Lack of reliable, flexible, low cost transportation for small payloads is a bottleneck in the development and deployment of space based systems. pacastro's family of rocket vehicles, employing a core pressure-fed, liquid propulsion unit and electronics and software technology developed in small low… More

World-wide wind velocity, both speed and direction, from the ground through 50,000 ft. altitude can be accurately measured using a small space-based payload. the propow=sed project will demonstrate that recent developed laser, detector and spacecraft technologies can be exploited and integrated into… More

Construction of a very small (~1 kg) satellite bus compatible with the requirements of a 3 axis controlled satellite mission is presently technically feasible. Such systems have been discussed, but none have been realized yet because of technology and cost considerations. Such a satellite would have… More

PacAstro has shown that significant cost reduction and operational advantages are possible for small orbital and suborbital mission using a simple pressure fed, LOX/Kerosene vehicle configuration. Under private and government funding, we have begun development of the engine which is critical to… More

Not Available TDA Research, Inc. (TDA) proposes to develop a catalytic process for the in-situ generation of liquid hydrocarbon propellants from carbon dioxide and hydrogen on the surface of Mars. The Martian atmosphere is mostly composed of CO2 which can be converted

Future satellite architectures must readily support the on-orbit maintenance and servicing that is vital for maintaining and dynamically reconfiguring both commercial and military satellites during orbital operation. A well-founded architectural designmust also address the need to reduce costs… More

The ability to maneuver, change orbits, and rapidly deploy spacecraft is a key requirement for the space user community. However, large and bulky propulsion systems with a significant mass of fuel on board often limit the maneuverability and capabilitiesof space vehicles. AeroAstro is developing… More

"One of the most significant barriers to routine space access is the high cost of launch to orbit. The currently available launch means to Low Earth Orbit are disproportionately expensive to the value of these small systems. Even on today's mostinexpensive launch vehicles, launch costs remain… More

"A modular satellite platform that is capable of achieving rapid, easily configurable and low cost mission objectives has been a goal of the space industry for many years. The ability to design a flexible modular spacecraft platform that can supportmultiple mission variations can achieve the… More

"The lifetime of many space systems critical to missile defense is limited by the availability of on-board expendable resources, such as cryogenic fluids and fuels. As these systems become more complex and expensive, the ability to extend the capacity ofon-board cryogenics becomes a key driver of… More

"A significant problem for stakeholders in large satellite systems is the difficulty of getting data about these systems when it counts the most - in orbit and during critical anomalous situations. Near-field diagnostic tools - including visual andinfrared images and close-range radio frequency… More

"AeroAstro proposes to develop a scaleable architecture for a low cost, rapid response Smart Escort Microsatellite inspection and servicing system that will support the needs of the United States military's current and planned space assets, while workingwithin the constraints of the RASCAL program.… More

"Space vehicles designed to resupply systems such as SBIRS Low and Space-Based Laser, as well as maneuverable targets and interceptors, require an affordable, low system-impact sensor for attitude determination, especially when a high degree of navigationis required for high delta-v maneuvers. … More

"For missions deploying maneuverable vehicles for Boost-Phase and Space-Based Intercept, as well as refueling and resupply for SBIRS Low and Space-Based Laser, MDA requires a compact, highly versatile avionics core with a design that can be reused at verylow cost for a variety of missions. … More

On-orbit servicing and logistics support spacecraft could greatly enhance the flexibility and functionality of many future MDA space assets by providing, refueling, diagnostic, or component replacement services. AeroAstro proposes to take the first stepstowards achieving an affordable on-orbit… More

A significant problem for stakeholders in large satellite systems is the difficulty in getting data about these systems when it is most needed - in orbit and during critical anomalous situations. Near-field diagnostic measurements - including visual andinfrared images and close-range RF… More

AeroAstro and the University of Colorado propose to develop an autonomous satellite power control system to dynamically monitor, schedule and distribute power resources on microsatellites , while remaining sensitive to the mission objectives. The Autonomous Power Scheduler (APS) will maximize power… More

Radios are required for every spacecraft mission, yet spacecraft radios truly suited for nanosatellites currently do no exist. AeroAstro's proposed Modular S-Band Radio Suite (MSBRS) will solve this problem and make inexpensive spacecraft in the 1 to 30kgclass feasible. In this SBIR program… More

A low cost, high performance propulsion system does not exist that can support small and micro-satellite requirements, that is not burdened with severe hazard and toxicity issues. The VACCO Micro Propulsion System (MPS) represents a leap forward in the application of ChEMS? (metal MEMS) propulsion… More

Numerous organization in the US space community have expressed interest in using small satellites to perform space experiments, technology demonstrations, testing of prototype hardware and software, and the fielding of revolutionary systems such assatellite constellations. Unfortunately, the lack… More

In this Phase II effort AeroAstro will refine and focus the rapid response, modular spacecraft architecture development, SCOUT, begun in Phase I. In Phase I AeroAstro identified several key, enabling technologies that must be matured to realize a responsive space military asset. Plug-and-Sense… More

The Autonomous Power Scheduler (APS) being developed by AeroAstro and Los Alamos National Laboratory will significantly improve the performance of small spacecraft power management, resulting in better utilization of the limited power resources for their payloads and subsystems. APS will dynamically… More

