Tech Track Papers
Tech Track Papers Archive
The lowering of the cost of access to space while maintaining mission assurance is something everyone is interested in from system integrators to funding agencies and commercial customers. Engineers at Curtiss-Wright have developed an innovative approach to lowering the costs of achieving space mission objectives by developing in-situ radiation induced latch-up protection of existing non-space…
Read MoreIn the modern era of worldwide conflicts and catastrophes, global events can emerge swiftly and unpredictably, which means government/military users providing mission support must stand ready to deploy “anytime/anywhere” on a moment’s notice. In doing so, they rely upon satellite communications (SATCOM) that goes where they go – as fast as they are getting there.…
Read MoreTyvak Nanosatellite Systems (Tyvak) and GeoOptics, Inc. (GeoOptics) partnered in 2014 to develop and deploy GeoOptics’s CICERO constellation of satellites. Together, they have completed design, assembly and testing of the first three satellites in a constellation designed to gather vital data on the Earth’s weather, climate and environment. The program utilizes Tyvak’s Endeavour small satellite…
Read MoreDuring the Space Generation Congress 2015, held in Jerusalem, Israel, students and young professionals representing 14 countries participated in the Space Communication – Space Internet working group. The group investigated the possibilities, risks, and opportunities of using satellites, drones, and high altitude balloons to provide widespread access to the internet. The group focused on one…
Read MoreDespite popular perception of the space industry as ‘high tech’, many commercial satellites are sent into orbit with years- or even decades-old technology. The significant CAPEX involved in building and launching a satellite requires pursuit of a design that will ensure returns and minimize the likelihood of premature satellite loss – a practice that, combined…
Read MoreSpace exploration and utilization trends demand efficient, reliable and autonomous on-orbit rendezvous and docking processes. Current rendezvous systems use heavy, power intensive scanning radar, or rely on transmitters/beacons from the host spacecraft. A possible alternative to these bulky legacy systems presents itself with the advent of highly efficient 3D cameras. 3D cameras, used as an…
Read MoreAccess to space is becoming a reality to a broader global community of students, scientists, and entrepreneurs. The CubeSat industry is furthering this access to space by standardizing affordable components/subsystem boards. Standards provide for clarity in design, repeatability, and risk reduction. Space to ground communications remains open to many variables, all of which add cost…
Read MoreThe AeroCube-6 (AC6) mission began operation in a near-circular 624×716 km 98° inclination LEO in June 2014 and consists of two identical 0.5U CubeSats (AC6-A and AC6-B) each carrying multiple experimental payloads. The CubeSats carry instrumentation for obtaining performance data on next-generation multi-junction solar cell technology flying in space for the first time. Each CubeSat’s…
Read MoreAccess to space is becoming a reality to a broader global community of students, scientists, and entrepreneurs. The CubeSat industry is furthering this access to space by standardizing affordable components/subsystem boards. Standards provide for clarity in design, repeatability, and risk reduction. Space to ground communications remains open to many variables, all of which add cost and risk to…
Read MoreSmall satellites are an exciting technology in the space industry today. For example, over half a dozen private companies have announced plans to build large networks of smallsats to provide remote-sensing imagery data to customers. While smallsats can provide advantages over traditional large satellites, satellites assembled from “building block” cells called satlets could add to…
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