Lunar Outpost Inc — Department of Defense STTR Phase I: AF21S-TCSO1

Description

Lunar Outpost and Johns Hopkins University have identified an opportunity to dramatically reduce launch costs while enabling new satellite capabilities made previously impossible by launch limitations. Restrictive volumetric availability combined with severe mechanical loading result in under-enabled and over-engineered designs. By shifting assembly of satellites and other hardware on-orbit these launch limitations are eliminated, enabling this reduction in launch costs and capability increase. By launching disassembled components and assembling them on-orbit, it is possible to pack components in a volumetrically efficient manner, simultaneously utilizing each component’s structural integrity. This improved packing scheme increases volumetric efficiency while, eliminating mass intensive support structures and deployment hardware required to launch a satellite in a pre-assembled configuration. Our solution encompasses an ‘assembly hub’ consisting of a component storage area, assembly stage, and dual robotic manipulators working in conjunction with Johns Hopkins’ cutting edge optical diagnostic architecture. Together these systems will comprise a fully autonomous & dynamic assembly architecture which will be used to capitalize on the aforementioned opportunities.