Tianzhi-2 D Satellite - Nanosats Database

Satellite	Tianzhi-2 D (Tianzhi II)
Spacecraft type	CubeSat
Units or mass	20U
Status	Operational? (No news found as of late 2023)
Launched	2023-01-15
NORAD ID	?
Deployer	?
Launcher	Long March 2D
Organisation	Hangsheng Satellite
Institution	Company
Entity type	Commercial
Country	China
Operator	In-house?
Partners	Chinese Academy of Sciences
Oneliner	Tianzhi-2 D star (Rizhao No. 3 satellite) is the first satellite of the software-defined shared constellation.
Description	Tianzhi-2 D star (Rizhao No. 3 satellite) is the first satellite of the software-defined shared constellation. The software-defined micro-satellite developed by Hangsheng Satellite and the Software Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences is dedicated to the on-orbit verification and shared application of key technologies of software-defined optical remote sensing satellites. “Different from previous satellites, the Tianzhi-2 D star no longer has a separate satellite system, attitude control, and digital control system.” Zhao Junsuo, a researcher at the Institute of Software, Chinese Academy of Sciences, said that thanks to the onboard computing power of up to 40TOPS (Tera Operations Per Second, trillion operations per second), the satellite software realizes full deployment on the unified micro-cloud computing platform for the first time, and then drives intelligent scheduling and computing. “Tianzhi 2” D star adopts the innovative architecture design of intelligent computing engine + switch + intelligent components for the first time in terms of hardware. As a “hub”, the switch connects various computing engines to the top, and connects super-resolution cameras, wide-field cameras, measurement and control magnets, inertial measurement units and other components to the bottom, forming a new model of “joint control and joint use”. “The advantage of ‘joint control and joint use’ is that it not only reduces the complexity of interface design, but also improves the utilization rate of storage and computing resources.” Zhao Junsuo said, “Tianzhi II” D star has a small size and large energy, which can be improved during design. Requirements, adopting a compact structure, while ensuring high space-borne computing power and achieving meter-level ground resolution, the body is only 19 kg. “Tianzhi 2” D star adopts Tianzhi software stack with open system architecture in software design. According to Zhao Junsuo, similar to the “Android” concept in the mobile phone system, it has a good openness and is equipped with a special integrated platform for development, operation and maintenance, which can be quickly iterated and continuously evolved, thereby continuously improving the intelligence level of satellites in orbit. This system greatly reduces the “threshold” for satellite applications to be uploaded to space for testing: satellite applications only need to be uploaded to the system, and the satellite attitude can be automatically adjusted according to the shooting task, and the image data can be processed in real time on-orbit using artificial intelligence technology , automatically select the ground station and establish a connection to download the ground at the first time. Therefore, the difficulty of ground missions on the D star of “Tianzhi II” will be greatly reduced, and the timeliness of information will also be greatly improved. According to reports, after the “Tianzhi-2” D star enters orbit, it will carry out a new generation of intelligent satellite architecture and space-based intelligent software stack verification tests in orbit for the first time to evaluate the in-orbit application efficiency of multi-party algorithms and models. During the in-orbit period, the joint research and development unit Space-based Integrated Information System Key Laboratory (software assembly), Hunan Hangsheng (hardware assembly), National Defense University, Beijing Maiya, Tianxieli, Xi’an Huanyu, Tianjin Yunyao, etc. Members of the Software Defined Satellite Technology Alliance jointly manage and share use. According to Zhao Junsuo, the Institute of Software of the Chinese Academy of Sciences will work with members of the software-defined satellite technology alliance to develop more new technology test satellites, build Tianzhi test constellations, and accelerate the evolution of Tianzhi software stack, Tianzhi protocol stack and other software-defined satellite technologies. Carry out continuous technological innovation activities for mega-constellation construction and operation and maintenance
Sources	[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]
Photo sources	[1] [2]
On the same launch	Beiyou-1 Golden Bauhinia 3 Golden Bauhinia 4 Tianzhi-2 D

Last modified: 2023-12-31