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Flight test of Spacecraft Black Box Technology modules for Commercial Spacecraft
Completed
TRL 6 (started at 4, targeting 6)
Description
Affordable methods of securely recording flight data during nominal and off-nominal small reusable launch vehicle flights would allow improved understanding vehicle state after each launch. This would permit rapid return to flight or may provide early warning of needed preventative maintenance. Researchers aim test the ability of a flexible, high-speed, low-cost data acquisition and storage system and black box technology to serve as a secure flight data storage repository.
Benefits
• Enabling: Helps resolve anomalies and expedite return to flight, similar to aircraft data recorders
• Practical: Provides flexible, high-speed, low-cost data acquisition
• Diagnostic: Facilitates preventative maintenance for reusable launch vehicles
Details
| Technology area | Air Traffic Management and Range Tracking Systems > Range Tracking, Surveillance, and Flight Safety Technologies |
| Program | Flight Opportunities (FO) |
| Lead organization | FAA-AST |
| Start date | 2020-09-01 |
| End date | 2024-09-30 |
Project contacts
Listed on TechPort itself — the most direct way to ask about this specific project.
- Nick Demidovich
- Andrei Zagrai
- Dale Amon
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.