For the past several years, AeroAstro has been unifying the results of its SBIR efforts into a central thrust to once and for all bring the cost of spacecraft buses below one million dollars. This has resulted in a modular stackable spacecraft system; the Plug'n'Sense software architecture standard… More

The development of a fully programmable space borne Transceiver is offered. This Transceiver builds on existing digital technology and adapts it to the space environment. This is done with a very careful analysis of potential problems both in the technical area and in the manufacture area. An… More

In partnership with MIT, AeroAstro will continue the development of a highly innovative lightweight, inexpensive, low power star tracker for small satellite applications. No solution currently exists currently in this area of the trade space. The design developed in Phase I takes advantage of the… More

There was a time when the calculated probability that a Low Earth Orbiting (LEO) spacecraft might be struck by space debris was relatively small. Today that is not the case. With the quantity of debris presently in orbit, a spacecraft remaining in LEO for any appreciable length of time will be… More

On the modern battlefield, remote sensing of the environment is critical to the success of a military mission. The currently available sensor deployment tools can be made more effective, through the augmentation of WASPS. Truly responsive, tactical remote sensing includes the capability to… More

To determine pointing and position vectors in both local and inertial coordinate frames, multi-spacecraft missions typically utilize separate attitude determination and formation metrology systems. For low Earth orbits (LEO), fleet position and geometry knowledge is almost exclusively achieved by… More

To achieve the capability to affordably produce scores of nano-spacecraft for envisioned constellation missions, a new manufacturing process is needed to reduce the time and cost of fabricating and testing the nanosats. However, to achieve substantial savings, a fundamental paradigm shift in how… More

NASA has determined that the use of modular and reconfigurable components is critical for the success of future large and complex space systems. In order to achieve this goal, it is necessary to be able to assemble and reassemble modules both on the ground and on orbit. Therefore, it requires a… More

This SBIR Phase II effort will build on the AeroAstro Phase I STDN radio development to create an extremely small and lightweight SGLS satellite radio with an optional interface to a current US cryptographic system. This SBIR Phase II effort will take the development program through production of a… More

Currently available domestic star trackers, optimized for reliability and maximum accuracy at low angular velocity, are far too heavy, large, and expensive to meet the requirements of microsatellites. An opportunity exists to meet the needs of US microsatellites by developing a highly miniaturized,… More

AeroAstro proposes to leverage its existing innovative miniature star-tracker design to develop an improved star tracker that provides both spacecraft attitude and angular rate information. The resulting system will have minimal cost and impact to spacecraft resources and can easily handle typical… More

AeroAstro proposes decomposing nitrous oxide (N2O) as an alternative propellant to existing spacecraft propellants. Decomposing N2O can be used as either a high Isp, hot-gas monopropellant or as a low Isp, cold gas for ACS thrusters. AeroAstro further proposes to use an innovative technique to… More

By examining the occurrence rates and types of actual on-orbit failures, a failure servicing industry can be projected. Similarly, by examining the lifetimes of working or recently retired spacecraft, a lifetime extension servicing market can be characterized. By examining actual historic… More

AeroAstro proposes to develop a low-power, low-volume and lightweight, state-of-the-art digital radio capable of operating in a wide variety of bands, from VHF through Ka microwave, with data transceive capabilities of voice, telemetry, and high-resolution video. This device is intended for use in… More

AeroAstro's innovative design approach for implementing reconfigurable electronics frees the spacecraft designer to concentrate on the mission at hand with significant assurance that single-point failures can be automatically corrected. It also uses dynamic reconfiguration to change circuit… More

AeroAstro proposes to develop an innovative spacecraft communications and power bus that will solve the complexity and reliability issues identified on the Space Tracking and Surveillance System (STSS) spacecraft. The multi-tap data and power bus (M-TAB) uses a single cable to connect all nodes of… More

AeroAstro proposes to develop a wideband, broad area coverage RF sensor (antenna and receiver) capable of detecting the electromagnetic interference (EMI) generated during a spacecraft's nominal operations. This EMI is an exploitable form of RF MASINT, specifically unintended radiated emissions… More

The nature of human exploration missions to the Moon and Mars demands a frequency-agile, reconfigurable, durable digital radio delivering telemetry, ranging, voice, video, and data, with low Size, Weight, and Power (SWAP), and easy operation in the demanding space environment of Extra Vehicular… More

Modern electronic systems tolerate only as many point failures as there are redundant system copies, using mere macro-scale redundancy. Fault Tolerant Electronics Supporting Space Exploration (FTESSE) creates an electronic design paradigm using reprogrammable FPGAs to create swappable Circuit… More

Real-time estimation of relevant ionospheric parameters is required for military applications and to further our understanding of space weather and its societal and technological impacts. Currently, a major limitation in the modeling of ionospheric physics is a complete lack of input data… More

Achieving low-cost space missions implies lowering all phases of mission development, including spacecraft design, assembly, integration and test. The concept of the wireless spacecraft bus is something most technical people are at least half familiar with - the half which includes wireless data… More

There are three specific objectives in this Phase II proposal. The first objective is to expand on the new aspects of the science and RF remote sensing abilities of unintentional signals in space environments. A second objective is to continue development of a wideband unintentional signal receiver… More