PLATiNO Minisatellite Platform

PLATiNO Minisatellite Platform

Overview

Developed by SITAEL and its partners Thales Alenia Space Italia, Leonardo and Airbus under the ASI program, the PLATiNO Minisatellite Platform is characterized by state-of-art bus performances and is designed explicitly with multi-purpose/multi-payload features. PLATiNO is developed with a design-to-cost approach, granting the product the capability to compete on the global market, both institutional and private. ¹⁾

SITAEL S.p.A. of Bari, Italy, belongs to the holding Angel (formerly Angelo Investments), a worldwide leading Transportation and Aerospace Group composed by synergetic high-tech companies with more than 1000 highly skilled employees. ²⁾

SITAEL is a leading contractor and preferred partner for many stakeholders in several International space projects, thanks to its skilled staff and years of proven experience. This extensive heritage in a wide range of solutions has been enriched through the years by a long term and strong worldwide collaboration with Space Agencies and Industries.

Spacecraft

The PLATiNO Minisatellite Platform is characterized by state-of-art bus performances, high payload embarking capability, modular structure (P/L and P/F modules, easing MAIT activities), designed explicitly with multi-purpose features. PLATiNO is an all-electric platform, equipped with SITAEL low power Hall effect electric propulsion subsystem (enhanced orbit control/manoeuvering capabilities), characterized by high power availability on-board (large deployable solar arrays and high battery capacity) and high performance AOCS (fine pointing with star tracker and high agility by torque/momentum actuators). PLATiNO Platform, with its flexibility and multi-purpose features, is suitable for a wide series of space missions.

The platform presents a high level of reconfigurability and scalability, e.g. multiple solar array configurations (body mounted/deployable/steerable), structural modular approach, compatibility with optional equipments to be utilized on the basis of the mission requirements, multipurpose payload interface design. Moreover, PLATiNO’s high performances are guaranteed by some key mission enabling technologies, including a low power electric propulsion system based on SITAEL’s HT100, and a state-of-the-art and integrated avionics subsystem with mini-CMGs (Control Moment Gyroscopes).

The Avionics Subsystem has been designed to integrate the OBDH (On Board Data Handling) and the AOCS (Attitude and Orbit Control System) functions. The core of the avionics subsystem is the IPAC (Integrated Processing, Data-handling and AOCS Controller), provided by Thales Alenia Space.The IPAC architecture is based on different scalable modules (RTU included) and is based on a multicore processor SPARC LEON4x4 (Gaisler) and the XTRATUM Hypervisor software. The AOCS is based on high pointing accuracy sensors, up to three star tracker optical head (IPAC software is able to provide the data-fusion of the three sensors) high torque capability actuators (Mini-Control Moment Gyro, provided by Thales Alenia Space), with the feature of a gyro-less architecture. The Telecom configuration foresees a PLIU to provide the power-digital I/F with the P/L and Reaction Wheels instead of the Mini-CMGs (Control Moment Gyros).

Spacecraft Parameters

• Payload mass: up to 90 kg

• Payload power: 200 W average, 1 kW peak

• Payload allowable volume: 800 x 800 x 1000 mm³

• Typical minisatellite launch mass: 200 kg

• Platform design life: up to 5 years.

​

​

PLATiNO-1

PLATiNO-1 mission validates the PLATiNO platform embarking a Micro-SAR payload from Thales Alenia Space Italia. The mission envisages a first phase at 619 km operating in passive mode and a second phase at 410 km operating in active mode: the orbit transfer is performed making use of SITAEL HT100 Electric Thruster and validates the platform orbit maneuvering capabilities. Thanks to the extremely high power PLATiNO platform is able to provide, PLATiNO-1 can guarantee a scan time per orbit nowadays unmatched in the Micro-SAR sector.³⁾

​

PLATiNO-2

The PLATiNO-2 mission envisages the development of the second satellite based on the PLATiNO platform and embarks a Thermal Infrared (TIR) payload, validating PLATiNO multi-applicability feature. Developed by Leonardo and SITAEL, PLATiNO-2 TIR will acquire images that will be used to provide valuable services for territories control and protection such as monitoring waters, glaciers, pollutants, state of crops and vegetation, energy consumption in urban areas. PLATiNO-2 is also equipped with the magnetically shielded HT 100, an improved version of SITAEL electric thruster, making PLATiNO-2 one of the first missions in the world to observe the Earth in the Thermal Infrared from a very low orbit – less than 400 km – and thus significantly improving the resolution of the acquired images.

