L.garde proposes the solstice test program to advance the technology and manufacturing readiness level (TRL & MRL) of its vectored solar sailcraft from 4 to 6 to provide a commercially viable solution…

L.garde proposes the solstice test program to advance the technology and manufacturing readiness level (TRL & MRL) of its vectored solar sailcraft from 4 to 6 to provide a commercially viable solution to noaas unmet requirements for solar wind data from 0.98AU to enable advanced solar storm warning. This test program advances the current NOAA/aerospace space weather study with l.garde to design the solstice vehicle and mission to sub-L1. During the proposed 6-month period of performance the l.garde led team will build a full scale engineering test unit of the solstice vehicle based on the current study design for ground deployment testing and to serve as a manufacturing pathfinder for the subsequent commercial flight program. The solstice vehicle is capable of achieving and maintaining this duty station for a minimum 5-year mission. As a cost-effective platform, solstice expands upon noaas uncrewed systems strategy of collecting critical and time sensitive data from terrestrial aircraft and maritime systems by placing a UXS able to provide a new commercial solar wind data source at the edge of cislunar space. Conditions in a coral reef, beamsea estimates sales revenue of $5 million from this sensor and derived subcomponents during the first 10 years. Additional derived applications to be evaluated are survey of hydrocarbon and pollution impacted areas, and fisheries habitat surveys. Summary of anticipated results: deliverables from the 6-month effort are the ground demonstration vehicle, deployment data, and detailed cost and schedule data to being building the solstice flight vehicle as a commercial effort.