SBIR-STTR Award

The Air Force has an operational need to launch satellites on demand for a variety of missions as well as to provide last minute tailoring for dynamic mission requirements. One of the critical capabilities required to achieve this goal is the ability to rapidly integrate all the necessary satellite subsystems, including mission specific payloads, in a short time period before launch. The capability to rapidly integrate components prior to launch also supports the ability to rapidly reconfigure a spacecraft to accommodate changing mission requirements. In support of this operational need, the AF has established a roadmap for the development of satellite components that can perform these functions, with the initial phase concentrating on establishment of a "Plug and Play" (PnP) interface similar to those implemented on standard personal computers via Universal Serial Bus (USB). In support of this Phase I SBIR, PSI is modifying their existing high-speed, dual redundant, multi-drop network for space (Network Data Acquisition System - NDAS) by adding USB compatibility. We will provide an integrated PnP design that that can plug into an existing USB device as well as host numerous USB components along the network. The Phase II effort completes the design work for an ASIC implementation

SEAKR Engineering, Inc. and Planning Systems Inc. propose to build and test the flight version of a general-purpose, rad-tolerant, real-time processing system, the Experiment Computer System (ECS), that serves as the modular data processing hub for future tactical, rapid-response, and experimental small-sats. The proposed effort builds upon previous contracts to deliver, by 2007, a fully integrated package that is ready for environmental qualification and spacecraft integration and test, achieving TRL 7 directly and preparing the ECS for flight demonstration on the Demonstration and Science Experiment (DSX) to achieve TRL 8. The DoD Space Experiment Requirements Board currently ranks DSX as the nation’s second most important space experiment. The DoD payoff from the DSX ECS effort is significant. To provide Space Capability Protection from a High Altitude Nuclear Detonation (HAND) event, AFRL, NRL, and DARPA are actively researching the use of Radiation Belt Remediation to negate the effects of this high priority threat. Both a research and an Operational RBR system will require an on-orbit processing capability in a nuclear-survivable package well in excess of current state-of-the-art. The proposed ECS uses triple-voting logic applied to its processors as well as error correcting memory to provide this capability Command and Data Handling, Adaptive Control, System Identification, Radiation tolerant, Solid State Recorder