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Award ID | Description | Recipient | Total Value | Awarding Agency | Funding Agency | Set Aside | NAICS | PSC | Award Date | Start Date | End Date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PROCUREMENT OF GROUND RADIO TO MATCH LUNAR NODE - 1 LUNAR PAYLOAD FOR GROUND TESTING | TETHERS UNLIMITED, INC. | $247,300 | NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION | NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION | — | 334220Radio and Television Broadcasting and Wireless Communications Equipment Manufacturing | 7E21IT AND TELECOM - MOBILE DEVICE PRODUCTS (HARDWARE AND PERPETUAL LICENSE SOFTWARE) | Jul 16, 2021 | Jul 16, 2021 | Jun 30, 2022 | ||
| COLLABORATIVE CONTROL OF TWO ROBOTIC MANIPULATORS FOR SATELLITE SERVICING | TETHERS UNLIMITED, INC. | $1,169,712 | DEPT OF THE AIR FORCE | DEPT OF THE AIR FORCE | — | 541715Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) | AC22NATIONAL DEFENSE R&D SERVICES; ATOMIC ENERGY DEFENSE ACTIVITIES; APPLIED RESEARCH | Mar 31, 2020 | Mar 31, 2020 | Oct 11, 2021 | ||
| 8506909569!RUBBING PAD | TETHERS UNLIMITED, INC. | $0 | DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY | DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY | — | 334511Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing | 6615AUTOMATIC PILOT MECHANISMS AND AIRBORNE GYRO COMPONENTS | Oct 16, 2019 | Oct 16, 2019 | Oct 21, 2019 | ||
| RESIN ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING PROCESSED THERMAL PROTECTION SYSTEMS (RAMP TPS) | TETHERS UNLIMITED, INC. | $124,900 | NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION | NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION | — | 541715Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) | AR11SPACE R&D SERVICES; SPACE FLIGHT, RESEARCH AND SUPPORTING ACTIVITIES; BASIC RESEARCH | Aug 19, 2019 | Aug 19, 2019 | Feb 18, 2020 | ||
| NASA HAS IDENTIFIED THE NEED FOR A PALLETIZING SYSTEM TO SUPPORT TRANSPORT, EMPLACEMENT AND EXCHANGE OF SUB-MODULES IN THE 1-100 KG RANGE. | TETHERS UNLIMITED, INC. | $124,989 | NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION | NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION | — | 541715Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) | AR11SPACE R&D SERVICES; SPACE FLIGHT, RESEARCH AND SUPPORTING ACTIVITIES; BASIC RESEARCH | Aug 16, 2019 | Aug 19, 2019 | Feb 18, 2020 | ||
| GIMBAL MECHANISM FOR EXTREME ENVIRONMENTS | TETHERS UNLIMITED, INC. | $124,987 | NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION | NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION | — | 541715Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) | AR11SPACE R&D SERVICES; SPACE FLIGHT, RESEARCH AND SUPPORTING ACTIVITIES; BASIC RESEARCH | Aug 16, 2019 | Aug 19, 2019 | Feb 18, 2020 | ||
