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Multi-Application Survivable Tether (MAST) Experiment

Award Information
Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Branch: N/A
Contract: NNM04AB21C
Agency Tracking Number: 020007
Amount: $499,998.00
Phase: Phase II
Program: STTR
Solicitation Topic Code: N/A
Solicitation Number: N/A
Timeline
Solicitation Year: N/A
Award Year: 2004
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): N/A
Award End Date (Contract End Date): N/A
Small Business Information
19011 36th Ave W. Suite F
Lynnwood, WA 98036
United States
DUNS: 877425330
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Robert Hoyt
 Principal Investigator
 (425) 744-0400
 hoyt@tethers.com
Business Contact
 Robert Hoyt
Title: Business Official
Phone: (425) 744-0400
Email: hoyt@tethers.com
Research Institution
 Stanford University SSDL
 Scott Fong
 
469 Lomita Mall, Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305
United States

 (650) 723-8651
 Nonprofit College or University
Abstract

The MAST (Multi-Application Survivable Tether) team, consisting of Tethers Unlimited, Inc. (TUI) and the Standford University Space Systems Development Laboratory (SSDL), propose to develop and fly a very low cost nanosatellite experiment that will demonstrate the deployment of a lightweight multiline tether on orbit and obtain data on its survivability in the micrometeoroid and orbital debris environment. In the Phase I effort, we designed an experiment in which three CubeSats will deploy a 1-kilometer long Hoytether in space, and the middle CubeSat will slowly crawl along the tether, inspecting it for damage. We successfully prototyped and tested key components for this experiment, including a separation/ejection mechanism and avionics for communications, command, and data handling. During the Phase I we also secured $89K in additional, non-SBIR funding that is supporting the development of the crawler and inspector subsystems. In the Phase II effort, we will build and fly the CubeSat-based MAST experiment. The mission will obtain data on tether survivability and tether dynamics that are crucial to the design of all future tether missions.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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