AAE PhD candidate, Anthony Cofer's thesis project selected to collaborate in NASA's Small Spacecraft Technology Program

Event Date: October 1, 2015
AAE PhD Candidate, Anthony Cofer, with Co-Pi's, Professors Alina Alexeenko and Stephen Heister's project was selected to collaborate with NASA's Small Spacecraft Technology Program within the Space Technology Mission Directorate.

AAE PhD Candidate, Anthony Cofer, with Co-Pi's, Professors Alina Alexeenko and Stephen Heister's project was selected to collaborate with NASA's Small Spacecraft Technology Program within the Space Technology Mission Directorate.

The Small Spacecraft Technology Program within NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate has selected eight university teams to collaborate on development and demonstration of new technologies and capabilities for small spacecraft.  Each of the university teams will work with engineers and scientists from NASA on two-year projects beginning this fall.  These projects target the development of technologies for small spacecraft, some of which weigh only a few kilograms, dramatically enhancing their ability to serve as powerful but affordable platforms for science, exploration, and commercial space missions.

The eight presently selected project teams will establish cooperative agreements with NASA Centers and annual university funding of up to $100,000 for two years.  As part of the agreement, NASA will provide a modest level of civil servant labor for the collaborative work.

The selected projects include:

  • University of Vermont and Worcester Polytechnic Institute – high-capacity Ka-band radio
  • University of Arkansas –inflatable balloon device for small spacecraft deorbit
  • University of Michigan –high-precision clock for navigation and communications
  • University of Maryland – solar sail control device requiring no propellant
  • Utah State University – combined solar panel and radio antenna
  • University of Illinois – integrated solar power and thermal control system
  • Purdue University – miniature reaction control system
  • Utah State University – thermal control system including cryogenic cooling

These teams will each work with technologists from NASA Centers including the Goddard Space Flight Center, Ames Research Center, Marshall Space Flight Center, Langley Research Center, and Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

More information about selected teams and projects for the Smallsat Technology Partnerships can be seen online at: http://www.nasa.gov/smallsats

Publish date: October 1, 2015