{"project":{"acronym":"","projectId":33167,"title":"Ultraprecision Pointing Accuracy for SmallSat/CubeSat Attitude Control Systems","primaryTaxonomyNodes":[{"taxonomyNodeId":10989,"taxonomyRootId":8816,"parentNodeId":10986,"level":3,"code":"TX17.4.3","title":"Attitude Estimation Sensors","definition":"This area covers technologies for the development of sensors (hardware plus embedded software) for measuring attitude. This area includes attitude sensors/sensor systems for both single-platform absolute attitude measurement functions and vehicle-to-vehicle relative attitude (i.e., relative \"pose\") measurement functions.","exampleTechnologies":"Star trackers, celestial sensors, inertial measurement units, gyroscopes, LIDAR/Vis Cameras/IR Cameras (for relative pose measurement), limb sensors","hasChildren":false,"hasInteriorContent":true}],"startTrl":4,"currentTrl":6,"endTrl":6,"benefits":"Investment by NASA/NSF in SmallSats programs and projects is rapidly increasing. As already identified in previous studies, as the scope of these missions increase there will be a corresponding increase in demand for high accuracy ACS capability. This is especially true for cross formation flying, cross-link communications, and proximity, rendezvous operations, observational data, and onboard experiments. Our goal will be to make available a near-universal low cost enhancement add-on that NASA users from academia to NASA Centers can purchase and easily install between the RWA bracket and a common attachment plate that can easily be linked into legacy, or to be developed, ACS controller design to substantially increase pointing accuracy of the SmallSat/CubeSat platform
QorTek is working closely with Boeing on the proposed technology and Boeing is among the single largest developers and suppliers of such SmallSats to the US military (ranging from 3U to 12U). The relationship between QorTek and Boeing will allow us to investigate integration of the ACPA into Boeing CubeSats. There are a number of other military and non-military applications for the identical technology that include fast pointing systems for active and adaptive optics, most prominently Fast Steering Mirrors that will be direct candidates for transition of the proposed new technology. QorTek is in discussions with Space Micro to integrate to precision pointing mechanism into their products and Navy ICECAP project. Space Micro has developed and used star tracking systems that can benefit from this increase in pointing precision to further enhance their CubeSat line.","description":"The Phase I program concluded with the successful demonstration of a piezo enhanced pointing system targeted to the CubeSat class of satellites. The Phase I program results also surpassed the Phase I goals allowing the proposed Phase II program to further push the capabilities and design of the approach. The main objective of the Phase II program is to further quantify the performance of the Attitude Control Piezo Adaptor (ACPA) and to expand it beyond the single axis Phase I testbed into a fully characterized three-axes prototype. In addition, the Phase I analytical models will be enhanced into the three-axes system and utilized in the modeling, design, and testing of the control algorithms. QorTek plans to team with Boeing Huntington Beach to fully test and quantify the performance of the three axis prototype.","startYear":2015,"startMonth":5,"endYear":2017,"endMonth":11,"statusDescription":"Completed","principalInvestigators":[{"contactId":170155,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Gregory","lastName":"Bower","fullName":"Gregory M Bower","fullNameInverted":"Bower, Gregory M","middleInitial":"M","primaryEmail":"gbower@qortek.com","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"programDirectors":[{"contactId":206378,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Jason","lastName":"Kessler","fullName":"Jason L Kessler","fullNameInverted":"Kessler, Jason L","middleInitial":"L","primaryEmail":"jason.l.kessler@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"programExecutives":[{"contactId":215154,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Jennifer","lastName":"Gustetic","fullName":"Jennifer L Gustetic","fullNameInverted":"Gustetic, Jennifer L","middleInitial":"L","primaryEmail":"jennifer.l.gustetic@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"programManagers":[{"contactId":62051,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Carlos","lastName":"Torrez","fullName":"Carlos Torrez","fullNameInverted":"Torrez, Carlos","primaryEmail":"carlos.torrez@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"projectManagers":[{"contactId":14399,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Allison","lastName":"Evans","fullName":"Allison L Evans","fullNameInverted":"Evans, Allison L","middleInitial":"L","primaryEmail":"allison.evans@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false},{"contactId":461333,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Theresa","lastName":"Stanley","fullName":"Theresa M Stanley","fullNameInverted":"Stanley, Theresa M","middleInitial":"M","primaryEmail":"theresa.m.stanley@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"website":"","libraryItems":[{"file":{"fileExtension":"pdf","fileId":293072,"fileName":"SBIR_2014_2_BC_S3.05-9046","fileSize":77771,"objectId":289590,"objectType":{"lkuCodeId":889,"code":"LIBRARY_ITEMS","description":"Library Items","lkuCodeTypeId":182,"lkuCodeType":{"codeType":"OBJECT_TYPE","description":"Object Type"}},"objectTypeId":889,"fileSizeString":"75.9 KB"},"files":[{"fileExtension":"pdf","fileId":293072,"fileName":"SBIR_2014_2_BC_S3.05-9046","fileSize":77771,"objectId":289590,"objectType":{"lkuCodeId":889,"code":"LIBRARY_ITEMS","description":"Library