STTR Phase I: A Reliable and Efficient New Method for Satellite Attitude Control

这个小型企业技术转移（STTR）第一阶段项目通过提供更高的灵活性，以及更小的质量、体积和成本，对航天器方向控制的传统概念进行了重大改变。这些优势为新的科学和商业机会打开了大门。该项目解决了未来空间观测站和商业航天器对高敏捷性系统的需求，目前现有的姿态控制解决方案无法实现。此外，该系统作为一种更经济实惠的三轴控制选项，将增加低预算任务对太空的访问，使太空探索比以往任何时候都更容易实现。预计该系统应用将推动卫星对卫星通信等领域的进步，为全球数字连接倡议增添动力。STTR第一阶段项目旨在开发一种多功能姿态控制结构（MSAC）系统，并提高其效率和可靠性，推动其实现飞行演示准备。该项目解决了该系统的疲劳强度及其与恶劣空间环境的兼容性的现有挑战，这些因素对其商业成功和预期应用的耐久性至关重要。该项目的目标是设计一个能够飞行的系统，借鉴实验室规模测试和原型的见解。它还寻求同时改进系统的机械和电气设计，以提高效率和可靠性标准。通过这种研究方法，该团队预计将更好地理解并最终减轻潜在的故障模式，为实现坚固的、可用于太空的原型铺平道路。这项努力的预期技术成果有可能彻底改变航天器姿态控制市场。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project offers significant changes to the conventional concept of spacecraft orientation control by providing increased agility, along with reduced mass, volume, and cost. These advantages open doors to new scientific and commercial opportunities. The project addresses the demanding needs of future space observatories and commercial spacecraft that require high agility systems, currently unachievable with existing attitude control solutions. Moreover, this system, as a more affordable 3-axis control option, is set to increase access to space for lower-budget missions, making space exploration more accessible than ever before. The systems application is envisioned to enable advances in sectors such as satellite-to-satellite communications, adding momentum to global digital connectivity initiatives. This STTR Phase I project seeks to develop a Multifunctional Structures for Attitude Control (MSAC) system and increase its efficiency and reliability, pushing it towards achieving readiness for flight demonstration. The project addresses the existing challenge of the system's fatigue strength and its compatibility with the harsh space environment, factors crucial for its commercial success and durability in its intended application. This project's aim is to design a flight-capable system, drawing on the insights from lab-scale tests and prototypes. It also seeks to simultaneously improve the system's mechanical and electrical design to elevate efficiency and reliability standards. Through this research method, the team anticipates a better understanding and eventual mitigation of potential failure modes, paving the way for the realization of a robust, space-ready prototype. The anticipated technical results from this endeavor have the potential to revolutionize the spacecraft attitude control market.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.