Spacecraft
All space missions require a spacecraft that meets budget constraints and mission requirements. SDL’s experience with modular architecture, high-reliability miniaturized satellite approaches, and knowledge of the space environment enables us to satisfy a wide range of customer needs.
Features
- Expertise in small satellites ranging from 3U CubeSats to ESPA-class satellites
- Modular open system architecture to reduce cost and improve performance
- Radiation performance to support all Earth orbits and interplanetary missions
- Multiple approaches for high-reliability miniaturized satellites
- Traditional
- Military grade
- HiRel
| Comparison Area | Traditional CubeSat | Military-Grade CubeSat | HiRel CubeSat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Common Program Goals | Student experience/ interesting science | Technology advancement/ improved capability | Mission capability/ mission safety |
| Design Drivers | Cost | Performance, reliability | Mission success |
| Design Approach | Capability-based | Requirements-based | Requirements-based |
| Lifetime | 1 year | Design for 1-3 years | Multi-year missions |
| Systems Engineering Rigor | Low | High | High |
| Parts Quality | Commercial | Industrial/military/space | Military/space |
| Processes | Commercial | NASA/DoD certified | NASA/DoD certified |
| Risk Approach | < Class D | Class C/D | Class C & up |
| Requirements Verification | Environmental test | Full capability verification | Full capability verification |
Experience
HARP
Hyper-Angular Rainbow Polarimeter
The HARP instrument is a wide field-of-view hyper-angular imaging polarimeter designed to characterize aerosol and cloud properties.
Pearl
Spacecraft Platform
SDL’s Pearl spacecraft platform is a set of standard and customizable components that can be assembled into multiple mission configurations while minimizing non-recurring engineering costs and development schedules.
DICE
Dynamic Ionosphere Cubesat Experiment
Twin CubeSats mapped the geomagnetic Storm Enhanced Density (SED) plasma bulge and plume formations in Earth’s ionosphere.
SKIPPER
Skipper, a joint US-Russian space science mission, was the third space experiment in the Bow Shock series sponsored by MDA. Its mission was to obtain aerothermochemistry and emission data from shock-heated layers.
