1. Chamber of Commerce Huntsville / Madison County Small Spacecraft Subcommittee
Rich White, Chair
(w):
(c):

2. Small Spacecraft Subcommittee Membership as of 4 Feb 2011
Chair – S-TEK - Rich White
CFD Research Corp - Sami Habchi
Dynetics - Mike Graves
Miltec - Bruce Beaufait
Radiance Technologies - Pete Weiland
SAIC - Michael Meagher
Qualis – Roger Herdy
Yetispace – Noah Rhys

3. Trends Number of small spacecraft being built is increasing
Smart phone miniature electronics revolution is being extended into space
60 Agencies, Universities, Nations represented at 2010 California Polytechnic State University Cube Satellite Workshop
Nanosatellites may eventually become a commodity, ordered in large numbers
Affordable, tailored capability for many different types of customers
Launch to Low Earth Orbit becoming more affordable

4. Small Spacecraft Launch Opportunities Are Growing
Seven satellites on November 2010 Minotaur IV launch
Eight cube satellites on December 2010 Falcon 9 launch
EELV Secondary Payload Adapter (ESPA) becoming a standard service
The Huntsville area is uniquely postured today to take advantage of these trends
Cube satellites launched as cargo & deployed from ISS

5. Not “Vugraph Engineering” Small Spacecraft Built Here TODAY
Nanosail-D launched in 2010
SMDC-ONE Cube satellite launched in 2010
FASTSAT launched in 2010
Money gravitates to results. The evidence for successful Team Huntsville marketing is clearly available. Need to continue building an overwhelming case to convince others
Dedicated nanosatellite launcher first stage tested in 2010

6. Small Space Test & Operations Facilities & Equipment Here TODAY
Army Huntsville control center has wideband fiber comm to access Kwajalein radar & launch facilities
Deployable satellite antennas
NASA ISS Payload Control Center
Vibration, thermal, vacuum, and wind tunnel test facilities
Small rocket test stands

7. Examples: Team Huntsville Advantages
Close proximity of build & test facilities
Less chance of damage during transport
Time & cost savings
In-person communication
Ease of detailed technical discussion improves mission success rate
Hands on cost management control
Close physical proximity improves mission success, shortens schedules & enables better cost management

8. Next Steps
Continue to grow subcommittee to include other providers within the Tennessee Valley
Build overwhelming case to convince others
Develop strategy for:
How to communicate synergistic team / close proximity message
Areas where Team Huntsville has a clear advantage
Near & far term goals
Family of small spacecraft buses with standard interfaces to accommodate a wide variety of payloads (eg: FASTSAT “mothership” or ESPA ring as a satellite)
Cooperation with other centers (eg: Operationally Responsive Space Office)
Reach the “tipping point” where people are flocking to the Huntsville area for small spacecraft service