Sierra Nevada Corporation

by on 26 September 2018in Life Sciences, Technology Development

Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) is a trusted leader in solving the world’s toughest challenges through advanced engineering technologies in Space Systems, Commercial Solutions, and National Security and Defense. Honored as one of the most innovative U.S. companies in space, SNC’s Space Systems business area designs and manufactures advanced spacecraft and satellite solutions, space habitats and environmental systems, propulsion systems, precision space mechanisms and subsystems, and SNC’s celebrated Dream Chaser® spacecraft. With 30 years of space heritage working with the U.S. government, commercial customers, and the international market, SNC has participated in more than 450 successful space missions and delivered 4,000+ systems, subsystems and components around the world.

 

Propulsion & Environmental Systems

Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) provides propulsion and human environmental solutions for launch, transport, low-earth orbit, and extended planetary and long duration applications in space.

 

Propulsion Systems

We can rapidly apply the patented, low cost and high performance VORTEX™ engines to smaller Reaction Control System(RCS) solutions as well as upper stage engine needs. With a wide range of propellant combinations, we can off­er versatility to suit the specific application. SNC has successfully developed products from RCS systems and large abort engines to successful flight-like system tests. Our rocket engine test facilities enable rapid design and test development to accelerate working solutions in a very short timeline.

Core Products & Subsystems

  • In-space propulsion (0.1 to 1,000 lbf thrust)
  • Upper stage engines (to 100,000 lbf thrust)
  • Boost stage engines (in development)
  • Advanced propellants & thrusters
  • O2 & H2 production from water
  • O2 & H2O production from planetary resources

 

Environmental Systems

SNC can provide full life support system solutions or focused subsystem solutions related to water management and recovery, air system monitoring/control and revitalization, thermal management, lighting and payload accommodations. We have a wide range of solutions appropriate for short duration transit to long duration planetary habitation. Our unique capabilities stem from decades of research in environmental control in partnership with NASA and include successful operational systems such as VEGGIE and Advanced Plant Habitat systems on the International Space Station, which are currently helping scientists and engineers understand how to utilize plants as an integral solution space for long-duration travel.

 

Environmental Control & Life Support Systems

  • Air revitalization & CO2 removal, quality monitoring & control
  • Atmospheric temperature, humidity & pressure control
  • Water reclamation & processing, quality monitoring & control
  • Food production
  • Waste processing & management
  • Environmental LED lighting

Bio Production Systems

  • Controlled Bio Production systems
  • Specialty culture & root support systems
  • Efficient food production systems
  • Full sun & specialty LED lighting systems
  • Spider silk & protein molecule production
  • Rodent & biological science systems

 

VEGGIE

SNC continues to push the boundaries for sustainable long-term missions by advancing plant growth in space. The vegetable production system (VEGGIE) was developed for NASA and is currently growing food on the International Space Station. This provides astronauts the opportunity to periodically enjoy various kinds of fresh lettuce and vegetables while also giving scientists key data about growing plants in space.

 

Advanced Plant Habitat

SNC is also involved in the cutting-edge, automated “space garden,” Advanced Plant Habitat (APH), currently on the International Space Station. Jointly designed by SNC and NASA engineers, APH has 180 sensors monitoring temperature, humidity, light levels, CO2 levels and many more – critical to bioscience research.

 

Astro Garden™

We are working on a larger and more advanced plant growth system with our Astro Garden. We are developing a way to grow a larger volume of food while saving as much space, weight and power as possible.

Made in Space

by on 1 August 2018in Physical Sciences, Technology Development

Made In Space (MIS) is the industry leader for manufacturing technologies designed for the outer space environment. Using various manufacturing techniques (fused deposition modeling, injection molding, casting, stereolithography, subtractive, etc.) MIS uses the benefits of microgravity to develop innovative new products and concepts that can only be realized in space. MIS currently owns and operates a commercial additive manufacturing facility aboard the International Space Station (ISS) that is used by both government and commercial customers. MIS also produces ZBLAN optical fiber aboard the ISS as the first commercial product to be manufactured aboard the ISS and sold commercially on Earth. Multiple payloads are currently under development for future ISS missions such as industrial crystal growth and additive and subtractive manufacturing of metal alloys.

