NovaWurks
 | |
| Founded | December 2011 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Talbot Jaeger |
| Headquarters | , United States |
| Products | Spacecraft[1] |
| Services |
|
| Parent | NovaWurks, Inc. |
| Website | www |
NovaWurksis a seed-stagestartup companythat is developing a set of novel smallsatellitetechnologies that will enable new capabilities forcommercialoperations inspace.NovaWurks is located inLos Alamitos, California.In 2013, the company received an important contract worth up toUS$46,200,000 from DARPA for components for thePhoenixProject.[2]
The company's products both enable, and are enabled by, the more recent lower-cost access tospaceepitomized byNewSpacelaunchcompanies such asSpaceX.[3]
Phoenix project
[edit]
In July 2012, NovaWurks won a contract withDARPAto build a hyper-integratedsatletfor the DARPA Phoenix project.[4][5] The contract value wasUS$2,800,000[6]
DARPA's Phoenix project aims to create a system to harvest valuable components such as power supplies or antennas from old, non-functioning satellites using an advanced robotic arm and tagged with a smalltransponder.These parts are then delivered to the new satellite and attached. The Phoenix project opens up a plethora of new options for future satellites, as a lighter, incomplete satellite can be sent into orbit and finished in space with parts from non-functioning satellites.
In October 2013, NovaWurks was awarded aUS$30,800,000 Phase 2 contract for the DARPA Phoenix project with an additionalUS$11,800,000 in options that, if used, would raise the total amount toUS$46,200,000.[2]The Phase 2 effort objective is to have "flight hardware assembled, qualified and integrated into the [Phoenix] Servicer/Tender prior to environmental test and ready for launch "by the end of 2015.[6][7]
The SIMPL ( “Satlet Initial-Mission Proofs and Lessons” ) experiment was the first HISat-based experiment funded by NovaWurks and launched aboard theOrbital ATKCygnus (spacecraft)resupply mission to the International Space Station which docked at ISS on December 9, 2015. The SIMPL experiment marked the first time NovaWurks has sent into space the company's flagship technology. Orbital ATK's Cygnus was successfully grappled by the ISS's robotic arm and then attached to the orbital outpost to begin the transfer of the SIMPL components onto the ISS. In a press release dated Dec. 17, 2015 CTO and Founder Talbot Jaeger explained the significance of the SIMPL experiment saying “SIMPL consists of eight fundamental pieces, six HISats and two solar arrays. The entire satellite will be assembled on board the ISS and then be deployed as a fully operational, newly built spacecraft. It will be another first for the space industry.”[8]
SIMPL is the first instance where satellites will be assembled in space using smaller components, delivered in large groups and assembled on the International Space Station and then deployed from the NanoRacks Microsat Deployer. This paradigm shift to traditional satellite deployment alters the accepted practice of single large satellites launching on their own dedicated rockets. The NanoRacks-NovaWurks-SIMPL-Micrsosat mission proves the HISat technology on orbit, will reduce risk for follow on HISat-capable missions, and enables commercial utilization of the cellularized technology developed by NovaWurks Inc. for payloads utilizing either ISS or expendable launch vehicle (ELV) access to space.[9]
References
[edit]- ^ab"NovaWurks Capabilities".NovaWurks.Novawurks Inc. Archived fromthe originalon February 1, 2014.RetrievedJanuary 30,2014.
- ^ab Slater, Vivian (2014-01-07)."NovaWurks Awarded DARPA Phoenix Project Follow-On Contract".Yahoo Finance.Retrieved2014-01-30.
- ^
Foust, Jeff (2011-08-16)."The evolving ecosystem of NewSpace".The Space Review.Retrieved2011-08-15.
Since the term came into vogue about five years ago, supplanting the geekier "alt.space" moniker, it's been most commonly associated with entrepreneurial ventures developing suborbital and orbital vehicles.... While an exact, widely accepted definition of NewSpace still eludes the space community, it's increasingly clear that constraining the scope of NewSpace to vehicle developers is too limiting.... SpaceX, Virgin Galactic, XCOR Aerospace,... New companies are emerging that seek to develop technologies that can either enable or be enabled by low-cost access to space and thus can arguably be considered part of NewSpace. NewSpace is an industry that's doing business for a purpose... a NewSpace company is a company that is built, formed, operated by, funded by, or has as part of its business plan the opening of the space frontier, and making a profit while doing so... It is the industrial engine that will power the movement towards a more fundamental goal of space settlement.
- ^ Atkinson, Nancy (2013-10-13)."DARPA Moving Ahead with Building Zombie Frankensatellites".Universe Today.Retrieved2012-07-26.
- ^Altius Space Machines, NovaWurks Awarded DARPA Phoenix Contracts,Defense Daily,21 August 2012
- ^ab Messier, Doug (2013-10-11)."NovaWurks Awarded Contract for DARPA Phoenix Project".Parabolic Arc.Retrieved2013-10-13.
- ^ Gruss, Mike (2014-03-21)."DARPA Space Budget Increase Includes $27M for Spaceplane".Space News.Archived fromthe originalon March 24, 2014.Retrieved2014-03-24.
- ^"NovaWurks' Inaugural HISat Experiment Reaches Space".Yahoo Finance.RetrievedDecember 17,2015.
- ^"NanoRacks Kaber Mission 1-NovaWurks-Satlet Initial Mission Proofs and Lessons".NASA News.NASA.Retrieved11 May2016.