Space Systems Research Center (SSRC) Overview

Transcription

1 Space Systems Research Center (SSRC) Overview Mr Gary Payton Department of Astronautics Schriever Chair Lt Col Todd Nathaniel Department of Astronautics Director, SSRC 1

2 Space Systems Research Center The Space Systems Research Center (SSRC) has a strong reputation Designed, built, tested, and flown five cadet-built, DoD-backed satellites Two successful flights using ESPA-compliant interface FalconSAT-6 is on track to meet Sep 2016 launch! Funded by government sponsors & gifts Air Force Research Lab (AFRL-RQ, AFRL-RV) and AF Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) provide majority of funding Space Test Program (STP) Integration and launch services Focused on cadet education while achieving real DoD objectives We support National Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) educational objectives Incentivizing and encouraging cadet selection of STEM degree Our graduates are educated, trained, and inspired to fly, fight, and win in air, space, and cyberspace 2

3 Pre-FalconSAT History USAFA Get Away Special 6 Experiments STS-6 (Challenger) April 1983 First-ever GAS can USAFA FlexBeam I Vibration Experiment STS-61C Columbia Jan 1986 USAFA FlexBeam II Vibration Experiment STS-72 Endeavour Jan 1996 USAFA High-Altitude Ballooon Near-Space Craft May 95: USAFASAT-B (Nitrogen attitude control) Mar 96: Glacier (1 st, USAFA S/C, cancelled) Sep 96: Phoenix (Laser comm experiment) May 97: Blue Moon (2 nd, USAFA S/C, cancelled) 3

4 FalconLAUNCH History : First-ever successful DoD hybrid rocket launch Polybutadiene fuel Gaseous oxygen oxidizer : Larger hybrid rocket development : Solid fuel sounding rocket program FL-7 set a world altitude record for a university-built rocket Reached an altitude of 354,724 ft at White Sands Missile Range, NM (WSMR) in

5 SmallSat Capstone Experience Cadets mounting FS-3 on ESPA ring, 2007 Cadets serve as 10-month interns within the Space Systems Research Center Not a traditional class Cadet-led team builds a FalconSAT with expert faculty mentorship Travel opportunities Meets real-world DoD tech/demo needs One third of participants are selected for grad school FS-5 Launch, 2010 FS-2 integration on Falcon 1, 2006 Learning Space by Doing Space FS-6 Design, 400 lbs, 24 x28 x launch 5

6 FalconSAT History FalconGOLD Orig STS launch date FS-2 FS-5 FS-6 FS-1 FS-3 FS-8 FalconSAT-1 (Minotaur-1) FalconSAT-5 (Minotaur-4 ) FalconSAT-2 (Falcon-1) FalconSAT-6 (Falcon Heavy) FalconSAT-3 (Atlas-V) FalconSAT-8 Future Mission 6

7 FalconGOLD First USAF Academy satellite Joint effort with the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs First-ever detection and correlation of GPS signals in space Contained just a battery, GPS receiver, and radio transmitter Launched October 1997 Altas-Centaur upper stage Cape Canaveral AFS Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO) 7

8 FalconSAT-1 First free-flyer All USAFA-built components Hosted Department of Physics space weather sensor 44.5 x 44.5 x cm, 52 kg Store and forward capability Justified establishment of USAFA Ground Station Launched January 2000 Minuteman II Kodiak, AK Sun-synchronous 770 km orbit 8

9 FalconSAT-2 Hosted Department of Physics space weather sensor Investigates low latitude ionospheric plasma depletions & their effects on radio waves, e.g. GPS signals Ranked #21 out of 34 by DoD SERB! 32 cm cube, 19.5 kg Launched March 2006 First SpaceX Falcon-1 Demonstration Kwajalein Destroyed on launch Flight model returned to museum! 9

10 FalconSAT-3 USAFA/Physics Department Space Weather Sensors AFRL experiments Gravity Gradient Boom Shock Ring Micropropulsion Attitude Control System (MPACS) 23.6 x 23.6 x cm, 54.3 kg Launched Mar 2007 Atlas V STP-1 flight from Cape Canaveral 560 km, 35.4 deg circular orbit Still on orbit and operational 700+ Cadet Space Operations Squadron cadets certified 10

11 FalconSAT-5 AFRL Payload Hall Effect ion propulsion/ source & cold gas thruster Plasma plume characterization & diagnostics USAFA Physics Department Space Weather Sensors imesa WISPERS Launched Nov 2010 on Minotaur IV Kodiak Launch Center, AK 650 km, 72 deg circular orbit 1.5 year mission, 600 contacts, 160 cadets involved! Upgraded operations capability STP S-26 11

12 FalconSAT-6 Payloads CME: Launch Contamination NGAS SPCS-2: Propulsion System Busek M5/FCE: Solar array tech maturation LM-SSC/ASI HIPE: Ionospheric propagation USAFA/DFEC 15 motorized Lightband separation system Four solar arrays Real DoD space program executing space physics experiments, maturing space technology, and repeating FS-5 propulsion demonstration! 12

13 FalconSAT-6 Systems Attitude Determination and Control System (ADCS) Sun sensors, rate sensors, torque rods, reaction wheels Command and Data Handling (C&DH) Flight processor interfaces with payloads and other systems Payloads Five onboard experiments Electrical Power System (EPS) Solar arrays and batteries supply power to the satellite Communications (COMM) S-Band transceiver and antennas to link with ground Structure and Thermal Chassis and thermal management 13

14 FalconSAT-6 Models EPS Testbed (ETB) Test and debug electrical power interfaces Characterize power system Avionics Testbed (ATB) Test and debug functional interfacing Component, system, and payload testing FS-6 ETB Structural Engineering Model (SEM-2) Structural model for vibration testing FEM validation Flight Model (FM) Functional and environmental testing Launch and operate FS-6 SEM-1 14

15 USAFA Ground Station 15

16 Systems Engineering Segment System Keystone Document Sub System System Assembly Sub Assembly Sub Assembly Assembly Components Sys Spec Sub Sys Spec Assy Spec Sub Assy Spec Comp Spec Verification and Validation Specifications, datasheets, guides, manuals, instructions 16

17 Other Programs Summer Space For rising sophomores, led by rising seniors Week-long program, offered six times Cadets build simple science experiments and launch into space with a high-altitude balloon Exciting recovery and reporting at end of week EyasSat 4.5 kg hands-on CubeSat-class educational tool Cadets build and fly satellite in the classroom Used by AFSPC s Space 200 course Also used during Summer Seminar by aspiring space enthusiasts considering a USAF career 17

18 For More Information Contact: Lt Col Todd Nathaniel: Our graduates are educated, trained, and inspired to fly, fight, and win in air, space, and cyberspace 18