| TO ENABLE FUTURE LUNAR ISRU MISSIONS TO MORE EFFECTIVELY EXPLORE, SAMPLE, AND EXCAVATE WITHIN THE PERMANENTLY SHADED POLAR CRATERS, TETHERS UNLIMITED INC. | TETHERS UNLIMITED, INC. | $124,937 | NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION | NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION | — | 541715Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) | AR11SPACE R&D SERVICES; SPACE FLIGHT, RESEARCH AND SUPPORTING ACTIVITIES; BASIC RESEARCH | Aug 16, 2019 | Aug 19, 2019 | Feb 18, 2020 | ||
| VERSATILE HOT-SWAPPABLE ROBOTIC INTERFACE | TETHERS UNLIMITED, INC. | $124,962 | NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION | NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION | — | 541715Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) | AR11SPACE R&D SERVICES; SPACE FLIGHT, RESEARCH AND SUPPORTING ACTIVITIES; BASIC RESEARCH | Aug 16, 2019 | Aug 19, 2019 | Feb 18, 2020 | ||
| MANTIS THERMAL CERTIFICATION PREPARATION | TETHERS UNLIMITED, INC. | $49,990 | NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION | NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION | — | 541715Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) | AR11SPACE R&D SERVICES; SPACE FLIGHT, RESEARCH AND SUPPORTING ACTIVITIES; BASIC RESEARCH | Aug 8, 2019 | Aug 8, 2019 | May 7, 2021 | ||
| TETHERS UNLIMITED, INC. (TUI) PROPOSES TO DEVELOP A SOFTWARE PAYLOAD FOR THE ASTROBEE FREE-FLIER TO ENABLE MULTI-AGENT COLLABORATIVE ROBOTICS TASKS FOR AUTOMATION OF HUMAN SPACECRAFT, AND ROBOTIC ON-ORBIT SERVICING. | TETHERS UNLIMITED, INC. | $742,604 | NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION | NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION | — | 541715Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) | AR11SPACE R&D SERVICES; SPACE FLIGHT, RESEARCH AND SUPPORTING ACTIVITIES; BASIC RESEARCH | Aug 8, 2019 | Aug 8, 2019 | Nov 9, 2021 | ||
| 1 LUNAR PAYLOAD PURCHASE OF FLIGHT RADIO FOR NAV DEMO. FOR LUNAR NODE | TETHERS UNLIMITED, INC. | $215,927 | NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION | NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION | — | 334220Radio and Television Broadcasting and Wireless Communications Equipment Manufacturing | 5965HEADSETS, HANDSETS, MICROPHONES AND SPEAKERS | Aug 7, 2019 | Aug 7, 2019 | Feb 28, 2021 | ||
| STRUCTURAL ELECTRONICS QUASI-ADDITIVE-MANUFACTURING (SEQAM) | TETHERS UNLIMITED, INC. | $149,960 | DEPT OF THE AIR FORCE | DEPT OF THE AIR FORCE | — | 541715Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) | AC21NATIONAL DEFENSE R&D SERVICES; ATOMIC ENERGY DEFENSE ACTIVITIES; BASIC RESEARCH | Jul 2, 2019 | Jul 2, 2019 | Apr 2, 2020 | ||
