupy lower orbits, occasionally including low earth orbit missions.

A bus-derived satellite would be used as opposed to a one-off, or specially produced satellite, such as Prospero X-3. Bus-derived satellites are usually customised to customer requirements, for example with specialised sensors or transponders, in order to achieve a specific mission.^{[citation needed]}

Examples

Some more notable satellite bus examples include:^{[citation needed]}

• Astrium's Eurostar
• Spacebus
• Boeing 702
• STAR Bus
• Loral 1300
• Lockheed Martin Space Systems A2100

Components

A bus typically consists of the following subsystems:^{[citation needed]}

• Command and Data Handling (C&DH) System
• Communications system and antennas
• Electrical Power System (EPS)
• Propulsion
• Thermal control
• Attitude Control System (ACS)
• Guidance, Navigation and Control (GNC) System
• Structures and trusses
• Life support (for crewed missions).

See also

• Service module

References

• JWST Observatory: The Spacecraft Bus
• Spitzer's Spacecraft Bus