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Multi-Application Survivable Tether (MAST) Experiment

Award Information

Agency:
National Aeronautics and Space Administration 		Branch:
N/A 		Award ID:
61927 		Program Year/Program:
2004 / STTR
Agency Tracking Number:
020007 		Solicitation Year:
N/A 		Solicitation Topic Code:
N/A 		Solicitation Number:
N/A
Small Business Information
Tethers Unlimited, Inc.
11711 N. Creek Pkwy S., Suite D113 Bo, WA -
View profile »
Woman-Owned: No
Minority-Owned: No
HUBZone-Owned: No
 
Phase 2
Fiscal Year: 2004
Title: Multi-Application Survivable Tether (MAST) Experiment
Agency: NASA
Contract: NNM04AB21C
Award Amount: $499,998.00
 

Abstract:

The MAST (Multi-Application Survivable Tether) team, consisting of Tethers Unlimited, Inc. (TUI) and the Standford University Space Systems Development Laboratory (SSDL), propose to develop and fly a very low cost nanosatellite experiment that will demonstrate the deployment of a lightweight multiline tether on orbit and obtain data on its survivability in the micrometeoroid and orbital debris environment. In the Phase I effort, we designed an experiment in which three CubeSats will deploy a 1-kilometer long Hoytether in space, and the middle CubeSat will slowly crawl along the tether, inspecting it for damage. We successfully prototyped and tested key components for this experiment, including a separation/ejection mechanism and avionics for communications, command, and data handling. During the Phase I we also secured $89K in additional, non-SBIR funding that is supporting the development of the crawler and inspector subsystems. In the Phase II effort, we will build and fly the CubeSat-based MAST experiment. The mission will obtain data on tether survivability and tether dynamics that are crucial to the design of all future tether missions.

Principal Investigator:

Robert Hoyt
Principal Investigator
4257440400
hoyt@tethers.com

Business Contact:

Robert Hoyt
Business Official
4257440400
hoyt@tethers.com
Small Business Information at Submission:

Tethers Unlimited
19011 36th Ave W. Suite F Lynnwood, WA 98036

EIN/Tax ID: 911834561
DUNS: N/A
Number of Employees:
Woman-Owned: No
Minority-Owned: No
HUBZone-Owned: No
Research Institution Information:
Stanford University SSDL
469 Lomita Mall, Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305
Contact: Scott Fong
Contact Phone: (650) 723-8651
RI Type: Nonprofit college or university