Printable Spacecraft: Flexible Electronic Platforms for NASA Missions Project

We believe we have addressed the NIAC program goals to study major feasibility issues of the technology with results that provide a sound basis for NASA to consider the concept for further development. By looking closely at the technical and programmatic challenges, we assessed the utilization of printed electronics in space. We specifically considered the technology in a mission context by producing a point design and a detailed analysis for the STANLE reference mission. To address the technical challenge of system integration, we designed and fabricated a hybrid printed platform that includes the functions of continuous sensor measurements, data processing and conversion and storage, and RF wireless transmission. To address the technical challenge of space environment survivability, we tested common materials and printed devices under conditions representative of space (vacuum, thermal cycling, radiation). The printed materials samples showed no substantial degradation nor did the temperature sensors. Other devices are still undergoing post-test characterization. To address programmatic feasibility, we investigated the benefits to a reference mission in terms of cost and mass. We were able to show that replacing a traditional lander with the equivalent mass of printed flutter landers saved significant cost and risk. To provide guidance on a path forward, we formulated two roadmaps -one to bring the reference mission to maturity and one to invest in progressing the technology in general. The Printable Spacecraft phase two effort accomplished everything it set out to do and more. One might be able to claim that as a result of the prototype build and environmental testing the printable spacecraft has moved forward from TRL 2 to a state between TRL 3 and 4. This task also inspired four successfully funded follow-on activities: -A Rocksat-x sounding rocket demonstration of the STANLE printable spacecraft working with a student team at Northwest Nazarene University -A NASA EPSCoR Research Initiation Grants (RIG) on printable spacecraft with Dr. Dmitri Anagnostou and Dr, Grant Crawford at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (SDSMT) -A NASA Space Technology Research Fellow, Ian Markon from SDSMT, who will expand the materials testing and characterization program -A Flex Tech Alliance task awarded to xerox PARC on integrated sensor platforms (building on the NIAC design) for terrestrial applications.