System F6 - DARPA-BAA-11-01

Added: Jun 27, 2011 2:23 pm Contract NNA11AB15C was awarded through DARPA BAA 11-01 which is administered byNASA. Aurora Flight Sciences will be performing an R&D effort under Technical Area 4 ofthe BAA requirement. This effort will focus primarily on the creation of a ScalableCluster Flight Algorithm. The contract award is one 6-month base period with two one-yearoptions. The goal of the System F6 program is to demonstrate the feasibility and benefits ofdisaggregated - or fractionated - space architectures, wherein the functionalitytraditionally co-resident within a single, large, monolithic satellite is delivered by acluster of wirelessly-interconnected modules capable of sharing their resources andutilizing resources found elsewhere in the cluster. Such an architecture enhances theadaptability and survivability of space systems, while also shortening developmenttimelines and reducing the barrier-to-entry for participation in the national securityspace industry. The program is predicated on the development of open interface standards- from the physical wireless link layer, through the network protocol stack, andincluding the real-time resource sharing middleware and cluster flight logic - that canenable the emergence of a space global commons which would enhance the mutual securityposture of all participants through interdependence. A key program goal is theindustry-wide promulgation of these open interface standards for the sustainment anddevelopment of future fractionated systems.For additional information, please contact the contract specialist Marla Lefevre atmarla.p.lefevre@nasa.gov