SBIR-STTR Award

Distributed small space vehicles, cooperating in a dynamic environment, are critical for the success of planetary exploration within the next decade. However, the effectiveness of these distributed vehicle swarms will be limited by two factors – the size of the individual vehicles (which will determine onboard data relay capabilities) and their distance from the command centers on Earth. The existence of flexible, rapid, low-cost platforms in the cislunar and translunar environments can increase the resiliency and effectiveness of exploratory mission designs by providing a localized area network capacity for communication, PNT, and data relay back to Earth. Nanoracks is currently developing a technological capability which will enable such an integrated solution by repurposing launch vehicle upper stages by attaching a modular hardware bus, or Mission Extension Kit (MEK). After primary payload deployment, the MEK takes over control of the upper stage, providing power, pointing, data down/uplink, and maneuver capabilities. The upper stage becomes an Outpost. Nanoracks proposes undertaking a study to pursue a new path of Outpost concepts of operations: localized data services for distributed space vehicles. This Phase I study will develop a theoretical framework for accomplishing identified and prioritized missions and will demonstrate feasibility for required technological development or integration. The study will provide research results which clearly depict metrics and performance of the technology in comparison to existing solutions. In a follow-on Phase II, Nanoracks expects to demonstrate a prototype capability onboard a suitable ground testbed, followed by a Phase III flight demonstration of the capability. The ultimate goal of this effort are regular flight missions of an operational Outpost capable of providing services in support of the identified missions Potential NASA Applications (Limit 1500 characters, approximately 150 words): This study is designed to address specific Outpost capabilities which can support localized data services for distributed space vehicles to support NASA’s exploration goals, to inform the initial development of an Outpost as a robust orbital data relay platform. An Outpost with capabilities can also provide autonomous “carrier” capabilities to vehicles, including refueling, repair, component storage, cargo exchange, and localized PNT/command/data/communication relays. Potential Non-NASA Applications (Limit 1500 characters, approximately 150 words): Nanoracks’ MEK is designed to turn Outposts into key platforms for the future orbital ecosystem. Outposts located in LEO/GEO will provide payload hosting services, refueling, repair, and other robotically enabled services, and host OSAM activities. Outposts also can serve as distributed network nodes for communications or PNT. Nanoracks hopes to begin development of such systems within this study. Duration: 6

Distributed small space vehicles, cooperating in a dynamic environment, are critical for the success of planetary exploration within the next decade. However, the effectiveness of these distributed vehicle swarms will be limited by two factors – the size of the individual vehicles (which will determine onboard data relay capabilities) and their distance from the command and communications centers on Earth. The existence of flexible, low-cost Outposts – Nanoracks’ long-duration platforms created from repurposed upper stages – in the cislunar and translunar environments can increase the resiliency and effectiveness of exploratory mission designs by providing a localized area network capacity for communication, pointing, navigation, and timing (PNT), and data relay back to Earth. In this proposed Phase II study, Nanoracks expects to test an integrated hardware and software system to enable advanced data relay capabilities. Nanoracks plans to apply for a following Phase II-E extension after 12 months of the Phase II project, leading to an eventual flight demonstration of the data relay. Nanoracks will leverage the technology reviews and feasibility studies resulting from Phase I activities to achieve the following deliverables: Subsystem Requirements Refinement, Technology Selections, Technological Partnerships Plan, Prototype Development Plan, Service Provision and Management Services, Autonomous Software Development, Hardware Prototype Development, Hardware-in-the-loop Testing, and Nanoracks’ Commercialization Strategy. Potential NASA Applications (Limit 1500 characters, approximately 150 words): This Phase II study is designed to develop and test specific Outpost capabilities which can support localized data services for distributed space vehicles to support NASA’s exploration goals. An Outpost with data relay and computational offloading capabilities can support both orbital and surface exploration missions from a variety of orbits. Outposts also provide autonomous OSAM capabilities to vehicles, including refueling, repair, component storage, cargo exchange, and localized PNT/command/data/communication relays Potential Non-NASA Applications (Limit 1500 characters, approximately 150 words): Nanoracks’ MEK is designed to turn Outposts into key platforms for the future orbital ecosystem. In addition to data relay and distributed network nodes, Outposts can provide payload hosting services, refueling, repair, and other robotically enabled services, and host OSAM activities. Nanoracks hopes to perform integration/test of such systems within this study. Duration: 24