Using Autonomous Outposts as Data Relays to Support Distributed Spacecraft

Distributed small space vehicles, cooperating in a dynamic environment, are critical for the success of planetary exploration within the next decade. However, the effectiveness of these distributed vehicle swarms will be limited by two factors ndash; the size of the individual vehicles (which will determine onboard data relay capabilities) and their distance from the command centers on Earth. The existence of flexible, rapid, low-cost platforms in the cislunar and translunar environments can increase the resiliency and effectiveness of exploratory mission designs by providing a localized area network capacity for communication, PNT, and data relay back to Earth.nbsp;Nanoracks is currently developing a technological capability which will enable such an integrated solution by repurposing launch vehicle upper stages by attaching a modular hardware bus, or Mission Extension Kit (MEK). After primary payload deployment, the MEK takes over control of the upper stage, providing power, pointing, data down/uplink, and maneuver capabilities. The upper stage becomes an Outpost.Nanoracks proposes undertaking a study to pursue a new path of Outpost concepts of operations: localized data services for distributed space vehicles. This Phase I study will develop a theoretical framework for accomplishing identified and prioritized missions and will demonstrate feasibility for required technological development or integration. The study will provide research results which clearly depict metrics and performance of the technology in comparison to existing solutions. In a follow-on Phase II, Nanoracks expects to demonstrate a prototype capability onboard a suitable ground testbed, followed by a Phase III flight demonstration of the capability. The ultimate goal of this effort are regular flight missions of an operational Outpost capable of providing services in support of the identified missions