Realizing Rapid, Reduced-Cost High-Risk Research (R5)
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Sam Pedrotty↗
Engineering topics
Roger C. Hunter
Publications and source records attributed to Roger C. Hunter.
Autonomous Nanosatellite Swarming (ANS) Using Radio Frequency and Optical Navigation
The Autonomous Nanosatellite Swarming (ANS) subsystem is a dynamics, guidance, navigation, and control software unit based on commercial-off-the-shelf avionics, which is distributed and deployed on a cluster of cooperative nanosatellites to enable future exploration missions to near-Earth objects (NEOs). ANS allows multiple nanosatellites to act together as a single large spacecraft through radio-frequency (RF) cross-links, optical navigation, and low-thrust control. In particular, ANS-equipped nanosatellites can utilize images of a NEO taken from multiple viewpoints to achieve stereo-vision capabilities and characterize the target body’s shape, gravity field, and dynamical properties. All this is enabled by the fusion of major advances to the state of the art in the astrodynamics of relative motion, RF and vision-based navigation, as well as low-thrust control.
Simone D'Amico↗
Milli-Arcsecond (MAS) Imaging with SmallSat Enabled Super-resolution
The objective of this project is to demonstrate a new imaging technology with unprecedented capabilities for scientific exploration. This technology innovation will enable extremely high-resolution imaging capability, otherwise unattainable with conventional approaches. It is based on a unique combination of novel diffractive optical sensing (photon sieve), advanced image processing, and small satellite formation flying. The spatial resolution of current solar instruments are more than 100 times coarser than the size of energy dissipation features in coronal heating (<100 km) since conventional optics cannot be figured to near diffraction-limited accuracy at extreme ultraviolet (EUV) wavelengths. This project will demonstrate the feasibility of imaging of a few milli-arcseconds (MAS) to study the structure and development of these dissipation regions.
Farzad Kamalabadi↗
SPRINT: Scheduling Planning Routing Intersatellite Network Tool
The Scheduling Planning Routing Intersatellite Network Tool (SPRINT) software system plans and schedules the operations (observations, inter-satellite crosslink communications, and ground communications) of Earth observation (EO) constellations of hundreds of resource-constrained small satellites to enable global, near real-time science. Historically, most CubeSats have flown radios only for direct-to-ground downlink of data; as a result, data availability is delayed by as long as it takes for the capturing satellite to pass over a ground station, typically hours. Current Planning and Scheduling (P&S) systems for constellations cannot handle data routing through a large, dynamic network topology, and all planning is handled on the ground without .the ability to autonomously prioritize important observations, or respond to unexpected changes in communication window or bandwidth. SPRINT directly handles both data routing for low latency bulk observation data downlink and replanning onboard to deal with dynamic priorities and fault response, maximizing the utility of downlinked data.
Kerri Cahoy↗
Move to Talk, Talk to Move: Tightly Integrated Communication and Control for Coordinated Swarms of Small Spacecraft
The Move to Talk, Talk to Move: Tightly Integrated Communication and Control for Coordinated Swarms of Small Spacecraft project will build on existing research on collaborative autonomy of multi-agent systems and design techniques that will enable coordinated communication and control of spacecraft. The success of many space exploration and science missions hinges on real-time monitoring of time-varying and/or geographically distributed phenomena. This monitoring can be achieved using a swarm of small spacecraft, which collect data about the environment and share information within the swarm of spacecraft. Current space exploration missions typically issue commands to control each spacecraft individually from Earth, and the data gathered by each spacecraft is also transmitted to Earth separately via X-band communication over the Deep Space Network (DSN). This approach is expensive, slow, and unreliable. Many coordinated tasks amongst a swarm of autonomous agents (or, specifically, small spacecraft) rely on communication. Existing control, estimation, and decision algorithms often assume that mostly reliable communications are available; however, this is often not the case in actual environments and thus is a barrier to operating swarms of small spacecraft.
Qi Han↗
NASA Small Spacecraft Technology Program (SSTP) Overview, Recent Technology Demonstrations, and Upcoming SSTP Demonstrations
The Small Spacecraft Technology Program (SSTP) within the NASA Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) is chartered to enable mission capabilities that are more rapid, more transformative, and more affordable than previously achievable. To that end, the SST program seeks to: • Enable the execution of missions at much lower cost than previously possible. • Substantially reduce the time required for development of spacecraft, from authority to proceed until initial launch capability. • Enable and demonstrate new mission architectures that small spacecraft are uniquely suited for. • Expand the capability of small spacecraft to execute missions at new destinations and in challenging new environments. • Enable the augmentation of existing assets and future missions with supporting small spacecraft. This paper will describe the NASA SSTP SmallSat Technology Partnerships (STP), completed and upcoming Missions Capability Demonstrations for technology demonstrations under SSTP1 and provides a synopsis of the leveraged investments under the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR). A brief overview of the Small Spacecraft Systems Virtual Institute (S3VI) and its current activities performed in conjunction with SSTP is also provided.
