STORK Constellation

Quick facts

Overview

Summary

Mission Capabilities

Each satellite is a 3U CubeSat, with 1U dedicated to the main instrument: SatRevolutions's Vision-300 imager. Vision-300 has applications in precision agriculture, forestry, energy, infrastructure and coastal monitoring.

The STORK satellites have 0.75U available to host technology payloads by other customers. SatRev offers in-orbit services such as testing, verification, in-orbit demonstration of Earth observation technologies to customers.

Performance Specifications

SatREvolutions's Vision-300 imager operates in four multispectral bands (RGB and Near Infrared) with a ground resolution between 4.9 - 5.8 m. STORK-1 and -2 are currently orbiting in a Sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 520 km and inclination of 97.5 degrees. 

Space and Hardware Components

The STORK satellites are based on the SatRevolution 3U UniBus platform, designed as a universal satellite bus to accommodate various payloads. The 3U UniBus platform has two Ultra High Frequency (UHF) radios and an S-band transmitter with downlink capability of 9.6 kbps.
 

Overview

STORK is a Polish CubeSat constellation planned to consist of 14 satellites built by SatRevolution S.A. Currently, five STORK satellites have been launched, with STORK-1 and -2 being the only two that are operational. The launch of STORK-6 was a failure due to a rocket fuel error, and STORK-7 re-entered due to a deployment failure.

SatRevolutions's Vision-300 is the main instrument on board the STORK satellites. Vision-300 collects multispectral medium-resolution imagery with applications in precision agriculture, forestry, energy, infrastructure and coastal monitoring. The STORK mission allows agricultural and energy customers to host technology payloads on the available 0.75U of the satellite. Customers are given the opportunity to conduct in-orbit testing, verification, in-orbit demonstration of Earth observation technologies. 1) 2)

Spacecraft

Each STORK satellite is a 3U CubeSat, with a standard size of 1U measuring 10x10x10 cm. The STORK satellites dedicate 1U to the Vision-300 imager and up to 0.75U is available to host technology payloads by other customers. The satellites are powered by solar cell batteries with up to 50 W of peak power for external payloads. 1) 2)

Launch

Currently, 5 STORK satellites have been launched of the total 14 that are planned. STORK-4 and -5 were launched together with Virgin Orbit’s launcher One on June 30, 2021 and have both since reentered Earth’s atmosphere on October 22, 2023. The STORK-1 and -2 satellites were launched on January 13, 2022 onboard a Falcon 9 rocket as part of the SpaceX Transporter-3 mission, and as of 2024, both satellites are currently operational. STORK-3 was launched on the same day by Virgin Orbit using a LauncherOne rocket and has since reentered as of August 29, 2023. 3) 4)

The launch of STORK-6 on January 9, 2023 was a failure due to a rocket fuel error. The second stage and its payloads fell back to Earth. STORK-7 was launched on November 11, 2023, but experienced deployment failure. 5) 6)

Orbit

The STORK satellites are designed to be launched to approximately 500 km in altitude in sun-synchronous orbits (SSO). STORK-1 and -2 are currently orbiting at 520 km with an inclination of 97.5 degrees.

Mission Status

• November 11, 2023: The STORK-7 satellite experienced deployment failure and was not released from the third-party deployer system. 7)
• October 22, 2023: STORK-4 and -5 are no longer operational and re-entered the atmosphere.
• January 9, 2023: STORK-6 was launched onboard a Virgin Orbit LauncherOne rocket, however failed to reach orbit following an issue with the launcher’s second stage. 4)
• January 13, 2022: The STORK-1 and -2 satellites were launched onboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket as part of the Transporter-3 mission. STORK-3  was launched on the same day by Virgin Orbit using a LauncherOne rocket.
• June 30, 2021: STORK-4 and -5 satellites were launched with Virgin Orbit’s launcher One. 8)
• April, 2021: The development of Vision-300 and manufacturing of 8 STORK satellites commenced​.
• January, 2021: The first venture capital round raised for the development of the STORK constellation.
• August, 2020: SatRevolution Ltd was founded in the UK. 9)

Sensor Complement

Vision-300 Imager

The main instrument on board each STORK satellite is SatREvolutions's Vision-300 optical imager. Vision-300 has applications ranging from precision agriculture, forestry and land use, to energy, infrastructure and coastal monitoring.

SatREvolutions's Vision-300 imager is an optical payload designed for nano- and microsatellite applications developed for collecting multispectral medium-resolution imagery. It has a ground resolution of 4.9 - 5.8 m at 500 km in four multispectral bands (RGB and Near Infrared). 2)

Ground Segment

The STORK satellites are able to perform on-board processing of data collected by the Vision-300 imager, providing up to Level 2 derivative Earth observation products.

References  

1) SatRevolution Ltd. Satrevolution S.A. Sky-brokers. 2021. URL: https://sky-brokers.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/SatRevolution-presentation.pdf 

2) SatRevolution Ltd. Earth-observation data and hardware made to understand the changing world. SatRev. URL: https://www.satrev.space/ 

3) Wall M. Virgin orbit sends 7 satellites to orbit in fourth mid-air launch. Space.com. January 14, 2022. URL: https://www.space.com/virgin-orbit-launches-seven-satellites-january-2022 

4) Kulu E. Stork @ Nanosats Database. Nanosats Database. December 18, 2023. URL: https://www.nanosats.eu/sat/stork

5) Virgin orbit explains First Satellite Mission from UK failed to reach orbit due to rocket fuel error. Sky News. February 15, 2023. URL: https://news.sky.com/story/virgin-orbit-explains-first-satellite-mission-from-uk-failed-to-reach-orbit-due-txo-rocket-fuel-error-12811371

6) Babak M. Polish satellites launched into orbit. Science in Poland. November 21, 2023. URL: https://scienceinpoland.pl/en/news/news%2C99300%2Cpolish-satellites-xlaunched-orbit.html

7) Momentus. Momentus Mission Update. Business Wire. December 5, 2023. URL: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231205400572/en/Momentus-Mission-Update

8) SatRevolution STORK LEO satellite constellation. Skybrokers. March 23, 2022. URL: https://sky-brokers.com/satellite/satrevolution-stork-leo-satellite-constellation/

9) SatRevolution Ltd. About US ● Satrev. SatRev. URL: https://www.satrev.space/about-us