Recovery of In-Space Cubesat Experiments (RICE)

ELORET Corporation, in collaboration with the Space Systems Design Laboratory of Georgia Institute of Technology, proposes developing and demonstrating a capability/technology to de-orbit small payloads (approximately 1 kg) from Low-Earth Orbit and returning them to Earth safely. To achieve this goal, the current proposal has five objectives and associated tasks:
1. Surveying the Bio-science communities to define requirements for the first generation mission architecture.
2. Understanding the launch interface requirements such as mass, volume, vibro-acoustic loads, electromagnetic interference (EMI), etc.
3. Designing and developing the first generation of mission architectures including the key aspects of launch, in-space operation, entry trajectory analysis (EDL sequence), and landing/recovery.
4. Understanding and quantifying small spacecraft requirements for power, thermal control, communications, propulsion, etc., and developing the preliminary design of the spacecraft system using off the shelf technologies whenever possible.
5. Designing and developing a passive (i.e., without any chemical or aerodynamic deceleration devices), single-stage ballistic entry system (including the aeroshell).
6. Designing and developing the impact energy absorption system and thermal control system required for payload thermal management and survivability upon landing.