Abstract: Maturation of small, micro-, and nano-satellite technologies is leading to many innovative new space mission applications. A primary obstacle to successful operational transition of these systems is the lack of affordable small launch capability. Due to the...
Abstract: A solar-electric propulsion mission profile with Earth gravity assist is considered which differs from more conventional mission designs by letting the thrust phase preceding the Earth swingby be inclined with respect to the ecliptic. The thrust acceleration...
Abstract: Fully autonomous, on-board orbit control was flight demonstrated on UoSAT-12. This technology was developed to reduce operations cost. It does this using less propellant than traditional orbit maintenance, but also opens a new array of potential mission...
Abstract: It is generally assumed by the community that reusable launch vehicles will dramatically reduce launch costs because you don’t “throw away the vehicle” every time it is used. However, this is usually taken as an element of faith, without any substantive...
Abstract: It is generally assumed by the community that reusable launch vehicles will dramatically reduce launch costs because you don’t “throw away the vehicle” every time it is used. However, this is usually taken as an element of faith, without any substantive...
Abstract: Microcosm, under Air Force Research Laboratory (Space Vehicles Directorate) and internal funding, developed and recently flew the first fully autonomous, on-board orbit determination and intrack and cross-track control system. Results show the technology...
Abstract: Microcosm, under funding from the Air Force Research Laboratory Space Vehicles Directorate, has developed the first on-orbit demonstration of autonomous, on-board intrack and cross-track orbit control. The flight demonstration was conducted on the Surrey...
Abstract: Functional and design concepts, and a number of promising scenarios for use of a low-cost, simple Orbital Transfer Vehicle (OTV) are presented in this paper to help provide the rationale for developing such a vehicle for near-term use in supporting and...
Abstract: Scorpius® is a Microcosm program, under two Phase III Small Business Innovation Research contracts at the Air Force Research Laboratory, Space Vehicles Directorate. The Scorpius® program is to develop an entirely new launch vehicle family with the objective...
Abstract: In-flight demonstration of close-range formation flying modes is discussed with emphasis on low cost, based on spacecraft design simplicity and minimum size, and hence minimum launch cost. Piggy-back launch of three identical demonstration spacecraft is the...