ISS-certified hardware:

  • Additive Manufacturing Facility
  • MIS Fiber
  • MIS Recycler

List of Services:

  • Payload engineering support
  • Payload hardware development and integration
  • Payload software development and integration
[caption id="attachment_9597" align="alignleft" width="1024"] Launched March 2016, AMF (bottom) is a permanent manufacturing facility on the International Space Station (ISS), providing hardware manufacturing services to both NASA and the U.S. National Laboratory onboard. The Made In Space Fiber Optics (MIS Fiber) miniature fiber-pulling machine (top) harnesses the unique properties of the microgravity environment to produce an optical fiber orders of magnitude better than what can be produced on Earth.  Image courtesy of NASA.[/caption]

 

Intuitive Machines

by on 6 July 2018in Technology Development

Autonomous Systems have the potential to affect every part of life, business, industry, and education, and the implications are huge across the board.

​With this in mind, we created Intuitive Machines, a company constructed to provide robust, available, reliable and safe autonomous system solutions. We believe there are opportunities to apply human spaceflight methodologies and principles that enable low costs solutions while at the same time managing the highest complexity and safety levels for autonomous systems.

Intuitive Machines was formed from deep practical experience in large complex space systems development.  The people of Intuitive Machines blend deep technical knowledge with practices honed over 40 years of human spaceflight; practices in risk-based decision-making, redundancy management, fault tolerance and isolation, safety, reliability, maintainability, verification testing, and operations.

The team at IM is made up of former NASA employees who have been flying hardware to ISS for as long as there has been an ISS. We provide:

  • Lab Space in Houston
  • Shop Space in Houston
  • Integration services
    • ISS paperwork and verification products
    • Safety verification products and services
    • We will act as your interface to the ISS community, making your integration process simple
  • Hardware and software development
    • Often times, potential ISS payload customers know what they want to test, but don’t know how to implement that in the ISS environment. IM can help you decide the best way to make that happen.
  • We have a Universal Reentry Vehicle designed to a CDR level should you have the need for sample return much faster than is currently available from ISS. When finished, our system can delivery samples back to the Earth only 6 hours after it is packed on the ISS.
[caption id="attachment_9554" align="alignleft" width="1024"] Intuitive Machines’ Universal Reentry Vehicle (URV) system can be used to return payloads from LEO and Lunar Environments.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_9555" align="alignleft" width="1024"] The URV is an autonomous platform that can both fly in space and hypersonically through the atmosphere with the precision to achieve a designated landing site.[/caption]

Business Integra Technology Solutions

by on 6 July 2018in Technology Development

At BI Tech, our team has not only been flying payloads to ISS for many years, we have been through the CASIS process having flown the SG100 Cloud Computer Payload in 2017. We can offer the following services:

  • Complete integration services
  • Hardware and Software development that meet ISS Requirements
  • Our SG100 line of single board computers includes a space rated, high speed processor with HRDL and onboard storage capability. For the researcher who has high data demands, this system is ideal to allow you to process your valuable data and ensure you utilize the least amount of downlink resources.

Bigelow Space Operations (BSO)

by on 26 June 2018in Technology Development

Bigelow Space Operations (BSO) is the sister company of Bigelow Aerospace.  We serve as the sales, operational, and customer service company that manages and operates space stations developed by Bigelow Aerospace.
As the first and only company to operate a privately owned module on the International Space Station (ISS), we know it takes technical expertise, innovative thinking, and a commitment to excellence to expand capabilities in space. And we understand how important your space mission is to that endeavor. We are focused on your immediate needs today and your needs for tomorrow. Our qualified technical and management teams leverage our vast network of relationships with NASA and commercial payload hardware and integration suppliers to:

  • conduct diverse space operations for multiple stations in low Earth Orbit (LEO) and beyond,
  • reliably and safely service our customers’ requirements to encourage successful results, and
  • provide a centralized service at the lowest possible cost for all your space operation needs, saving you time and money.