| THE PURPOSE OF THIS SBIR PHASE I IS TO DEVELOP AND DOCUMENT TOP-LEVEL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE HYPERBUS MODULAR P. HYPERBUS PAYLOAD SERVICES. THESE INPUTS WILL INCLUDE SUCH THINGS AS ISS SAFETY REQUIREMENTS, NANORACKS CUBESAT DEPLOYER INTERFACES, AND PLATFORM PAYLOAD REQUIREMENTS, DATA, LIFETIME, SLEWING AND POINTING, STABILITY, THERMAL, CRYPTO, PROPULSION, AND PAYLOAD DEPLOYMENT. | TETHERS UNLIMITED, INC. | $74,999 | DEPT OF THE AIR FORCE | DEPT OF THE AIR FORCE | — | 541715Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) | AC21NATIONAL DEFENSE R&D SERVICES; ATOMIC ENERGY DEFENSE ACTIVITIES; BASIC RESEARCH | Jun 12, 2019 | Jul 1, 2019 | Sep 30, 2019 | ||
| IGF::OT::IGF TETHER&DEPLOYER DESIGN REVISION | TETHERS UNLIMITED, INC. | $5,000 | NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION | NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION | — | 334516Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing | R408SUPPORT- PROFESSIONAL: PROGRAM MANAGEMENT/SUPPORT | Mar 28, 2019 | Mar 28, 2019 | Sep 30, 2019 | ||
| DACTYLUS | TETHERS UNLIMITED, INC. | $149,985 | DEPT OF THE AIR FORCE | DEPT OF THE AIR FORCE | — | 541715Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) | AC21NATIONAL DEFENSE R&D SERVICES; ATOMIC ENERGY DEFENSE ACTIVITIES; BASIC RESEARCH | Dec 19, 2018 | Dec 19, 2018 | Sep 20, 2019 | ||
| KRAKEN-X LIGHTWEIGHT SPACE-QUALIFIED ROBOTIC ARM | TETHERS UNLIMITED, INC. | $149,927 | DEPT OF THE AIR FORCE | DEPT OF THE AIR FORCE | — | 541715Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) | AC21NATIONAL DEFENSE R&D SERVICES; ATOMIC ENERGY DEFENSE ACTIVITIES; BASIC RESEARCH | Dec 19, 2018 | Dec 19, 2018 | Sep 20, 2019 | ||
| THE VENDOR WILL WORK WITH THEIR SUBCONTRACTORS AND NASA ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF A) A ROBOTIC ARM AND AUGMENTED TELEROBOTIC CAPABILITY FOR FABLAB OPERATIONS, B) AN UPGRADED SWIFT CONTROLLER FOR REMOTE COMMANDING AND AUTONOMOUS CONTROL OF FABLAB SYSTEMS, AND C) AN AUTOMATED VISION SYSTEM WITH A GEOMETRIC INSPECTION CAPABILITY FOR VERIFICATION AND VALIDATION OF MANUFACTURED PARTS. | TETHERS UNLIMITED, INC. | $2,430,528 | NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION | NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION | — | 541330Engineering Services | AR14SPACE R&D SERVICES; SPACE FLIGHT, RESEARCH AND SUPPORTING ACTIVITIES; R&D ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES | Aug 16, 2018 | Aug 27, 2018 | Apr 26, 2020 | ||
| ARMY SR1 IGF::OT::IGF | TETHERS UNLIMITED, INC. | $1,049,576 | DEPT OF THE ARMY | DEPT OF THE ARMY | — | 541715Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) | AC23NATIONAL DEFENSE R&D SERVICES; ATOMIC ENERGY DEFENSE ACTIVITIES; EXPERIMENTAL DEVELOPMENT | Aug 8, 2018 | Aug 8, 2018 | Feb 6, 2021 | ||
| TETHERS UNLIMITED, INC. TUI PROPOSES TO DEVELOP A COLLABORATIVE ROBOTICS PLATFORM, ASTROPORTER, FOR MULTI AGENT COORDINATED TASKS ON THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION ISS. TUI WILL DEVELOP AN ASTROPORTER PAYLOAD FOR ASTROBEE TO PERFORM COLLABORATIVE ROBOTICS TASKS WITH TUIS MANTIS , AN EXPRESS RACK PAYLOAD WITH A ROBOTIC ARM FOR TELE ROBOTIC OPERATION OF EXPERIMENTS ON THE ISS. ASTROPORTER WILL INTERFACE WITH ASTROBEE THROUGH THE