Orbital LEOStar-3 Bus - Manual

• Compatible with mid-sized launch
vehicles
• Missions flown with launch masses
from 817 to 4,288 kg
• Onboard propulsion standard
• Available in NASA's RSDO catalog
• Extensive flight heritage: 12 launched
to date, 1 in production
• Supports multiple, complex payload
instruments
- Externally accessible decks
with simple bolt-on mounting
- Open architecture, standard
electrical interfaces
• Demonstrated contamination control
processes for sensitive instruments
• Single-string, selective, or full
redundancy
• All assembly, payload integration,
and system testing performed in
one of Orbital's two 135,000 square
foot satellite manufacturing facilities
(Arizona and Virginia)
• 21-36 months award-to-bus delivery
• 36-48 months award-to-launch
Satellite Bus
FACTS AT A GLANCE
Design
The LEOStar-3 spacecraft is the most capable of Orbital’s buses. Originated to support long-life
missions, the standard, modular bus design incorporates improvements and upgrades from Orbital's
subsequent bus developments and their highly successful missions. For each new contract, Orbital
selects the flight-proven core-design best matched for the specific mission, then scales, adapts, and
optimizes the design for the mission’s needs. This modularization and design re-use concept has
resulted in shorter schedule times and reduced risk.
The LEOStar-3 is featured in NASA Goddard’s Rapid Spacecraft Development Office (RSDO) catalog. It
is optimized for LEO missions, but can be configured to support deep-space/interplanetary, MEO, HEO,
or GEO applications.
The LEOStar-3 architecture utilizes open frame avionics with standard backplane configurations
(e.g., cPCI), and externally accessible open payload areas with simple bolt-on structural and open
architecture electrical interfaces. Field Programmable Gate Arrays are used extensively to provide
re-programmability and to reduce parts count. Six and eight sided structure designs with honeycomb
panels and aluminum frames are used that can easily be re-sized in height and diameter as needed to
accommodate customer mission requirements.
Payload Accomodations
Single or multiple payloads are easily accommodated by the externally accessible modular payload
deck. This enables parallel integration and testing, reducing the overall delivery schedule, as well as
reducing the potential impact of unforeseen problems, incorporation of technology upgrades, and
requirements changes.
LEO
Dulles, Virginia SMF Gilbert, Arizona SMF
LEOStar
™
-3 Bus
Flight-Proven, Standard Modular Spacecraft Bus