Small Spacecraft and Missions Enterprise (SSME)

1. Small Spacecraft andMissions Enterprise (SSME) Description: SSME will address a broad spectrum of small spacecraft mission requirements and objectives through pilot projects to mature and evaluate transformational technologies to a level suitable for flight demonstration on multiple platforms. SSME will focus on identifying the needs of the space community to facilitate efficiencies and leveraging within the Small Spacecraft and Missions user and developer communities. Goals & Objectives: • Determine the optimal architecture and component configuration(s) for a given mission platform for small spacecraft mission architecture that will allow for the same capabilities as larger platforms in smaller form factors • Several small spacecraft platforms are envisioned, with an eye toward exploring and defining pathways to conduct 50-80% of target space missions at 20-50% of the cost, size, mass, and development Overview Image Tasks/Transition Rationale Study Elements & Tasks: • White papers will be written to address the needs of NASA programs, mission directorates, and the external community to outline and define Design Reference Missions (DRMs) to illustrate potential technology areas and thrusts for small satellites. • Workshops will be held to review the white papers and to solicit input from the satellite space technology base at large on technologies that would most greatly benefit their platforms and applications. • Pilot projects and testbeds will be pursued for formation flying, long life power systems, precision pointing, deployable apertures, autonomous swarm operations, proximity operations, robotics, space-to-space power transmission, and other technology enablers. Rationale: SSME will embody an open vision for next generation space systems and missions development, and will implement a strategy to facilitate increased efficiencies for agency, mission directorate, national, and commercial space utilization that leverages small spacecraft investments. Applicability: Space Technology Program (STP), Mission Directorates Beneficiaries: NASA OCT, HEOMD, SMD, DoD, DARPA, AFRL, NSF, NRO, Other NASA Centers, and outside contractors/partners Team: NASA ARC, academia, and industry with others TBD Transition/Insertion Plan Recommendations will be made to the STP and Mission Directorates to inform and augment their strategic and investment roadmaps.