Miniaturized Satellite Development for Responsive Space Missions

High performance RF payloads have been identified as providing significant utility for applications on Nano Satellites and Cube Satellites in low earth orbits. In the Phase 1 study various CubeSat payloads were studied for utility. Various missions were identified as high payoff demonstrations for on orbit experiments. Conventionally orbital experiments would be tied to primary missions and were required to operate on a non interfere basis with primary payloads. This restriction constrained the types and complexity of many experiments. Recent advancements in Cube Satellites have produced the ideal platform for hosting complex experiments that normally would be constrained by a primary payload on a larger space craft. The Cube Satellites operate independently of other vehicles and provide a platform specifically tailored to the flight experiment. The Phase 2 effort will produce a payload module that will perform a multi-functional encrypted communications mission. The payload module will be integrated into a Cube Satellite manufactured by Miltec Space and Missiles. SafeNet LLC will be tasked to produce the Type-1 encryption solution needed for this system. Vulcan Wireless will integrate the Type-1 encryptor to produce an integrated communications payload. The resulting payload will be integrated into the CubeSat. Military communications can greatly benefit from a flexible communications platform that provides secure communications to distributed forces. BENEFIT: The resulting Cube Satellite will provide improved secure communications for widely distributed forces. The communications capability will provide additional secure communications capability for several critical missions. This will result in an increased capacity and reduced costs to the users.