Satellite bus

Communications satellite bus and payload module

A satellite bus (or spacecraft bus) is the main body and structural component of a satellite or spacecraft, in which the payload and all scientific instruments are held.

Bus-derived satellites are less customized than specially-produced satellites, but have specific equipment added to meet customer requirements, for example with specialized sensors or transponders, in order to achieve a specific mission.[1][2][3][4]

They are commonly used for geosynchronous satellites, particularly communications satellites, but are most commonly used in spacecraft which occupy low Earth orbit missions.

  1. ^ "TU Delft: Spacecraft bus subsystems". Lr.tudelft.nl. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2014-04-23.
  2. ^ "Spacecraft Systems". Braeunig.us. Retrieved 2014-04-23.
  3. ^ "The James Webb Space Telescope". Jwst.nasa.gov. Retrieved 2014-04-23.
  4. ^ "Antrix Corporation Ltd - Satellites > Spacecraft Systems & Sub Systems". Antrix.gov.in. 2009-09-24. Archived from the original on 2014-02-20. Retrieved 2014-04-23.