Items","lkuCodeTypeId":182,"lkuCodeType":{"codeType":"OBJECT_TYPE","description":"Object Type"}},"objectTypeId":889,"fileSizeString":"75.9 KB"}],"id":289590,"title":"Briefing Chart","description":"Ultraprecision Pointing Accuracy for SmallSat/CubeSat Attitude Control Systems, Phase II Briefing Chart","libraryItemTypeId":1222,"projectId":33167,"primary":false,"publishedDateString":"","contentType":{"lkuCodeId":1222,"code":"DOCUMENT","description":"Document","lkuCodeTypeId":341,"lkuCodeType":{"codeType":"LIBRARY_ITEM_TYPE","description":"Library Item Type"}}},{"caption":"Ultraprecision Pointing Accuracy for SmallSat/CubeSat Attitude Control Systems Briefing Chart","file":{"fileExtension":"jpg","fileId":294988,"fileName":"SBIR_2014_2_BC_S3.05-9046","fileSize":61249,"objectId":291511,"objectType":{"lkuCodeId":889,"code":"LIBRARY_ITEMS","description":"Library Items","lkuCodeTypeId":182,"lkuCodeType":{"codeType":"OBJECT_TYPE","description":"Object Type"}},"objectTypeId":889,"fileSizeString":"59.8 KB"},"files":[{"fileExtension":"jpg","fileId":294988,"fileName":"SBIR_2014_2_BC_S3.05-9046","fileSize":61249,"objectId":291511,"objectType":{"lkuCodeId":889,"code":"LIBRARY_ITEMS","description":"Library Items","lkuCodeTypeId":182,"lkuCodeType":{"codeType":"OBJECT_TYPE","description":"Object Type"}},"objectTypeId":889,"fileSizeString":"59.8 KB"}],"id":291511,"title":"Briefing Chart Image","description":"Ultraprecision Pointing Accuracy for SmallSat/CubeSat Attitude Control Systems Briefing Chart","libraryItemTypeId":1095,"projectId":33167,"primary":false,"publishedDateString":"","contentType":{"lkuCodeId":1095,"code":"IMAGE","description":"Image","lkuCodeTypeId":341,"lkuCodeType":{"codeType":"LIBRARY_ITEM_TYPE","description":"Library Item Type"}}}],"transitions":[{"transitionId":64492,"projectId":33167,"partner":"Other","transitionDate":"2015-05-01","path":"Advanced From","relatedProjectId":18007,"relatedProject":{"acronym":"","projectId":18007,"title":"Ultraprecision Pointing Accuracy for SmallSat/CubeSat Attitude Control Systems","startTrl":2,"currentTrl":4,"endTrl":4,"benefits":"Investment by NASA/NSF in SmallSats programs and projects is rapidly increasing. As already identified in previous studies, the scope of these mission increase there will be a corresponding increase in demand for high accuracy Attitude Control System ACS capability. This is especially true for cross formation flying, cross-link communications, and proximity, rendezvous operations, observational data, and onboard experiments. Our goal will be to make available a near-universal low cost enhancement add-on that NASA users from academia to NASA Centers can purchase and easily install between the RWA bracket and a common attachment plate (possibly PCB) that can easily be linked into legacy, or to be developed, ACS controller design (e.g. PI or PID) as to substantially increase pointing accuracy of the SmallSat/CubeSat platform.
The US military is now involved in a number of initiatives to deploy and evaluate small satellites for a range of missions. This includes initiatives by NRO, USAF, Navy and more recently Army, some of which are being undertaken tandem with NASA Centers. QorTek is working closely with a prime contractor on the proposed technology, this contractor being among the single largest developers and suppliers of such SmallSats to the US military (ranging from 3U to 12U). The relationship between QorTek and prime contractor will allow us to utilize their facilities in Phase II and transition the technology to some early platform assessments in a Phase III (which may be a contractor-led/funded activity). There are a number of other military and non-military applications for the identical solutioins that include fast pointing systems for active and adaptive optics, most prominently Fast Steering Mirrors, which will be direct canidates for transition of the proposed new technology.","description":"The primary objective of the Phase I investigation is to develop and demonstrate an innovative solution that can enable very high precision pointing accuracy (<0.08 degree nominal; <0.03 degree extended goal) at fast slew rates; providing part of a advanced Smallsat/CubeSat precision attitude determination and control system (PADCS) that can meet emerging very stringent missions requirements. The Phase I program aim is to design and fabricate initial prototype hardware, including power electronics and Reaction Wheel Assembly (RWA) modifications as to demonstrating such positional accuracy capability, power cost (peak and average power consumption), slew rates and mass/volume cost of the new solution. A critical objective of Phase I will be to develop at the decoupled control architecture for the new multi-stage Attitude Control System ACS controller that will be modeled, simulated, and then converted to hardware prototype for Phase I assessments. This goal is to integrate this prototype controller into a multi-stage (ACS) design hardware emulation testbed and evaluate actual performance before conclusion of the program.","startYear":2014,"startMonth":6,"endYear":2014,"endMonth":12,"statusDescription":"Completed","website":"","program":{"acronym":"SBIR/STTR","active":true,"description":"
The NASA SBIR and STTR programs fund the research, development, and demonstration of innovative technologies that fulfill NASA needs as described in the annual Solicitations and have significant potential for successful commercialization. If you are a small business concern (SBC) with 500 or fewer employees or a non-profit RI such as a university or a research laboratory with ties to an SBC, then NASA encourages you to learn more about the SBIR and STTR programs as a potential source of seed funding for the development of your innovations.
