Geoscan develops and manufactures small-sized CubeSat-standard space platforms for Earth remote sensing and communication tasks.
InnoSat16 was the first 16U CubeSat developed by Geoscan. It was launched from the Vostochny Cosmodrome into a sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of approximately 500 km on July 25, 2025. InnoSat16 carries a panchromatic camera manufactured by JSC NPO Lepton for imaging the Earth’s surface with a resolution of 2.5 m/pixel.
Microsatellites for Earth Remote Sensing
To address Earth remote sensing tasks, the platform can be equipped with high-resolution cameras capable of nadir pixel projection of up to 2.5 m from an altitude of 500 km and a swath width of 12 km. The cameras can be:
- panchromatic for black-and-white imagery (single spectral channel),
- multispectral for color imagery (several spectral channels, including in the near-infrared range),
- hyperspectral (dozens of spectral channels, including in the near-infrared range).
Microsatellites for Communication
The platform can also be the basis for satellites designed to address communication tasks. The technical solutions employed and the available internal volume allow for the installation of powerful transceiver devices on board, capable of operating in both narrow and wide bandwidths.
Clean Room Assembly
Geoscan has established a cleanroom for satellite assembly — a specialized area with controlled environmental parameters. Technological operations requiring a minimal level of airborne contamination are performed here. The cleanroom has an area of approximately 30 m² and is certified to cleanliness class ISO 7 according to GOST R ISO 14644-1-2017.
Satellite Systems
The satellite is equipped with an attitude determination and control system. It includes a set of sensors and actuators, which allow the specified image characteristics to be achieved. For rapid data transmission to Earth, a high-speed transmitter with 250 Mbps capacity is installed onboard the satellite.
The platform’s solar panels use photovoltaic converters made from gallium arsenide. This material offers increased resistance to radiation and temperature fluctuations, boosting the average power generated by the solar panels by more than 50% compared to silicon-based cells.
Upon request, the satellite can be equipped with a propulsion system, extending its operational lifespan to up to 5 years.
Geoscan 16U
The platform is a satellite of the CubeSat 16U form factor with free volume for payload. It provides power supply, control, positioning, and stabilization of the satellite, as well as its two-way communication with the ground station. The platform is designed to operate in a low Earth orbit at an altitude of 400–600 km.
Geoscan 16U satellite platform
- 20 kg — assembled mass
- 32 kg — max. mass with payload
- 251.3x251.3x454 mm — dimensions in folded state
Specifications of Geoscan 16U
| Parameter | Value | |
| Assembled weight (without payload) | 20 kg | |
| Folded dimensions (with retracted separation system elements) | 251.3x251.3x454 mm (251.3x251.3x512 mm with Tuna Can) |
|
| Power bus voltage | 10.5…12.6 V | |
| On-board bus interface | 2 x CAN UART |
|
| Mass storage capacity | 13 x FRAM 8 Mbit 1 x MRAM 16 Mbit 3 х NOR Flash 512 Mbit 2 x SPI NOR 2 Gbit |
|
| Type of solar panels | gallium arsenide | |
| Generated peak power | 45 W | |
| Battery type | 2 x Li-Ion 3P3S 10500 mAh | |
| Battery capacity | 2 x 120 W·h | |
| UHF radio communication | half-duplex; frequency band 435–438 MHz; 2-GFSK (option — convolutional coding 1/2); data rate – 57600 bps; |
|
| X-band radio communication | simplex (“downlink” channel); frequency band 10.45–10.5 GHz; DVB-S2: modulations: BPSK, QPSK, 8PSK, 16APSK, 32 APSK, encoding: LDPC + BCH 1/4, 1/3, 2/5, 1/2, 3/5, 2/3, 3/4, 4/5, 5/6, 6/7, 8/9, 9/10; capacity 250 Mbps |
|
| Maximum transmitter power | 32 dBm | |
| UHF antenna type | turnstile | |
| X-band antenna type | patch array | |
| Positioning system | 1 x star sensor, 2 x three-axis magnetometers, 6 х 2 solar sensors, inertial measurement unit (fiber-optic gyroscopes, accelerometers), 2 x GNSS receivers |
|
| Positioning system | magnetic coils, reaction wheels | |
| Stabilization modes | B-Dot, 1-axis positioning, 3-axis positioning |
|
| Positioning accuracy (3σ) | up to 0.01˚ | |
| Stabilization accuracy (3σ) | up to 0.005 ˚/s | |
| Power supply available to payload * | regulated 3.3…24 V / 2 A, unregulated 10.5…12.6 V / 2 A |
|
| Payload interface * | CAN, configurable LVDS | |
| Maximum available payload power, W ** | up to 50 W | |
| Volume available for payload | ~8U | |
* to be discussed as per the customer's requirements
** to be specified for a particular orbit