AVA in flight

Completed TRL 6 (started at 4, targeting 6)

Description

More science experimentation and technology development can be accomplished on nano-satellites than ever before. With this growth in capability, it is highly advantageous to NASA to be able to launch nano-satellites (with mass under 25 kg) as primary payloads into Low Earth Orbit as cost-effectively as possible. AVA (Affordable Vehicle Avionics) is a generic avionics technology that can be easily ported between launch vehicles, and leveraged by several third-party launch service providers. This technology is slated to undergo additional testing aboard an UP Aerospace rocket.

Benefits

The Affordable Vehicle Avionics (AVA) effort is a low-cost avionics system capable of guiding a small launch vehicle into Low Earth Orbit (LEO). UP Aerospace entered a SAA with NASA Ames Research Center for the development and flight testing of the AVA hardware on the SpaceLoft and ultimately on the Spyder launch vehicle.

The benefits of this effort include reducing the high costs of avionics typically required to operate orbital launch vehicles, and to buy down risk via demonstrations using COTS components. This design could be incorporated for use by small business ventures that can develop a business case for orbital launch capability.

Details

Technology area	Flight Computing and Avionics > Avionics Systems and Subsystems > Spacecraft Command and Data Handling Systems
Program	Flight Opportunities (FO)
Lead organization	Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
Start date	2020-12-01
End date	2023-12-31

Project contacts

Listed on TechPort itself — the most direct way to ask about this specific project.

Arwen I Dave — arwen.i.dave@nasa.gov

How to get involved

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 6) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.