Results from Flight Qualification of Accion Systems’ TILE 500-class Ion Electrospray Propulsion System
The current satellite industry demands proven, scalable in-space propulsion technologies and is projected to see a dramatic increase in satellite manufacturing and launch over the next decade. The industry has yet to see a single proven, scalable propulsion technology that’s well suited for satellites of all sizes. Scalable ion electrospray propulsion has been developed to…
Enhancing Finite Element Analysis with Digital Image Correlation Point Cloud Test Data
With a new shift towards rocket reusability in trying to reduce launch costs, the ability to gain insight into how to launch vehicles perform thorough analysis and testing is more critical than ever. Trying to balance the very dynamic and extreme loads during take-off with the complex and intricate weight-reducing vehicle structural designs has challenged…
Space-Ground Communications Testbed
Traditional satellite operations focus on ensuring specific individual satellite constellations are optimally performing their missions. The satellite controllers are generally a mix of ground, vehicle, and payload specialists. These types of operators treat constellation issues as system anomalies and are trained to troubleshoot specific issues. The traditional skill set for basic satellite command control may…
Laser Communications: Capabilities and CONOPs for the Warfighter
The DoD demand for beyond line of site capacity, driven by a more connected tactical environment and explosion in ISR, has continued to grow substantially over the past several decades. While improvements in MILSATCOM and in particular High Capacity COMSATCOM have helped the warfighter’s mission there is still substantial unmet need as there are limits…
Protected Satellite Command and Control (C2) Waveforms and Enhanced Satellite Resiliency
Satellites that were once safe deep in space grow more vulnerable as adversaries are increasingly displaying both the intent and wherewithal to compromise and cripple space capabilities in their efforts to challenge our strategic advantage. These vulnerabilities are driving change in military space and countering them requires more resilience, agility, and speed in order to…
Analysis of Commercial Satcom Alternatives Closing Gaps in National Security Space
The leading commercial Satellite Service Providers are supplying Satcom services with increased network capacity, vastly improved end-user terminal data rates, lower cost of deliver and embedded Cyber security defenses. Taken together these capabilities promise to close many of the operational gaps in National Security Space before the deployment of the Space Enterprise Vision/Space Warfighter Construct.…
Modern Approach to Liquid Rocket Engine Development for Microsatellite Launchers
Microsatellites have been carried to space as secondary payloads aboard larger launchers for many years. However, the secondary payload method does not offer the specificity required for modern day demands such as increasingly sophisticated small satellites that have unique orbital and launch-time requirements. Furthermore, to remain competitive the launch cost must be as low as…
Government and IC Program Adoption of Virtualized Small Sat Ground Systems
For a number of years small satellites have been seen as a way to provide low cost solutions for technical demonstrations. Only recently have they been viewed as mission-ready for government and IC programs. While the commercial world has been quicker to adopt these new platforms, government and IC programs have been slower to do…
Satellite Fleet Operations Using a Global Ground Station Network
With the emergence of small satellites and satellite constellations, there have been drastic changes in the overall methodology of satellite operation. Previously, satellite operators tended to operate 1 to 5 satellites using 1 to 3 ground stations. In this newly emerging paradigm, satellite operators will be operating tens to hundreds of satellites using tens of…
Survivability Analysis of a Small Satellite Constellation
Spacecraft are normally designed to survive the numerous natural hazards inherent to spaceflight. Rarely does this process expand to cover defense against human threats. This paper presents a survivability assessment of a generic small satellite constellation and recommends design changes and tactics that will optimize defense while maximizing the preservation of capability. Traditional satellites possess…