Abstract Deadline
Feb 2, 2021
11:59 PM MT
Abstract Notification
Mar 30, 2021
Selected Papers Due
Jun 1, 2021
Submit an Abstract
Abstracts are being accepted for consideration in the following:
Weekend Technical Sessions
Education and Academia: Research Programs, Lessons Learned, Tutorials
Weekday Technical Sessions
Cutting-edge Technologies and Missions Supporting Small Satellite Endeavors
SmallSat Swifties
Selected participants will be given three minutes for a flash talk during breaks from the Technical Sessions
Poster Sessions
Printed posters will be hung during the Technical Sessions. Dedicated viewing times are held twice daily
When submitting, be prepared to supply the following information:
- Title of paper
- Point of contact information
- Presenter name and contact information
- List of co-authors including name, affiliation, and email addresses
- Abstract – 500 word maximum, ascii text only
- The 2021 session topic that best fits the abstract (select one)
- Indicate if you want the abstract to also be considered for the Poster Sessions or Swifties
Abstract Selection
Abstracts are selected by a peer review panel based on:
- Appropriate Technical content
- Value and relevance to Conference and session topic
- Lack of advertisement/marketing*
*Abstracts that focus primarily on the marketing are strongly discouraged
Please Note: By submitting, each author/co-author agrees to the following:
- If accepted to present a Technical paper to accompany the presentation is required. Posters and Swifties do not require a technical paper.
- The Small Satellite Conference is authorized to circulate abstracts to committee members and reviewers for evaluation and selection purposes.
- Selected presentations and papers will be included in the Small Satellite Conference online proceedings. Proper approval and clearances are the responsibility of the authors; please plan accordingly.
Conference Theme
Mission Operations & Autonomy
Operations and data delivery at the speed of light
Small satellites have been a key enabler for new space missions and proliferated architectures that are being developed in response to the driving demands of commercial markets and government equities. The scale and complexity of these missions push the limits of classical command and control, while requirements for increased knowledge product timeliness drive innovative approaches to data delivery.
To provide these operational capabilities with confidence, a host of new mission operations approaches, and integrated onboard autonomy are under development. They will enable information delivery and knowledge exchange without the historical delays associated with terrestrial relays, human-in-the-loop decision making, and ground-based processing. Instead, they will integrate new elements using AI/ML, secure mesh networking, and more sophisticated onboard processing to deliver knowledge products to users at the speed of light.
The 35th Annual Small Satellite Conference will explore the realm of the possible in new space mission operations and autonomy enablers that will drive the speed of information exchange.
Weekend Technical Sessions
Education and Academia: Research Programs, Lessons Learned, Tutorials
Coordinating Successful Educational Programs
A review of previous/ongoing efforts to train engineers and scientists using small satellite programs, with an emphasis on lessons learned that benefit the broader community.
Year in Review – Education and Academia
A review of educational missions launched in the past 18 months with an emphasis on lessons learned and technological advancements that significantly enhanced mission utility.
Next on the Pad – Education and Academia
A preview of educational missions scheduled to fly within the next 18 months with an emphasis on scientific and/or technological purpose of the mission.
Mission Operations & Autonomy
Innovative technologies or full-up systems (hardware/software) for ground networks, mission operations centers and/or approaches to autonomy that significantly advance mission utility of NanoSat or smaller systems.
Strength in Numbers
A review of current or envisioned constellations, clusters, or swarms that use NanoSats or smaller systems to successfully perform their mission.
Advanced Concepts
Innovative technologies (hardware/software) that provide significant advancements in NanoSat class or smaller missions.
Weekday Technical Sessions
Cutting-edge Technologies and Missions Supporting Small Satellite Endeavors
Year in Review
A review of missions that have been launched in the past 18 months, with an emphasis on lessons learned and/or the technological advancements that significantly enhanced mission utility.
Next on the Pad
A preview of missions that are scheduled to fly within the next 18 months, with an emphasis on the missions and their scientific or technological purpose.
Ground Systems
Innovative technologies or systems (hardware or software) for ground networks, mission operations centers, or science/data analysis that provide significant advances in mission utility.
Space Access
Launch systems, rideshares, or multi-manifest opportunities that are specifically designed to provide access to space for small satellites.
Science/Mission Payloads
Innovative technologies or systems that enable cutting edge missions to be formulated.
Advanced Technologies
Innovative technologies (hardware or software) that provide significant capability advancements in small satellite missions.
Communications
Emerging technologies or techniques for the timeless challenge of communicating with small satellites.
Propulsion
Key technologies for effective on-orbit propulsion and attitude control maneuvering.
Mission Ops & Autonomy
In this session we will explore how innovative new approaches to mission operations and autonomy are driving delivery of knowledge products to users at the speed of light.