Photogammetry System to Enable `Large' Structure Demonstration With Small Satellite Buses

Mevicon Inc. is pleased to propose the development of space qualified structural photogammetry systems that enables non-contactive structural deployment, shape, and dynamics characterization of the behavior of large flexible structures deployed from smallsatellite buses. Such systems will enable AFRL and other organization to confidently baseline close-range photogammetry as the instrumentation package of choice when developing flight demonstration programs that involve deployable and large flexiblestructures. This in turn enables more convincing flight experiments, thereby accelerating the insertion of new large deployable structure technology into operational missions. This yields satellites with larger solar arrays, antennas, and apertures whichenable missions which with enhanced ground track resolution, and/or increased stand-off distances, etc. In Phase I we will develop mission driven requirements, derive performance and environmental survival metrics, perform system level and componentanalysis and trade studies, initiate autonomous data reduction algorithm development, and experimentally demonstrate feasibility, all leading towards flight experiment point designs. The feasibility established by these Phase I activities will pave theway for detailed analysis and testing in Phase II and lead to Phase III flight demonstration operations in conjunction with a representative deployable structure technology experiment. The advantage to the AFRL and other space technology developmentorganizations will be an off-the-shelf flight proven standardized deployment, load response, and structural dynamic characterization hardware and software package that enables them to confidently baseline close-range photogammetry as the structuresinstrumentation package of choice when developing new flight demonstration programs that involve deployable and large flexible structures. This in turn will enable better data to be collected from flight experiments, thereby accelerating the insertion ofnew enabling technology into operational missions. This will yield satellites with larger solar arrays, antennas, and apertures where these subsystems enable missions which require greater power, enhanced ground track resolution and/or increased stand-offdistances. Primary end customers are expected to be components of the US government who are interested in qualifying the behavior of their structures in space. In addition to the USAF and other DoD components who procure space components the MDA, NASA,DOE, NRO etc. would be potential customers. Most work in this arena though would be through these organizations contractor base such as Northrup Grumman (TRW), Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Spectrum Astro, Ball, etc. Developers of satellites for commercialcommunication systems such as Boeing Space Systems and Loral might also be customers interested in flying the space photogammetry systems when new versions of deployed hardware such as new solar arrays, antennas, booms, etc. are being demonstrated for thefirst time. Specialized packages for remote inspection satellites such as currently being developed at DARPA and elsewhere could also make use photogammetric systems to make 3d maps of the target satellites features or to inspect potentially damagedsatellites for insurance claim purposes. Potential transition of the technology to other `demanding' environments such as in-flight aerodynamic characterization and parabolic microgravity flight with stringent design requirements are also possible.