DEDICATED PAYLOAD BAY AND FUNCTION AS A PLATFORM FOR TRANSPORTING EQUIPMENT AND OTHER STOWED MATERIAL AROUND THE ISS. EACH ASTROPORTER WILL BE EQUIPPED WITH TUIS HIGH PRECISION 3DOF END EFFECTOR PLACEMENT GIMBAL, COBRA BEE, AND SUPPORT THE OPTIONAL INSTALLATION OF PLATFORMS BETWEEN TWO ASTROPORTERS BY CREW. THIS PLATFORM WILL BE USED TO PLACE CUMBERSOME EQUIPMENT OR STOWED MATERIALS FOR TRANSPORT. THE HIGH DEGREE OF MOBILITY PROVIDED BY ASTROBEE PLACES IT IN AN EXCELLENT POSITION TO PERFORM CATALOGING AND FETCHING TASKS WITHIN A COLLABORATIVE ROBOTIC ENVIRONMENT WITH MANTIS SERVING TO SUPPORT FIXED-BASE MANIPULATION TASKS. DEVELOPING THE PAYLOAD AND SOFTWARE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT ALLOWS ASTROBEE AND MANTIS TO SHARE SUBTASKS USING COLLABORATIVE CONTROL WILL EXTEND THE CAPABILITY OF ROBOTIC SYSTEMS ABOARD THE ISS, REDUCE ASTRONAUT BURDEN FOR BASIC CARETAKING TASKS, AND BRING SELF-MAINTENANCE OF IN SPACE HABITATS CLOSER TO REALITY. IN THE PHASE 1 EFFORT, THE TRL OF ASTROPORTER WILL BE MATURED TO TRL 5, IN PREPARATION FOR PRELIMINARY DEMONSTRATIONS ON THE ISS IN PHASE II. | TETHERS UNLIMITED, INC. | $124,074 | NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION | NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION | — | 541715Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) | AR11SPACE R&D SERVICES; SPACE FLIGHT, RESEARCH AND SUPPORTING ACTIVITIES; BASIC RESEARCH | Jul 25, 2018 | Jul 27, 2018 | Feb 15, 2019 | ||
| TETHERS UNLIMITED, INC. (TUI) PROPOSES TO DEVELOP THE METAL ADVANCED MANUFACTURING BOT-ASSISTED ASSEMBLY (MAMBA) PROCESS, A ROBOTICALLY MANAGED METAL PRESS AND MILLING SYSTEM USED TO CREATE PRECISION PARTS ON ORBIT. THIS MANUFACTURING PROCESS PROVIDES AN ALTERNATIVE TO 3D PRINTING METALS IN SPACE, WHICH IS DIFFICULT DUE TO SPACE ENVIRONMENT, FEEDSTOCK SAFETY CONCERNS, AND PRINT QUALITY ISSUES. INSTEAD, THE MAMBA-PROCESS RELIES ON AN INGOT FORMING TECHNOLOGY TO CREATE A METAL INGOT. THIS INGOT CAN THEN BE MILLED AND MACHINED TO FORM A PRECISION PART USING A STANDARD CNC MILLING TECHNIQUE. IN ORDER TO MINIMIZE ASTRONAUT TIME AND EXPOSURE TO THE PROCESS, THE MAMBA-PROCESS WILL BE HIGHLY AUTOMATED AND OUTFITTED WITH A ROBOTIC ASSISTANT, CAPABLE OF REMOVING THE INGOT FROM THE PRESS AND PLACING THE INGOT IN THE MILL. AUTOMATED TOOL CHANGES ARE ALSO POSSIBLE FOR THE MILL, ENABLING COMPLEX SHAPES WITH FINE EDGE FINISHES. TESTING OF THE PROCESS TECHNOLOGIES LED TO A LAB DEMONSTRATION OF INGOT FORMATION AND MILLING IN THE PHASE I EFFORT, MATURING THE MAMBA PROCESS TO TRL-3. IN THE PHASE II EFFORT, A FULL SCALE ENGINEERING UNIT WILL BE BUILT AND TESTED, MATURING THE VARIOUS THE PAYLOAD SUBSYSTEMS TO TRL-5 AND PREPARING THE WORK NEEDED TO VALIDATE THIS TECHNOLOGY FOR FLIGHT. | TETHERS UNLIMITED, INC. | $749,890 | NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION | NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION | — | 541715Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) | AR11SPACE R&D SERVICES; SPACE FLIGHT, RESEARCH AND SUPPORTING ACTIVITIES; BASIC RESEARCH | Jun 28, 2018 | Jun 28, 2018 | Dec 18, 2020 | ||