​

PLATiNO-3

The PLATiNO-3 ASI VHR (Very-High Resolution) payload, which operates within the VNIR (Visible and Near Infrared) spectrum, and represents a medium-term commitment to advancing Earth observation technology with three key objectives. The first is to provide high-resolution panchromatic and multispectral imagery, at 0.5 m and 2 m resolutions, respectively, while maintaining high data product quality and standards. The second key objective  is to Ensure global coverage with level-2 products, which consist of combined panchromatic and orthorectified multispectral imagery on a Digital Terrain Matrix (DTM). The third objective is to support risk management services through comprehensive observation coverage achieved by a flexible spacecraft design, a responsive operational approach, and an adequate ground segment. 11)

PLATiNO-4

PLATiNO-4 features the Hyperspectral payload (HYP-PL), an advanced, compact electro-optical instrument that integrates both a hyperspectral and panchromatic sensor. This integration enables the high-resolution identification of geometrical features and chemical-physical properties in a target scene.
This imagery will provide users with applications such as environmental monitoring, resource management, crop classification, pollution control, and national security.
PLATiNO-4’s hyperspectral suite plans to demonstrate a cost-effective program that addresses technological considerations and capabilities of hyperspectral data processing. 11)

Launch

The four satellites developed for the PLATiNO Minisatellite constellation will be launched in the coming years.

Mission Status

• January 23, 2023: ASI has signed contracts with Leonardo for €33 million to develop advanced cameras for the PLATiNO-3 and PLATiNO-4 missions. For PLATiNO-3, Leonardo will create a high-resolution, cost-effective camera capable of capturing images with a 50 cm ground resolution, aiding in territory and infrastructure monitoring. PLATiNO-4 will feature a compact hyperspectral camera, half the size of the PRISMA camera, for detailed chemical-physical analysis from space. This will benefit risk prevention, cultural heritage, agriculture, resource management, and atmospheric studies.

Both cameras, managed by Leonardo for data processing, are crucial for ASI's future missions and EO capabilities.The first models involve advanced technologies and contributions from Italian small and medium-sized enterprises. 9)

• January 6, 2022: Arianespace has been awarded a launch contract by SITAEL, with the Italian Space Agency (ASI) as the final customer, to orbit PLATiNO 1 & 2 satellites on Vega and Vega C launchers. PLATiNO 1 and 2 are Earth observation small satellites operating on Sun-synchronous orbits. PLATiNO 1 will embark a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), operating in the X band, while PLATiNO 2 will carry an optical thermal instrument. ⁵⁾

^{​​​​​}• July 2021: ASI (Italian Space Agency) signed the long-term agreement for the commercialization and industrialization of PLATiNO Programme. ⁶⁾

​

The agreement represents the answer to the world market’s interest in the innovative ‘high-tech space small satellite platform’, that is the core of the PLATiNO programme; moreover, it prepares the temporary grouping of companies to seize the new emerging business opportunities. Financed by ASI and the Italian Government with an investment of more than EUR 100 million, PLATiNO programme defines the achievement of the in-flight qualification with two missions (SAR and Thermal Infra Red).

The event was also an opportunity to show the guests the area where the new SITAEL production extension will be built starting form September. The new facility will have a total area of 1,200 m² and will host the newest Clean Room for the development of latest-generation satellite platforms, such as PLATiNO, with a production capacity of up to 10 satellites per year.

• April 2, 2021: The High Speed Serial Link (HSSL) Front-End Equipment (FEE) has been selected by SITAEL (Italy) for the verification of the PLATiNO Mass Memory Unit (MMU) science data input/output. This system is based on our WizardLink Front-End product, that is tailored to SITAELs needs. ⁴⁾

• June 25, 2020: The production of a high-tech mini space platform, designed to perform a wide range of applications and which is perfectly compatible to be launched with the Italian Vega, has achieved an important milestone. The commercial agreement that regulates the PLATiNO Programme was recently signed by Sitael (leading the temporary consortium), Leonardo, Thales Alenia Space Italia and Airbus, in the presence of the Undersecretary to the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Riccardo Fraccaro, and the President of the Italian Space Agency (ASI) Giorgio Saccoccia. ⁷⁾

With over €100 million investment from ASI and the Italian government, the programme will see the development of two missions for the launch of the PLATiNO satellites. PLATiNO 1 will include the use of a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) operating in the X-band, while PLATiNO 2 will use an observation infrared instrument.

For PLATiNO 2, Leonardo is jointly responsible with SITAEL (prime contractor of this mission), to develop the main Thermal InfraRed (TIR) instrument, an advanced camera that will capture infrared images – temperature maps – of our planet, monitoring its health and climate changes.

