NASA/TP—2018–220027 State of the Art Small Spacecraft Technology Small Spacecraft Systems Virtual Institute Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California Click here: Press F1 key (Windows) or Help key (Mac) for help December 2018 This page is required and contains approved text that cannot be changed. NASA STI Program ... in Profile Since its founding, NASA has been dedicated CONFERENCE PUBLICATION. to the advancement of aeronautics and space Collected papers from scientific and science. The NASA scientific and technical technical conferences, symposia, seminars, information (STI) program plays a key part in or other meetings sponsored or helping NASA maintain this important role. co-sponsored by NASA. The NASA STI program operates under the SPECIAL PUBLICATION. Scientific, auspices of the Agency Chief Information Officer. technical, or historical information from It collects, organizes, provides for archiving, and NASA programs, projects, and missions, disseminates NASA’s STI. 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Scientific and NASA Center for AeroSpace Information technical findings by NASA-sponsored 7115 Standard Drive contractors and grantees. Hanover, MD 21076-1320 NASA/TP—2018–220027 State of the Art Small Spacecraft Technology Small Spacecraft Systems Virtual Institute Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California Insert conference information, if applicable; otherwise delete Click here: Press F1 key (Windows) or Help key (Mac) for help National Aeronautics and Space Administration Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA 94035-1000 December 2018 The use of trademarks or names of manufacturers in this report is for accurate reporting and does not constitute an official endorsement, either expressed or implied, of such products or manufacturers by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Click here: Press F1 key (Windows) or Help key (Mac) for help Available from: NASA Center for AeroSpace Information 7115 Standard Drive Hanover, MD 21076-1320 443-757 -5802 Click here: Press F1 key (Windows) or Help key (Mac) for help This report is also available in electronic form at http:// https://sst-soa.arc.nasa.gov/ 1 National Aeronautics and Space Administration Abstract This report provides an overview of the current state-of-the-art of small spacecraft technology, with particular emphasis placed on the state-of-the-art of CubeSat-related technology. It was first commissioned by NASA’s Small Spacecraft Technology Program (SSTP) in mid-2013 in response to the rapid growth in interest in using small spacecraft for many types of missions in Earth orbit and beyond, and was revised in mid-2015 and 2018. This work was funded by the Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD). For the sake of this assessment, small spacecraft are defined to be spacecraft with a mass less than 180 kg. This report provides a summary of the state-of-the-art for each of the following small spacecraft technology domains: Complete Spacecraft, Power, Propulsion, Guidance Navigation and Control, Structures, Materials and Mechanisms, Thermal Control, Command and Data Handling, Communications, Integration, Launch and Deployment, Ground Data Systems and Operations, and Passive Deorbit Devices. 1 National Aeronautics and Space Administration Disclaimer Information in this SoA report is based primarily on desktop research of published documents on small spacecraft technology and volunteer input submitted to the SmallSat Parts On Orbit Now (SPOON): spoonsite.com database; individual consultations with industry developers, and interactions with developers at small spacecraft-related conferences. Suggestions and contributions were also received during the review process from numerous people at NASA field centers. The content in this report is not intended to be exhaustive – no such assessment can be given based on the pace of the technology development in this area. New technology is developed continuously, and emerging technologies will mature to become the state-of-the-art. New technology will be added to this report if it meets the performance technology criteria. For any feedback solicitation including updates to existing content, please use the mailing list located at the end of each chapter with the Chapter title in the subject line. The authors intend to regularly update this report, and current technologies that were inadvertently missed will be identified and included in future versions. Failure to include any specific products or technologies that might be considered relevant under a particular topic was unintentional. At the time of publication, this report includes content accepted until October 2018. Acknowledgments This report has been based largely on desktop research and published documents on small spacecraft technology, industry consultation and participation at conferences. Helpful suggestions and contributions were also received from numerous people at NASA Ames Research Center, and in particular the authors wish to acknowledge the reviewers James Bell, Josh Benton, Matt D’Ortenzio, Josh Forgione, Shang Wu, Han Ling, Vanessa Kuroda, Dawn McIntosh, Marc Murbach, Matt Nehrenz, Hugo Sanchez, Matt Sorgenfrei, Sarah Thompson, Brittany Wickizer, Timothy Snyder, Sarah Hobart, Craig Pires, Eddie Uribe, Aaron Cohen, Anh Nguyen, and Mission Design Center, and Senior Technical Editor, Teague Soderman at NASA Ames Research Center. From NASA Glenn Research Center the authors would like to thank the reviewers Matt Deans, Fred Elliot, Josh Freeh, David Jacobson, Gabriel Benavides, Thomas Liu, William Marshall, Felix A. Miranda, Tim Smith and Brandon White. From Aerospace Corporation the authors would like to thank reviewers Andrea Hsu, Jim Breckheimer, Brian Brady, Rostislav Spektor, and Thomas Curtiss. The authors would like to also thank all of the companies, universities and organizations who provided information for this report. Finally, thanks to the Small Spacecraft Systems Virtual Institute (S3VI) Summer 2018 interns, Josh Ingersoll and Cameron Miller. 2 National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA Ames Research Center, Small Spacecraft Systems Virtual Institute December, 2018 Division Chief: Bruce Yost Editor: Sasha Weston Contributing Authors: Elwood Agasid, Roland Burton, Roberto Carlino, Gregory Defouw, Andres Dono Perez, Arif Göktuğ Karacalıoğlu, Benjamin Klamm, Abraham Rademacher, James Schalkwyck, Rogan Shimmin, Julia Tilles, Sasha Weston 3 National Aeronautics and Space Administration Table of Contents 1.0 Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 15 1.1 Objective ..................................................................................................................................... 15 1.2 Scope ........................................................................................................................................... 15 1.3 Assessment ................................................................................................................................. 16 1.4 Overview ..................................................................................................................................... 17 2.0 Complete Spacecraft Platforms ...................................................................................................... 18 2.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 18 2.2 State of the Art ............................................................................................................................ 18 2.2.1 Minisatellites ......................................................................................................................