Session
Session 3: Next On The Pad 1
Abstract
NASA's Pathfinder Technology Demonstrator (PTD) is a technology development project that will test the operation of a variety of novel CubeSat subsystems in low-Earth orbit, providing significant enhancements to the performance of these small and effective spacecraft. Each Pathfinder Technology Demonstrator mission will consist of one 6-unit (6U) CubeSat weighing approximately 12 kilograms and measuring approximately 30 centimeters x 25 centimeters x 10 centimeters. Each mission will be able to fulfill its objective of demonstrating the functionality of its payload and characterize the technology within 90 days of release from the deployment system. A sequence of five PTD spacecraft are expected to be deployed at near 6 month intervals, each demonstrating a novel, key small satellite technology. The first PTD spacecraft is expected to be ready for flight by August of 2018. The PTD project, led by NASA's Ames Research Center at Moffett Field, California, in collaboration with NASA's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio and Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems, Inc. in Irvine, California as the spacecraft vendor, will benefit future missions by demonstrating the operation of new subsystem technologies on orbit. These technologies are expected to include propulsion systems that provide the capability to maneuver small science platforms and send small spacecraft to deep space; novel technologies to stabilize spacecraft, and laser communications systems that will greatly increase the amount of data that can be transmitted from the spacecraft to the ground. As small spacecraft increase in mobility and capability, NASA benefits by flight-qualifying these commercial subsystems, providing access to low cost, highly capable, science and technology platforms that can operate from the near-Earth to the deep space environment. NASA’s Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, California leads the Pathfinder Technology Demonstrator project in collaboration with NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio. The project is part of the Small Spacecraft Technology program within the NASA Space Technology Mission Directorate. SST is chartered to develop and demonstrate technologies to enhance and expand the capabilities of small spacecraft with a particular focus on enabling new mission architectures through the use of small spacecraft, expanding the reach of small spacecraft to new destinations, and augmenting future missions with supporting small spacecraft. A PTD overview incorporating the Tyvak spacecraft bus concept and status will be presented.
Presentation
NASA's Pathfinder Technology Demonstrator
NASA's Pathfinder Technology Demonstrator (PTD) is a technology development project that will test the operation of a variety of novel CubeSat subsystems in low-Earth orbit, providing significant enhancements to the performance of these small and effective spacecraft. Each Pathfinder Technology Demonstrator mission will consist of one 6-unit (6U) CubeSat weighing approximately 12 kilograms and measuring approximately 30 centimeters x 25 centimeters x 10 centimeters. Each mission will be able to fulfill its objective of demonstrating the functionality of its payload and characterize the technology within 90 days of release from the deployment system. A sequence of five PTD spacecraft are expected to be deployed at near 6 month intervals, each demonstrating a novel, key small satellite technology. The first PTD spacecraft is expected to be ready for flight by August of 2018. The PTD project, led by NASA's Ames Research Center at Moffett Field, California, in collaboration with NASA's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio and Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems, Inc. in Irvine, California as the spacecraft vendor, will benefit future missions by demonstrating the operation of new subsystem technologies on orbit. These technologies are expected to include propulsion systems that provide the capability to maneuver small science platforms and send small spacecraft to deep space; novel technologies to stabilize spacecraft, and laser communications systems that will greatly increase the amount of data that can be transmitted from the spacecraft to the ground. As small spacecraft increase in mobility and capability, NASA benefits by flight-qualifying these commercial subsystems, providing access to low cost, highly capable, science and technology platforms that can operate from the near-Earth to the deep space environment. NASA’s Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, California leads the Pathfinder Technology Demonstrator project in collaboration with NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio. The project is part of the Small Spacecraft Technology program within the NASA Space Technology Mission Directorate. SST is chartered to develop and demonstrate technologies to enhance and expand the capabilities of small spacecraft with a particular focus on enabling new mission architectures through the use of small spacecraft, expanding the reach of small spacecraft to new destinations, and augmenting future missions with supporting small spacecraft. A PTD overview incorporating the Tyvak spacecraft bus concept and status will be presented.
