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SpaceDev Wins USAF Research Contract to Develop Small Launch Vehicle Avionics
Poway CA (SPX) May 06, 2005 SpaceDev has been awarded an Air Force Research Laboratory Phase I Small Business Innovation Research contract, worth approximately $100,000. This new project is focused on the development of standardized, miniaturized, lower-cost avionics for small launch vehicles, such as SpaceDev Streaker being developed by the Company under a separate Air Force contract. This project will lay the foundation for modern, responsive, and scalable launch vehicle avionics. SpaceDev's goal is to leverage its successful "microcomputer-like" corporate culture to increase the responsiveness of launch vehicles and to reduce the mass of the avionics. On a medium-size launch vehicle, SpaceDev estimates that the total mass of the avionics is up to 500 kg. If the mass of the avionics is reduced by 30%, roughly two more SpaceDev CHIPSat-type microsats could be launched on the same vehicle. SpaceDev intends to develop miniature, low-cost, highly reliable launch vehicle avionics weighing considerably less than that of existing, heavier systems. "SpaceDev engineers are very excited about this project because it leverages our work for our NASA and Missile Defense Agency microsatellites, and our microsat standardization contract with the Air Force Research Laboratory," said SpaceDev founding chairman and CEO Jim Benson. "This is one more small but crucial element in our long-term strategy to reduce the cost and turnaround time to launch spacecraft of all types. We are proud of our expanding and successful relationship with the Air Force." Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links SpaceDev SpaceDaily Search SpaceDaily Subscribe To SpaceDaily Express Rocket Science News at Space-Travel.Com
Successful First Test For Vega's Zefiro 9 Engine
Paris, France(ESA) Dec 28, 2005Flames, smoke and a deafening noise accompanied the first firing test of Vega's Zefiro 9 third-stage solid rocket motor. A first examination of the data indicates that everything went well at the test carried out yesterday at Salto de Quirra in southeast Sardinia. |
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