Advancing nano-satellite platforms: The Delfi Program

The Delfi Program aims to launch a nano-satellite every 2.5 years with the objectives to give the best education for space engineering, to test and qualify novel space technology and to enhance the nanosatellite platform to open doors for new applications. With Delfi-C3 in orbit, Delfi-n3Xt in development for a launch in 2010 and preliminary plans for the future, TU Delft wants to put itself at the top level of small satellites engineering. Although the size of nano-satellites puts some constraints on the potential performance and applications, the theoretical limits are still far ahead and nano-satellites might have more potential than typically assumed. This potential can only be made possible if the development goal for each satellite matches the availability of resources and a realistic planning in time.