1. Space Plug-and-Play Enabled CubeLabs for ISS Payloads
Zach Jacobs, Max Bezold, Jason Rexroat, Billy Danhauer, Alex Clements, Josh Evans, Haden Marrs,
Samir Rawashdeh, Trevor Fenwick, James E. Lumpp, Jr.
Space Plug-and-Play (SPA) Standard: SPA, developed by the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL), is a modular technology for spacecraft components based on “plug-and-play” technology. AFRL has been working to achieve Operationally Responsive Space (ORS) by reducing the cost and time to launch a spacecraft. This effort has led to systematic reductions in time for all aspects of developing and launching a spacecraft. This requires standardized systems to be able to assemble a spacecraft and integrate it with a payload rapidly.
Given the complexity of the different systems on a spacecraft, a “plug-and-play” (PnP) standard, called Space Plug-and-play Avionics (SPA), was developed by AFRL to facilitate rapid integration. SPA implements a self-organizing network of modules where components are self-describing and attach to a standardized data and power bus. This allows a satellite to be assembled by connecting the automatically discoverable devices to the SPA network, and focusing the development time on the application that uses the data and services from the SPA modules. This alleviates integration time by ideally eliminating module and bus design, given that SPA-enabled modules that meet the mission requirements are available.
SPA networks are self-organizing which means new devices shall automatically be configured and integrated into the existing network.
The Satellite Data Model performs the central role of registering SPA devices when they are found in the system
driver
USB interface chip
plug-and-play
component
Computer Plug-and-play
Space Plug-and-play
electronic
Datasheet
(xTEDS)
Appliqué sensor interface module
plug-and-play
component
This image shows current research being done at the Space Systems Laboratory at UK involves creating a sensor interface to the SPA network (ASIM) by using an This system can also be used to control SPA-1 based sensors to collect experimental data.
*photo adapted from SPA presentation by Cosmiac
SPA networks are very similar to computer plug and play networks. The image above shows the similarities and some differences.
Exploded view of the mechanical enclosure of the SPA enabled CubeLab bus. This system will be used to command generic payloads as well as facilitate testing of SPA sensors on orbit of the ISS.