CubeSat Advanced Power and De-orbit Module

ABSTRACT: With increased focus on development of highly capable Nanosat satellites and missions, innovations in spacecraft system design and architecture that yield high performance, modular and multi-function systems will enhance Air Force mission capability and flexibility. SWAP constraints in NanoSats necessitate this system approach to result in significant increases in spacecraft performance and mission capability within a highly responsive and lower cost NanoSat plug-n-play environment. An area of considerable development opportunity and need to enable Air Force NanoSat missions is to increase available continuous power significantly, to lower costs and to further leverage this capability to effectively de-orbit the spacecraft at end-of-life. MMA Design LLC proposes to significantly advance the state-of-the-art in NanoSat S/C power systems by developing and delivering a High Watts per Kilogram (HaWK) Advanced Power and De-orbit Module (APDM) with a modular and scalable PnP architecture that is initially optimized for a CubeSat 3U configuration. It consists of an innovative deployable solar array and de-orbit system combined with a single-axis dual-wing sun tracking gimbal assembly. The significance to the AFRL of our innovative solution is that it allows the S/C to maintain high power while freeing the mission instruments to track an area of interest, thus improving mission utility and capability. BENEFIT: Potential benefits and impacts to the Air Force NanoSat missions include: 1. Space Situational Awareness sun tracking allows the S/C to maintain high continuous power while simultaneously freeing the mission instruments to track an AOI, thus improving mission capability and utility. 2. Mission ISR data and quality can increase with increases in power capabilities and performance. 3. Maximizing the utility of the available volume by combining the functions of solar power and de-orbiting into one robust deployable system. 4. Rapid development and maturation of innovative power technologies leading to low cost solutions that is adaptable and scalable to other AFRL applications. 5. Advancement of key deployable and steerable solar array technologies to overcome current NanoSat S/C and mission limitations. 6. A modular and scalable system design that is multi-functional, solving mission needs consistent with a plug-n-play framework. 7. A low mass and volume system to maximize the mass/volume available for payloads. 8. De-orbit capability ensures reduction in future space debris and available orbital slots. 9. The MMA team offers Air Force high innovative content for revolutionizing NanoSat technologies with high risk/reward payoffs. Air Force can leverage our small company performance advantages in the areas of technical, schedule and cost.