Rad-hard Location and Attitude Module (R-LAM)

R-LAM (Rad-hard Location and Attitude Module), promises a new generation of both integrated navigation modules and stand-alone navigation subsystems including nav-grade IMU's, atomic-precision clocks and GPS units compliant with the Space Plug and Play Architecture (SPA) initiative.

R-LAM leverages two active DARPA MTO programs. In the Navigation-Grade Integrated Micro-Gyroscope (NG-IMG) project, Archangel Systems, Inc. has developed a MEMS IMU called NG-MARS - a spinning mass IMU with navigation-grade performance.

In DARPA's Chip-Scale Atomic Clock (CSAC) program, Symmetricom, Inc has developed a clock that is 50-100X smaller and lower power than any previous atomic clock technology, while exhibiting short-term stability of y(τ) < 1x10-10/1/2 and long-term drift of < 3 x 10-10/month.

NASA-Goddard has constructed a rad-hard GPS called Navigator for the Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) program. Designed for high elliptical orbits (HEO), Navigator uses NASA's Geon algorithms. Currently Navigator weight and power exceeds R-LAM requirements. NASA-Goddard colleagues will advise the R-LAM team as they transition Navigator hardware.

Intrinsix Corp. is an ASIC design house skilled in rad-hard mixed-signal design. They will implement rad-hard support electronics for NG-MARS, CSAC and Navigator. Intrinsix is familiar with NASA's SPA initiatives and will design the R-LAM interface for compliance.