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Guidance, Navigation, and Control System for Maneuverable Pico-Satellites

Award Information

Agency:
National Aeronautics and Space Administration 		Branch:
N/A 		Award ID:
90864 		Program Year/Program:
2009 / STTR
Agency Tracking Number:
080095 		Solicitation Year:
N/A 		Solicitation Topic Code:
N/A 		Solicitation Number:
N/A
Small Business Information
Austin Satellite Design, LLC
4104 Aqua Verde Dr. Austin, TX -
View profile »
Woman-Owned: No
Minority-Owned: No
HUBZone-Owned: No
 
Phase 1
Fiscal Year: 2009
Title: Guidance, Navigation, and Control System for Maneuverable Pico-Satellites
Agency: NASA
Contract: NNX09CF67P
Award Amount: $99,734.00
 

Abstract:

A compact, low-power GN&C system is essential to the success of pico-satellite Automated Rendezvous and Docking (AR&D). Austin Satellite Design (ASD) proposes to deliver a working design of an integrated six-degree-of-freedom (DOF) Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GN&C) system for pico-satellites at the conclusion of Phase 1 of this STTR. A six DOF translation and rotation determination and control system will be designed for a pico-satellite form-factor to generate the onboard guidance and control necessary to demonstrate autonomous control stability and perform simple proximity maneuvers. An existing NASA/JSC GPS receiver will be utilized for navigation. Added sensors, such as a magnetometer, will be combined with GPS signals for attitude determination. A thruster actuator concept will be identified and a design produced that satisfies anticipated operational requirements and that fits within the mass and power constraints of the pico-satellite mission. Flight hardware will not be procured until Phase 2; however, component characteristics will be documented and modeled during Phase 1 and GN&C algorithms will be written to include them. Software that can be deployed to embedded systems will be written and validated in simulation. At the conclusion of Phase 1, simulated GN&C will be demonstrated within a pico-satellite form factor using embedded software such that a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 3 or 4 is achieved.

Principal Investigator:

E. Glenn Lightsey
Principal Investigator
5126633069
lightsey@austin.rr.com

Business Contact:

E. Glenn Lightsey
Business Official
5126633069
Small Business Information at Submission:

Austin Satellite Design
4104 Aqua Verde Drive Austin, TX 78746

EIN/Tax ID: 263253405
DUNS: N/A
Number of Employees:
Woman-Owned: No
Minority-Owned: No
HUBZone-Owned: No
Research Institution Information:
The University of Texas at Austin
Office of Sponsored Projects, P.O. Box 7726
Austin, TX 78713 7726
Contact Phone: (512) 471-1422
RI Type: Nonprofit college or university