Sensor Complement

Hyperspectral payload (HYP-PL) - PLATiNO-4

The HYP PL instrument is an imaging spectrometer designed to capture the spectral signature of ground targets within the 400 nm to 2500 nm wavelength range. It operates using a pushbroom system with matrix detectors, where the swath across the track is captured along the detector's rows and the spectrum along the columns. The satellite's motion direction helps create the along-track (ALT) spectral image of the target through consecutive acquisitions.
This system provides users with a hyperspectral cube containing 3D Earth scene data, breaking down the ground target into multiple images, each corresponding to a specific spectral band with a bandwidth of less than 10 nm. A single spectrometer module, equipped with a diffraction grating as the dispersing element, covers the entire 400 nm to 2500 nm spectral range.
The HYP PL, combined with platform agility, can operate in two imaging modes with different ground sampling distances (GSD): STRIPMAP and SPOTLIGHT. In STRIPMAP mode, the HYP PL points Nadir and captures images with a 30m GSD. In SPOTLIGHT mode, the satellite performs a pitch maneuver to slow down the ground track, increasing the dwell time and enhancing SNR performance, thus achieving a good SNR at a 20m GSD.
The instrument is designed to be mounted on a small satellite platform weighing around 300 kg, making it suitable for applications requiring high revisit times where a satellite constellation is employed. Additionally, the HYP-PL includes a Panchromatic Camera that improves image acquisition by covering the full swath with a synchronous 5m ground resolution.

The HYP P/L consists of three main components:

- The Instrument Optical Module (IOM)
- The Panchromatic Camera (PAN)
- The Payload Instrument Control Unit (P-ICU)

Figure 7 depicts the Instrument Optical Module, which comprises several components:

The Optical Head (OH), consisting of:

- The Telescope Assembly (position 1)
- The Spectrometer Assembly (position 2)
- with at lower level: the Optical Bench (position 3), the Isostatic Mounting Device (position 4), the Cover Assembly (position 5), the spectrometer electro-optical units

The other components are:

- The Radiator Assembly (position 6)
- The Payload to Platform Interface Plate (position 7)
- The Thermal Control System and its associated hardware
- The Multi-Layer Insulation (MLI)

The parameters and the achieved performance of the HYP P/L are listed in Table 4:

References

1) ”Platino,” SITAEL, URL: https://www.sitael.com/space/small-satellites/systems/minisat-platino/

2) ”SITAEL;” URL: https://sasic.sa.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/andrea-cafagna-4th-SASF.pdf

3) ”Main Involvements on Earth Observation Programmes,” SITAEL, December 2021, URL: https://www.sitael.com/space/references-and-customers/earth-observation/

4) ”High Speed Serial Link (HSSL) has been selected for PLATiNO programme,” Celestia-STS, 2 April 2021, URL: https://celestia-sts.com/2021/
high-speed-serial-link-hssl-has-been-selected-for-platino-programme/

5) ”Arianespace to launch PLATiNO 1 & 2 on Vega and Vega C,” Arianespace Press Release, 6 January 2022, URL: https://www.arianespace.com/press-release/
arianespace-to-launch-platino-1-2-on-vega-and-vega-c/

6) ”PLATiNO Programme: signed the long term agreement,” ASI, 19 July 2021, URL: https://www.asi.it/en/2020/06/platino-programme-signed-the-long-term-agreement/

7) ”An all-Italian high-tech space platform,” Leonardo News, 25 June 2020, URL: https://www.leonardocompany.com/en/news-and-stories-detail
/-/detail/an-all-italian-high-tech-space-platform

8) Ansalone L. a, Picchiani M., Longo F., Pulcino V., Luciani R., Blasone G.P., Mastrandrea C.A., Ribechini L., Vitolo M.D., Bencini C., Simoncelli C., “PLATINO-4: THE COMPACT HYPERSPECTRAL PAYLOAD PROGRAM OF THE ITALIAN SPACE AGENCY, DESCRIPTION AND STATUS”, ASI, Leonardo, IGARSS, July 2024

9) Leonardo, “The Italian Space Agency and Leonardo sign payload contracts for the upcoming PLATiNO missions for Earth observation with minisatellites”, January 23, 2023, URL: https://www.leonardo.com/en/press-release-detail/-/detail/23-01-2023-2-the-italian-space-agency-and-leonardo-sign-payload-contracts-for-the-upcoming-platino-missions-for-earth-observation-with-minisatellites 

10) ASI, “Current and future Earth Observation missions: an Italian data portfolio unique in the world”, September 2021, URL: https://www.asi.it/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/00.ASI-UOT-Presentation-ASI-Longo-20211104_V01.pdf 

11) ASI, “Italian Space Agency PLATiNO missions: observing the Earth with SAR, TIR, VNIR and Hyperspectral payloads”, May 2022, URL: https://earth.esa.int/living-planet-symposium-2022-presentations/26.05.Thursday/Tokio/0830-1010/3_Zoffoli.pdf

Back to top