Spacecraft Technology
The SERC is working on multiple technology areas. Listed below are the major thrusts and some definitions for each.
RENDEZVOUS AND PROXIMITY OPERATIONS (RPO) Research
The SERC is working on several different modalities, techniques and areas that focus on the general area of rendezvous and proximity operations or RPO. RPO is typically associated with the ability or operation of two (or more) independent space objects that purposefully manuever to within close "proximity" of each other, via various rendezvous techniques. RPO is critical for any "servicing" mission that are coming on line this year, which may include inspection, repair, refuel, upgrade or assembly activities. RPO is a wide and robust area of research, which includes sensors, orbital dynamics techniques, processing and data fusion, and hardware for contact and dock. SERC is exploring multiple arenas within this robust field. Each are listed below.
SPACECRAFT TECHNOLOGIES
The SERC Researchers are also working on additional novel concepts and new technologies for a variety of different applications and research areas. Some of the other technologies being worked are listed here.
Multi-Core Processor for Satellite (MAESTRO)
The Maestro Flight Experiment (MFE) demonstrates the operation of a modern, many-core radiation hardened processor (the Maestro ITC) in space. The Maestro Flight Experiment (MFE) is an experimental package that will demonstrate on-orbit operation of the Maestro ITC (Initial Test Chip) 49-core radiation hardened processor.
