Modular, Protective Container for Payload

Engineered Plastic Designs, Inc., supported by CSA Engineering, Inc. proposes todevelop clean-room containerization concepts for minimizing exposure of both thesecondary spacecraft and the full-up payload module to damaging shock, vibration,and temperature extremes resulting during ground transportation, while providing anefficient, safe means for integrating each secondary spacecraft with the adapter.Currently, spacecraft are packed into crates for shipping. These crates do notprovide adequate protection from shock and vibration, nor are they reusable.Further, these containers do not provision for handling during the integrationprocess.An innovative new approach, EPD's container design will incorporate a multifunctionalsupport frame that, when used in conjunction with the external container shell willprovide exceptional support and isolation to the spacecraft. Every spacecraft willhave different mass and moment of inertia properties. The new container design willprovide a platform that mitigates the shock and vibration exposure over a broad rangeof spacecraft size and weights. The resultant container system design will beeconomically manufactured to meet the future needs of the satellite launch community.The primary commercial application for this SBIR project will be to produce and sella modular container system for ESPA. The potential market for handling andtransportation of multi-functional spacecraft containers, with or without secondarypayloads, is significant in terms of reduced cost, convenience and safety forspacecraft manufacturers and users. The benefits of such modular payload containerswould apply to both civilian and military satellite launches, since they are launchedfrom the same vehicles. Both are subject to the same high cost of failure, andtherefore to the same requirements for high standards of safety and reliability.