Modular Low SWaP-C SmallSats with Advanced Communications for Space Exploration

Abstract

NASA is pursuing rapid identification, development and testing of key technologies that further advance the capabilities of small spacecraft platforms to accelerate the pace of space exploration, scientific discovery and the expansion of space commerce in a sustainable manner. Under a NASA funded Lunar Sequential project titled “Efficient and Secure Communications for Spacecraft Beyond LEO,” Antara has been developing modular SpaceVNX+ based small spacecraft and a software package for secure, efficient, and scalable Delay and Disruption Tolerant Networking (DTN) communications for distributed platforms. The paper describes the SpaceVNX+ standard and the CubeSat platform that will host the soft-ware; the LunaNet compatible DTN software, taraION; and the planned Low Earth Orbit (LEO) mission to flight qualify the hardware and software. The LEO mission will be comprised of a small swarm of six SpaceVNX+ CubeSats that will demonstrate secure DTN and autonomous communications between ground stations and CubeSats as well as among the CubeSats. As a case study, the paper also covers the details and analysis of benchtop testing of the mission software and hardware. These emerging capabilities have the potential to make possible new mission architectures, enhance conventional missions and reduce development and deployment timelines, which will enable NASA and other space mission operators to achieve their objectives at significantly lower programmatic risk and cost than traditional approaches.