Small Payload Support Module

Innovative and beneficial, commercial, scientific, educational, meteorological, and military space systems are suffering from a lack of technology insertion because their projects cannot afford the high costs and long delays prevalent in modern satellite production. Responsive Space access for small satellites and payloads remains an illusive goal embraced mainly by those who need the access. Current practices employed for the development and integration of spacecraft payloads, development of spacecraft themselves, and integration of payloads to launch vehicles, although mature and reliable, are not "responsive". To achieve a sub-6-month design, production, and launch interval requires more than new components and optimizations of existing methodologies. "Responsiveness", in the form of lower costs and faster deliveries, will only come with significant changes in the production methodology. Design Net Engineering, building upon a successful 5 month delivery of a payload and its subsystems, is developing the Responsive Small Satellite Methodology (RSSM), a set of processes, guidelines, architecture, components, technologies, and tools which enable repeatable, rapid delivery. RSSM is therefore a crucial enabler of Responsive Space.