HUMSAT was presented at: UN/Austria/ESA Symposium on Small Satellite Programmes for Sustainable Development:Payloads for Small Satellite Programmes

GRAZ WORKSHOP:

The Symposium will focus on "Payloads for Small Satellite Programmes" and will address the following objectives:

• Review the status of world-wide small satellite activities, with a particular focus on regional cooperation;
• Examine the potential of using small satellites for education, research and operational applications;
• Discuss the technical and programmatic issues of developing payloads for small satellites; and
• Consider the relevant regulatory issues (such as frequency allocations, space debris mitigation, registration) specific to small satellite programmes

HUMSAT PROJECT:

The main purpose of the HUMSAT system is the development of a satellite-based system for connecting a set of users with a network of worldwide distributed sensors which they have previously deployed.

The HUMSAT system will provide communications coverage in places where there is no communications infrastructure, such as underdeveloped areas, uninhabited areas and areas that have been devastated by a natural disaster. Apart from providing communication services for these regions, the communication capabilities provided by the HUMSAT system will also be available in other areas all over the world.

The HUMSAT system is expected to provide its services:

1. Autonomous climate change control measurements; for instance, in-situ measurements of wind speed and direction in several locations of the Atlantic Ocean or for continuously monitoring the temperature at different points in the Arctic Ocean.
2. Low data-rate communications support in infrastructures-less areas like, for example, certain areas of developing countries or uninhabited areas like the Sahara Desert.
3. Emergency beacon localization, for providing support in humanitarian initiatives or in emergencies (natural disasters, accidents... etc.).