Roger C. Hunter↗
NASA Centers and Universities Collaborate in Annual Smallsat Technology Partnerships
The Small Spacecraft Technology program within the NASA Space Technology Mission Directorate sponsors the Smallsat Technology Partnerships (STP) initiative. The STP initiative awards cooperative agreements between NASA centers and university teams for technology development efforts that advance the capabilities of small spacecraft to achieve NASA mission objectives in unique and more affordable ways. NASA’s announcement to return humans to the Moon by 2024 raises new opportunities for Smallsats to contribute to missions in cislunar space, though technical challenges are to be overcome to establish their value in this environment. Precursor missions utilizing small spacecraft will blaze the trail for lunar exploration, establishing infrastructure such as communication and navigation networks, and performing assembly and repair services for larger structures and human habitats. To achieve these goals, certain novel Smallsat technologies will need to be developed and demonstrated. The 2020 STP solicitation sought proposals for specific technologies to enable these lunar missions. For the 2020 STP cycle, NASA selected nine university teams to mature new systems and capabilities in the laboratory, and in some cases, demonstrate in suborbital or orbital spaceflights. This paper describes the STP portfolio, past and present efforts, and the nine partnerships selected.
James J. Cockrell↗
NASA SMALL SPACECRAFT TECHNOLOGY (SST) PROGRAM and RECENT TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATIONS
The Small Spacecraft Technology (SST) program within NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate, expands the ability to execute unique missions through rapid development and demonstration of capabilities for small spacecraft applicable to exploration, science and the commercial space sector.
Roger C. Hunter↗
NASA Small Spacecraft Technology Program
This presentation provides an overview of the technology demonstration missions, Tipping Point, and Announcement of Collaboration Opportunity projects managed by the Small Spacecraft Technology program. It also provides brief mentions of major NASA missions and programs.
Roger C. Hunter↗
NASA Small Spacecraft Technology Program
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Roger C. Hunter↗
NASA Small Spacecraft Technology Program
This presentation provides an overview of current and recent past technology demonstration missions, University SmallSat Technology Partnership projects, and technology interests for future years.
Roger C. Hunter↗
NASA Small Spacecraft Technology (SST) Program - Recent and Upcoming Technology Demonstrations and Development Efforts
The Small Spacecraft Technology program within NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate, expands the ability to execute unique missions through rapid development and demonstration of capabilities for small spacecraft applicable to exploration, science, and the commercial space sector. Through targeted development and frequent in space testing, the program: • Enables execution of missions at much lower cost than previously possible • Substantially reduces the time required for development of spacecraft • Enables new mission architectures through the use of small spacecraft • Expands the reach of small spacecraft to new destinations and challenging new environments • Enables the augmentation of existing assets and future missions with supporting small spacecraft. The program achieves its objectives through: • Identification and investment in the development of new subsystem technologies to enhance or expand the capabilities of small spacecraft • Sponsorship of flight demonstrations of new technologies, capabilities and applications for small spacecraft • Promotion of the use of small spacecraft as platforms for testing and demonstrating technologies and capabilities that might have more general applications in larger-scale spacecraft and systems Program-funded projects may be executed at academic institutions, in the private sector, at NASA Centers, as public-private partnerships, or cooperative agreements.
SST↗
NASA Small Spacecraft Technology Program - Recent and Upcoming Technology Demonstrations and Development Efforts
This presentation is an overview of NASA's Small Spacecraft Technology (SST) program's recent and upcoming demonstration missions and development projects to include Tipping Point and Announcement of Collaboration Opportunity projects, and the University SmallSat Technology Partnerships initiative.
SST↗
NASA Small Spacecraft Technology Program: Overview and Select Technology Demonstration Missions
NASA's Small Spacecraft Technology Program expands the ability to execute unique missions through rapid development and demonstration of capabilities for small spacecraft applicable to exploration, science and the commercial space sector. This presentation provides information on three technology demonstration missions currently on orbit or in development to include Starling, the Advanced Composite Solar Sail System, and DiskSat. Information on the program's University SmallSat Technology Partnerships initiative will also be provided.
Roger C. Hunter↗
NASA Small Spacecraft & Distributed Systems: Overview and Select Technology Demonstration Missions
NASA's Small Spacecraft Technology Program expands the ability to execute unique missions through rapid development and demonstration of capabilities for small spacecraft applicable to exploration, science and the commercial space sector. This presentation provides information on three technology demonstration missions currently on orbit or in development to include Starling, the Advanced Composite Solar Sail System, and DiskSat. Information on the program's University SmallSat Technology Partnerships initiative will also be provided.
Roger C. Hunter↗