Miniature, Variable-Speed Control Moment Gyroscope, Phase I

The overall goal of this project is to design, develop, demonstrate, and deliver a miniature, variable speed control moment gyroscope (MVS CMG) for use on small satellites. Creare's MVS CMG has the potential to revolutionize the design and operation of small satellites (i.e., mass from less than 1 kg up to 500 kg). Currently available CMGs are too large and heavy, and miniature CMGs do not provide sufficient control authority for use on small satellites. This primarily results from the need to greatly increase the speed of rotation of the flywheel in order to reduce the flywheel size and mass. We will achieve this goal by making use of our unique, proprietary, space-qualified, high-speed (>100,000 RPM) motor technology to spin the flywheel at a speed 10 times faster than the only other known miniature CMG under development with comparable control authority. This will enable the fabrication of an MVS CMG with greatly improved performance and smaller size. Creare is particularly well qualified to lead this effort given our considerable and unique past experience in miniaturizing devices for use in important space missions, our firm's longevity, and the space-qualified fabrication facilities that we maintain.

Potential NASA Commercial Applications: Past technical advances in small satellites have opened up new markets for small satellites beyond their initial technology demonstration platforms. These markets include: military science and technology; intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; remote site communications; polling of unattended sensors; high-resolution Earth observations; and Landsat-class environmental monitoring and are estimated to potentially result in a $500 million annual market. Our miniature variable speed control moment gyroscope will enable higher performance for many of these future applications.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 3) — 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.

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