At BSO, we are excited about bringing new ideas and technologies to space. Let’s start with your mission today!

LaMont Aerospace

by on 6 March 2018in Earth Science and Remote Sensing, Technology Development

Primary Services

Satellite Integration, Launch, and Deployment Operations

Mission Integration & Operations

  • Manifest
  • Safety Certification
  • Analysis
  • Real-Time Operations
  • Pre and Post Flight Testing

Aerospace Systems Operations

  • Human Systems
  • Robotic Systems
  • ECLSS
  • Thermal Control
  • ADCS
  • Propulsion
  • GN&C
  • Comm
  • Struc&Mech

Aerospace Systems Design

  • Human Systems
  • Robotic Systems
  • ECLSS
  • Thermal Control
  • ADCS
  • Propulsion
  • GN&C
  • Comm
  • Struc&Mech

Nano-Small Satellite Design, Deployment, Integration, & Operations

ISS Hardware Available for Use

Remote Manipulator Small Satellite Systems (RM3S)

Iron Ring Technologies, LLC

by on 2 March 2018in Technology Development

Iron Ring Technologies, LLC is a small business providing design and engineering services in life support and mechanical systems for the aerospace industry. Critical partnerships forged over many years enable us to provide the robust turnkey solutions demanded by our customers.

Primary Services:
● Project planning, architecting, and visualization
● Mechanical design including modeling and simulation
● Systems engineering, integration, and project management
● Test design, execution, requirement verification, and certification
● Safety analysis, training, operations planning, and mission execution

Discriminators:
● Proximity and access to NASA JSC onsite test capabilities facilitated by Space Act Agreement(s) as needed
● Close relationships with ISS operations team
● Access to future commercial and government space facilities, come talk with us about the offerings
● Partnered to launch small satellites from ISS and commercial vehicles
● Visualization and graphics to promote projects to stakeholders
● Low-cost prototyping and additive manufacturing
● Detailed design and product documentation
● Early identification of materials, operations, safety, and design issues that may cause cost and schedule issues later in the project

Labs, Shops, and Test Facilities:
● Scalable and deployable CAD / FEM capabilities for design and analysis at your location or from our lab
● Decentralized light manufacturing, and fabrication facilities available including ESD benches and 3D printing using a fast and flexible network of partners to minimize cost and schedule disruptions
● NASA test facilities via Space Act Agreements, as needed, please inquire about breadth of services available

Alpha Space

by on 31 January 2018in Physical Sciences, Technology Development

Alpha Space Test and Research Alliance, LLC (Alpha Space) is a woman- and minority-owned small business serving the Materials Science community with on-orbit, real-time pure materials science research. Alpha Space owns and operates the Materials International Space Station (ISS) Experiment (MISSE) Flight Facility, a commercially-available materials research facility at the ISS. MISSE offers unprecedented access to space, unparalleled pure science testing, and all at an affordable cost. The employees supporting MISSE have a long, successful track record of over twenty years of payload integration and support to prior Government-sponsored MISSE missions.

Primary Services:

Alpha Space offers access to space for unparalleled pure science testing.  The MISSE provides a testing environment external to the ISS which yields accelerated testing results and environments and synergistic effects not replicated on earth.  These exposures include:

  • Atomic Oxygen
  • Radiation- low, high, and solar radiation
  • Vacuum of Space
  • Microgravity
  • Extreme Temperatures
  • Micrometeoroid Impacts
  • Direct Sun exposure
  • Earth viewing capabilities

Alpha Space also offers Engineering Design and Fabrication for customized payloads, as well as space operations and project management.

Standard MISSE services provided by Alpha Space include:

  • Payload integration and de-integration
  • Contamination Protection
  • Temperature Data
  • Solar Angle Data for Zenith Carriers
  • Contamination Monitoring
  • Orbital Parameters
  • ISS Orientation in its Orbit
  • Monthly Photographs
  • UV Sensor

Additional Services:

Optional MISSE services, including ground services, are also available.  Most common are power and data for active experiments, with remote real-time access supported by the Alpha Space Payload Operations Control Center.

