SpaceDev Wins USAF Research Contract to Develop Small Launch Vehicle Avionics

ROCKET SCIENCE

Illustration of SpaceDev's Streaker.

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."

ROCKET SCIENCE

USAF-NASA Technology Demonstrator Engine Successfully Test Fired

Bay St Louis MS (SPX) May 04, 2005
An engine developed to demonstrate advanced rocket technologies for future launch vehicles was successfully ignited April 28 at 9:10 p.m. CDT during its test firing at NASA's Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Miss.

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