Trends in small satellite technology and the role of the NASA small spacecraft technology program. Nasas space technology mission directorate (STMD) rapidly develops, demonstrates, and infuses…

This is a $174,892.05 firm fixed-price delivery order awarded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA), a nonprofit organization that operates Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs). The contract is part of NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) and aims to study current trends in small satellite technology and the role of NASA's Small Spacecraft Technology Program (SSTP). The study will involve reviewing SSTP's portfolio, identifying areas of private and other government investment, and determining technology areas that would benefit from SSTP investment. This is not a set-aside contract, reflecting IDA's status as an FFRDC. The contract has an ultimate completion date of April 30, 2017.

Trends in small satellite technology and the role of the NASA small spacecraft technology program. Nasas space technology mission directorate (STMD) rapidly develops, demonstrates, and infuses revolutionary, high-payoff technologies through transparent, collaborative partnerships, expanding the boundaries of the aerospace enterprise. STMD employs a merit-based competition model with a portfolio approach, spanning a range of discipline areas and technology readiness levels. This defines a study request to the science and technology policy institute (STPI) to conduct an independent study of current small satellite technology developments to determine the appropriate focus for nasas small spacecraft technology program (SSTP) investments. The project requires the following steps - review sstps portfolio analysis. STPI will work with SSTP staff to understand its current and emerging portfolio. Identify areas that attract either private investment, or investments from other NASA organizations and other government agencies. This task would involve understanding and documenting how SSTP fits in the ecosystem of suppliers of technology. Interviews would be conducted with researchers and others in government agencies, to include afrl, NRL, DARPA, air force SMC NSF, and NRO as well as NASA SMD and heomd, representatives of several universities active in the field, and the representatives of a significant sampling of the private companies involved in small spacecraft development and use, to discuss areas where investment is currently underway or expected. Identify areas that would benefit from SSTP investment. Building on the analyses of the demand side (users and their needs), the supply side (providers and funders of small spacecraft technology), and based on our understanding of the SSTP portfolio and plans, STPI will assess what particular role SSTP has in the small spacecraft ecosystem. STPI will also identify particular technology areas that would benefit from SSTP investment and with the understanding that the program has budgetary constraints, identify the priorities among those potential investments.