Research Summaries

Back Spacecraft Systems

Fiscal Year 2013
Division Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science
Department Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering
Investigator(s) Agrawal, Jr., Brij N.
Sponsor National Reconnaissance Office (DoD)
Summary The objective of the Spacecraft Systems Project is the development and operation of laboratories for the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) Space Systems Engineering curriculum. The laboratories are used for coursework, thesis work and novel research. One of the strengths of NPS is the quality of its laboratories and the hands-on learning opportunities they provide. The Spacecraft Systems Project has fostered the development of seven state of the art spacecraft laboratories at NPS and has enabled their continuous operation. This project primarily supports FLTSATCOM Laboratory, Spacecraft Design Laboratory and Spacecraft Design Projects. These activities are purely instructional. Other laboratories are supported primarily by other research projects. Upgrades to the laboratories continued in 2012. A contract was initiated for RT Logic Inc. to modify the FLTSATCOM ground control hardware. In the capstone Space Systems Engineering course, Spacecraft Design, students worked on a spacecraft design for a SIGINT mission sponsored by NSPO. The mid-term review was held August 21, 2012. Five workstations were procured for the Spacecraft Design Laboratory, including two high-powered workstations and the software deployment image was upgraded. The Adaptive Optics Beam Control Laboratory was improved with a strap-down Inertial Reference Unit. New atmospheric turbulence models were developed and implemented in hardware by a Spatial Light Modulator. New control techniques were implemented on the Three-Axis Spacecraft Simulator 2. Component procurement for the 10 kW HEL Testbed continued. In the Segmented Mirror Telescope Laboratory, efforts continued towards making the laboratory operational and ready for students with new testbeds coming online including center of curvature and segment phasing. During FY 2013, the primary focus will be to implement the modified FLTSATCOM ground control hardware, to continue upgrade and maintenance of the Spacecraft Design Laboratory computer hardware, software, and furniture, and to support the spacecraft design project. During FY 2014, the primary focus will be to ensure FLTSATCOM Laboratory is fully operational and available for instruction and thesis work, to continue upgrade and maintenance of the Spacecraft Design Laboratory, and to support the spacecraft design project.
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Publications Publications, theses (not shown) and data repositories will be added to the portal record when information is available in FAIRS and brought back to the portal
Data Publications, theses (not shown) and data repositories will be added to the portal record when information is available in FAIRS and brought back to the portal