The Naval Research Laboratory's
(NRL's) Naval Center for Space Technology (NCST) announces the
successful design, development, qualification, launch and operation
of a state-of-the-art Miniature Space Ground Link System (SGLS)
Transponder for use on future advanced and miniature spacecraft.
The U.S. Air Force's MightySat II.1 satellite became the first
spacecraft to launch and utilize the new NRL transponder.
NRL's Miniature SGLS Transponder
represents the smallest full-featured, space qualified SGLS transponder
ever designed and flown. Weighing only 3.3 lbs. (1.5 kg) with
a total volume of 90 in3 (1470 cm3), it
represents a 70% reduction in volume and mass over existing systems.
The NRL Miniature SGLS Transponder, along with NRL-designed miniature
antennas, diplexers, cables, and couplers (<0.5 kg) represent
enabling radio frequency (RF) technology for next-generation
Department of Defense (DoD) miniature spacecraft.
Following the launch, Mr. Randy
Kahn, Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) MightySat Program
Manager, extended "tremendous 'congrats'" and personal
thanks to the NRL team for producing an excellent Mini-SGLS transponder.
"The NRL Mini-SGLS Transponder," says Mr. Kahn, "is
one of the big success stories of the MightySat program."
Developed under sponsorship of
(AFRL) (www.afrl.af.mil), with support from the
Clementine 2 microsatellite technology program, the NRL transponder
provides a satellite with DoD standard Air Force Satellite Control
Network (AFSCN) S-Band secure spacecraft telemetry, tracking,
and command (TT&C) services.
The MightySat program is a multi-mission,
small satellite technology development program demonstrating
high-risk, high-payoff space system technologies with the objective
of transitioning them to operational use by the Air Force. The
NRL Mini-SGLS Transponder is one of several Experimental Bus
Components on MightySat II.1, which are now demonstrating their
flight worthiness on-orbit after being subjected to rigorous
ground-based qualification/acceptance testing.
The Miniature SGLS Transponder
subsystem was conceived and developed at NRL under the direction
of Drs. Christopher Lichtenberg, Section Head, and Stewart Nozette,
both of the Radio Frequency Active Systems Section. According
to Dr. Lichtenberg, "Our NRL Mini-SGLS Transponder subsystem
hardware represents major size and mass reductions compared to
current DoD standard spacecraft TT&C subsystem hardware.
The Mini-SGLS Transponder is ideal for DoD next-generation and/or
smaller, higher-performance spacecraft. We developed it precisely
because it enables smaller spacecraft, which can be put on orbit
for lower cost. It also allows additional size/mass of other
payloads on existing platforms."
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory is the Navy's full-spectrum corporate laboratory, conducting a broadly based multidisciplinary program of scientific research and advanced technological development. The Laboratory, with a total complement of nearly 2,500 personnel, is located in southwest Washington, D.C., with other major sites at the Stennis Space Center, Miss., and Monterey, Calif. NRL has served the Navy and the nation for over 85 years and continues to meet the complex technological challenges of today's world. For more information, visit the NRL homepage or join the conversation on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.
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