Multi-Application Survivable Tether (MAST) Experiment

The MAST (Multi-Application Survivable Tether) team, consisting of Tethers Unlimited, Inc. (TUI) and the Standford University Space Systems Development Laboratory (SSDL), propose to develop and fly a very low cost nanosatellite experiment that will demonstrate the deployment of a lightweight multiline tether on orbit and obtain data on its survivability in the micrometeoroid and orbital debris environment. In the Phase I effort, we designed an experiment in which three CubeSats will deploy a 1-kilometer long Hoytether in space, and the middle CubeSat will slowly crawl along the tether, inspecting it for damage. We successfully prototyped and tested key components for this experiment, including a separation/ejection mechanism and avionics for communications, command, and data handling. During the Phase I we also secured $89K in additional, non-SBIR funding that is supporting the development of the crawler and inspector subsystems. In the Phase II effort, we will build and fly the CubeSat-based MAST experiment. The mission will obtain data on tether survivability and tether dynamics that are crucial to the design of all future tether missions.