Small satellites, in the micro and mini class, are very suitable for many tasks; however, they have mostly been used as student satellites, but now they may prove to be of more current interest for the more professional market. In the size of 100 x 100 mm and 1 kilograms, they can contain small scientific payloads, mainly used for educational purposes. If need be they can be assembled as stacks of several cubes and give an extended satellite. However, there are limits for miniaturizing and the next step will be payloads placed at some larger platform.
If it turns out successfully, as planned, Sweden and Norway are capable of providing the whole spectre of service from building platforms and payloads, to launching and managing small satellites.
It may all become a reality in the next decade – satellites developed and built in the Nordic countries, launched with a Nordic developed launcher from the Northern Norway and managed through the Norwegian satellite station on Svalbard.