NON-PROPRIETARY DATA NASA SBIR/STTR Technologies Proposal No. S4.01-8692 - A modular minimum Cost Launch System (mCLS) for nano-satellites PI: George Whittinghill, Whittinghill Aerospace LLC – Camarillo, CA Identification and Significance of Innovation The innovation is in the minimum cost design of a nano-sat launch vehicle. This leads to the clustering of identical N 2 O-fed hybrid rocket propulsion modules, a simplified structural configuration, and an avionics installation on the 3 rd stage that allows a spinning, solid 4 th stage to maximize payload to orbit. The rubber and N 2 O propellants are storable, green, inexpensive, and offer operational simplicity with which cryogenic launchers cannot compete. Significance: The mCLS is a high performance, very low cost nanosat launch system made possible though innovative simplicity. Expected TRL Range at the end of the Contract (1-9): 6 Technical Objectives and Work Plan 4 Whittinghill Aerospace (WASP) will demonstrate the technical and operational viability of the mCLS by flight-test of a core module as a sounding rocket. Additionally WASP will conduct a full-scale test firing of the mCLS upper stage SRM. During flight the payload environment will be characterized via a customer- supplied instrumentation package. The work plan will direct continuation of MDO analysis and design tasks, hardware and tooling production, propulsion system static firings, structural load testing, flight hardware development, and conduct a flight test. NASA and Non-NASA Applications NASA applications include dedicated small satellite and sounding rocket launch operations, low-cost strap-on boosters for existing vehicles, upper stage kick motors, and air-launched accelerator stages for air breathing applications. Non-NASA applications include commercial satellite and sounding rocket launch operations, university and student launch operations, high-performance storable tactical vehicles for defense department use, and target vehicles for intercept exercises. Firm Contacts George Whittinghill, President & CTO [email protected] Direct: 805-901-2297, Fax: 805-388-2193

NASA SBIR/STTR Technologies · vehicles, upper stage kick motors, and air-launched accelerator stages for air breathing applications. Non-NASA applications include commercial satellite

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Page 1: NASA SBIR/STTR Technologies · vehicles, upper stage kick motors, and air-launched accelerator stages for air breathing applications. Non-NASA applications include commercial satellite

NON-PROPRIETARY DATA

NASA SBIR/STTR TechnologiesProposal No. S4.01-8692 - A modular

minimum Cost Launch System (mCLS) for nano-satellitesPI: George Whittinghill, Whittinghill Aerospace LLC – Camarillo, CA

Identification and Significance of InnovationThe innovation is in the minimum cost design of a nano-sat launchvehicle. This leads to the clustering of identical N2O-fed hybridrocket propulsion modules, a simplified structural configuration,and an avionics installation on the 3rd stage that allows a spinning,solid 4th stage to maximize payload to orbit. The rubber and N2Opropellants are storable, green, inexpensive, and offer operationalsimplicity with which cryogenic launchers cannot compete.Significance: The mCLS is a high performance, very low costnanosat launch system made possible though innovativesimplicity.Expected TRL Range at the end of the Contract (1-9): 6

Technical Objectives and Work Plan4

Whittinghill Aerospace (WASP) will demonstrate the technicaland operational viability of the mCLS by flight-test of a coremodule as a sounding rocket. Additionally WASP will conduct afull-scale test firing of the mCLS upper stage SRM. During flightthe payload environment will be characterized via a customer-supplied instrumentation package.The work plan will direct continuation of MDO analysis anddesign tasks, hardware and tooling production, propulsion systemstatic firings, structural load testing, flight hardware development,and conduct a flight test.

NASA and Non-NASA ApplicationsNASA applications include dedicated small satellite and soundingrocket launch operations, low-cost strap-on boosters for existingvehicles, upper stage kick motors, and air-launched acceleratorstages for air breathing applications.Non-NASA applications include commercial satellite and soundingrocket launch operations, university and student launch operations,high-performance storable tactical vehicles for defense departmentuse, and target vehicles for intercept exercises.Firm ContactsGeorge Whittinghill, President & [email protected]: 805-901-2297, Fax: 805-388-2193