The Alpha Space Vacuum Test chamber, located in our Houston facility, has the ability to perform vacuum testing to 10-6 torr, while implementing UV and thermal testing of samples within 10 x 7 x 2 inch volume.   The chamber can test electronics and sensors for space applications within operational temperature limits as experienced on the ISS.

ISS-certified hardware:

  • Materials International Space Station Experiment (MISSE) Flight Facility
  • MISSE Transfer Trays
  • MISSE Sample Carriers
[caption id="attachment_9508" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] MISSE Flight Facility owned by Alpha Space[/caption]

Emerald City Initiatives, Inc.

by on 29 August 2017in Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, Technology Development

ECI is an experienced provider of human rated and commercial engineering services to facilitate access to space for Principal Investigators and Scientists.  ECI provides engineering, operations, safety and science products and services to allow utilization of the ISS National Lab for micro-gravity science investigations and technology development.  ECI efficiently applies customer commercial approaches and internal quality processes.  ECI can benefit any science investigation team by collaborating at any point in the product life cycle.

Primary Services and Capabilities 

  • Single point of contact to Science Teams for planning/execution of ISS activities and integration
  • Systems Engineering and Integration for the entire Product Life Cycle
  • Requirement analysis, Interfaces, ConOps, Safety and Verification/Validation
  • Mechanical and electrical design using latest tools for development and integration into ISS
  • Technology Development and Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) maturation
  • Prototype/Product Development/Demonstration (DDT&E) planning and execution
  • Specialty engineering reach back for niche areas
  • Project Support (Scheduling, Risk Management) to monitor and measure progress

ISS Certified Hardware

ECI utilizes existing ISS Certified Hardware to accomplish your science objectives.  We can also develop customized hardware and software to accomplish your unique science and operational goals.

Research Support Services

ECI provides experience to develop Flight and Ground operational products to satisfy science needs and ISS requirements.  Provides easy access to available ground facilities for science processing, on-orbit and post landing activities.  Coordination/outreach includes…

  •  Flight Operations/On-orbit experiment monitoring
  • Post Flight Support
  • Science Hardware return coordination

Labs, Shops and Test Facilities

ECI has immediate access and reach back to various Labs, Shops and Test Facilities to support all development phases for hardware/software, verification/validation, safety and flight certification.  These include:

  • Hardware/software providers, manufacturers and test facilities/labs
  • Extensive understanding of science, engineering, safety testing (Development, Qualification, Acceptance, Proto-Flight) and can execute efficient approaches to assure success
  • Supplier Quality Surveillance and Manufacturing Oversight
[caption id="attachment_9225" align="aligncenter" width="288"] Ring-Sheared Drop (RSD) Experiment
[Currently under development][/caption]

Leidos Innovations Corporation

by on 15 August 2017in Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, Technology Development

Leidos LEO Commercial Services leverages over 50 years of human space flight experience allowing us to provide tailorable solutions for the successful implementation of your mission. With more than 300 engineers, analysts, integrators and technicians supporting the International Space Station today, we have the tools and knowledge to get you precisely what you need.

Pre-Flight Capabilities:

  • Mission definition and technical planning
  • Requirements definition and verification
  • Hardware design, prototype, test, manufacture and Certification of Flight Readiness (CoFR)
  • Packaging, photography, labeling, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), foam, manifest, and logistics
  • Crew/simulation training and procedure writing options
  • Controlled storage areas available
  • Structural, thermal, material, safety, reliability, battery, and export/import experts

In-Flight Capabilities:

  • Command and control services
  • Real-time and near real-time execution in the mission environment
  • Implementation and management of mission objectives
  • Research data acquisition and management

Post-Flight Capabilities:

  • Hardware/sample retrieval and return
  • Data analytics

Key Attributes:

  • AS9100D certified processes
  • Flexible contracting mechanisms
[caption id="attachment_9212" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Leidos personnel perform a ground simulation of an on-orbit pulmonary experiment.[/caption]