Satellite bus

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.

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

Examples

Some satellite bus examples include:

• Boeing DS&S 702
• Lockheed Martin Space Systems A2100
• Moog Inc. SL-OMV, Meteor, Meteorite
• Alphabus – Family of geostationary communications satellites
• INVAP ARSAT-3K
• Airbus D&S Eurostar
• ISRO's I-1K, I-2K, I-3K, I-4K, I-6K, and Indian Mini Satellite bus
• NASA Ames MCSB
• SSL 1300
• Rocket Lab Photon – Satellite bus made by Rocket Lab family
• Orbital ATK Star Bus family, inc GEOStar
• Mitsubishi Electric DS2000
• Spacecraft bus of the James Webb Space Telescope
• SPUTNIX TabletSat
• SPUTNIX OrbiCraft-Pro