Phase II Amount
$1,788,844
The need to develop a low-cost, lightweight, 'generic' payload adapter for multiple micro-satellite launches is significant. Typically, a customer develops a specific adapter for each launch manifest adding substantial cost and schedule. In addition, once the payload adapter is designed, customers do not have the capability to modify or add payloads to their launch manifest thus losing many important opportunities. Applied Aerospace Structures Corp., in conjunction with CSA Engineering and Starsys Research Corp. plans to provide an innovative system solution by offering a re-configurable, bulk honeycomb panel assembly with options for 'off-the-shelf' payload separation systems. During this Phase II contract, a flight payload adapter will be designed, fabricated and tested for the PicoSat/OSP-3 mission. Options include design, fabrication and test of a generic payload adapter and three different, non-shock payload separation systems. Once completed, the system solution will not only be flight qualified for use on Orbital Sciences Minotaur launch vehicle, but also have flight data from the OSP-3 mission. By combining payloads from different customers into a single launch, allowing for the replacement or addition of payloads late in the schedule and offering multiple attachment options, our customers will gain substantial cost and time to market improvements.
Benefits: This solution will allow our target market (DoD, NASA, commercial companies, universities and other government agencies) to optimize launch manifests and establish "affordable" launch opportunities.