First wireless satellite ditches cables
Previously, all single components of a satellite had to be interconnected using electric cables. Skith has changed that by using miniaturised high-speed real-time radio modules with short ranges. This reduces design effort and costs while boosting the satellite’s technical reliability and flexibility. Skith stands for “skip the harness”.
For this achievement, the researchers were the overall winners of the recent INNOspace Masters competition as well as winners of the category “DLR Space Administration Challenge”. DLR is the national aeronautics and space research centre of the Federal Republic of Germany.
“The system is ready and waiting in our labs to be tested in space under real conditions,” says Mikschl. In 2018 already, Skith could hitch a ride on a satellite to be launched into space, allowing the system to prove how well it functions under real conditions.
The DLR has organised the competition for the first time. Under the motto “Satellite 4.0”, participants were invited to submit suggestions and concepts for the future of aeronautics. Fifty companies, universities and research institutions from eight European countries participated.
The competition is organised by DLR Space Administration on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy. The competition is part of the INNOspace initiative that has promoted innovations and technology transfers between astronautics and other industry sectors since 2013.
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