The SBIR and STTR programs have 3 phases:
The SBIR and STTR Phase I contracts last for 6 months with a maximum funding of $125,000, and Phase II contracts last for 24 months with a maximum funding of $750,000 - $1.5 million.
Opportunity for Continued Technology Development Post-Phase II:
The NASA SBIR/STTR Program currently has in place two initiatives for supporting its small business partners past the basic Phase I and Phase II elements of the program that emphasize opportunities for commercialization. Specifically, the NASA SBIR/STTR Program has the Phase II Enhancement (Phase II-E) and Phase II eXpanded (Phase II-X) contract options.
Please review the links below to obtain more information on the SBIR/STTR programs.
Provides an overview of the SBIR and STTR programs as implemented by NASA
Provides access to the annual SBIR/STTR Solicitations containing detailed information on the program eligibility requirements, proposal instructions and research topics and subtopics
Schedule and links for the SBIR/STTR solicitations and selection announcements
Federal and non-Federal sources of assistance for small business
Search our complete archive of awarded project abstracts to learn about what NASA has funded
Still have questions? Visit the program FAQs
","programId":73,"responsibleMd":{"acronym":"STMD","canUserEdit":false,"city":"","external":false,"linkCount":0,"organizationId":4875,"organizationName":"Space Technology Mission Directorate","organizationType":"NASA_Mission_Directorate","naorganization":false,"organizationTypePretty":"NASA Mission Directorate"},"responsibleMdId":4875,"stockImageFileId":36648,"title":"Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Tech Transfer"},"lastUpdated":"2024-1-10","releaseStatusString":"Released","viewCount":325,"endDateString":"Dec 2014","startDateString":"Jun 2014"},"infoText":"Advanced from another project within the program","infoTextExtra":"Another project within the program (Ultraprecision Pointing Accuracy for SmallSat/CubeSat Attitude Control Systems)","dateText":"May 2015"}],"responsibleMd":{"acronym":"STMD","canUserEdit":false,"city":"","external":false,"linkCount":0,"organizationId":4875,"organizationName":"Space Technology Mission Directorate","organizationType":"NASA_Mission_Directorate","naorganization":false,"organizationTypePretty":"NASA Mission Directorate"},"program":{"acronym":"SBIR/STTR","active":true,"description":"The NASA SBIR and STTR programs fund the research, development, and demonstration of innovative technologies that fulfill NASA needs as described in the annual Solicitations and have significant potential for successful commercialization. If you are a small business concern (SBC) with 500 or fewer employees or a non-profit RI such as a university or a research laboratory with ties to an SBC, then NASA encourages you to learn more about the SBIR and STTR programs as a potential source of seed funding for the development of your innovations.
The SBIR and STTR programs have 3 phases:
The SBIR and STTR Phase I contracts last for 6 months with a maximum funding of $125,000, and Phase II contracts last for 24 months with a maximum funding of $750,000 - $1.5 million.
Opportunity for Continued Technology Development Post-Phase II:
The NASA SBIR/STTR Program currently has in place two initiatives for supporting its small business partners past the basic Phase I and Phase II elements of the program that emphasize opportunities for commercialization. Specifically, the NASA SBIR/STTR Program has the Phase II Enhancement (Phase II-E) and Phase II eXpanded (Phase II-X) contract options.
Please review the links below to obtain more information on the SBIR/STTR programs.
Provides an overview of the SBIR and STTR programs as implemented by NASA
Provides access to the annual SBIR/STTR Solicitations containing detailed information on the program eligibility requirements, proposal instructions and research topics and subtopics
Schedule and links for the SBIR/STTR solicitations and selection announcements
Federal and non-Federal sources of assistance for small business
Search our complete archive of awarded project abstracts to learn about what NASA has funded
Still have questions? Visit the program FAQs
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