| AS SMALLSATS BECOME THE SATELLITE OF CHOICE FOR NASA AND OTHER GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE SPACE MISSIONS, THERE IS A GROWING NEED TO ENABLE SMALLSATS TO PERFORM LONG BASELINE AND SPATIALLY DIVERSE OBSERVATION, MEASUREMENT AND COLLECTION MISSIONS. TRADITIONALLY, THESE TYPES OF MISSIONS WOULD BE PERFORMED EITHER BY USING FORMATION FLYING OR BY USING LARGE SATELLITES EQUIPPED WITH COMPLEX / ADVANCE DEPLOYABLE STRUCTURES. THE PROPOSED MAKERSAT DEMONSTRATION MISSION EFFORT ADDRESSES A THIRD ALTERNATIVE FOR ACCOMPLISHING THIS CLASS OF MISSIONS: IN-SPACE MANUFACTURING CONSTRUCTABLE TECHNOLOGIES, THAT ALLOW SMALLSATS TO GROW / EVOLVE INTO SIGNIFICANTLY LARGER STRUCTURES. A SMALLSAT THAT ONCE ON ORBIT CAN INCREASE ITS SIZE FROM ONE TO TWO ORDERS OF MAGNITUDE PROVIDES AN EXCITING OPTION TO FORMATION FLYING OR DEPLOYABLE STRUCTURES. THE GOAL OF THE PROPOSED EFFORT IS TO DEVELOP A DEMONSTRATION MISSION THAT PROVES THE VIABILITY OF CONSTRUCTABLE TECHNOLOGIES AS AN ALTERNATIVE SOLUTION FOR LONG BASELINE AND SPATIALLY DIVERSE OBSERVATION, MEASUREMENT AND COLLECTION MISSIONS. | TETHERS UNLIMITED, INC. | $749,977 | NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION | NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION | — | 541715Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) | AR11SPACE R&D SERVICES; SPACE FLIGHT, RESEARCH AND SUPPORTING ACTIVITIES; BASIC RESEARCH | Apr 20, 2018 | Apr 20, 2018 | Aug 17, 2020 | ||
| TASK 1: DETAILED DESIGN AND FABRICATION OF UPGRADES FOR FLIGHT TEST IN THIS TASK, TUI SHALL DEVELOP A DETAILED DESIGN AND FABRICATE ANY PARTS NEEDED TO ENABLE THE REFABRICATOR PAYLOAD TO SUPPORT A FLIGHT TEST OF CRG S REVERSIBLE THERMOSET MATERIALS. USING NASA INTERNAL INVESTMENT FUNDING, THE FOLLOWING SUBTASKS WILL BE CONDUCTED: DEVELOP TEST PARAMETERS FOR RVT MATERIAL O MELTING/REFORMING TEMPERATURE O RATE OF RECYCLING O PRINTING PARAMETERS DESIGN OF CONTINUOUS MOLDING MODULE TUNED FOR RVT MATERIALS FABRICATE ADAPTED MOLDING MODULE DEMONSTRATE THE RECYCLABILITY AND RE-FORMABILITY OF THE RVT MATERIALS AND MEASURE THE NUMBER OF TIMES THE RVT MATERIAL CAN BE RECYCLED BEFORE IT IS NO LONGER RECYCLABLE OR RE-PRINTABLE. WORK WITH CRG TO DESIGN A MATERIALS TEST PLAN FOR THE RVT MATERIALS. PARTS WILL BE FABRICATED AT TUI AND SENT TO CRG FOR CHARACTERIZATION. CHARACTERIZATION WILL INCLUDE MECHANICAL TESTING, THERMAL TESTING, OPTICAL ANALYSIS, AND DENSITY MEASUREMENTS. A CHARACTERIZATION REPORT WILL BE DELIVERED TO NASA DETAILING THE RESULTS OF THIS STUDY. TASK 2: SAMPLE PART PRODUCTION WITH RVT MATERIALS USING THE RESULTS FROM TASK 1 TO INFORM THE DESIGN, TUI WILL 3D PRINT PARTS EITHER AS REQUESTED BY THE CUSTOMER OR AS DECIDED BY TUI TO DEMONSTRATE BOTH POSSIBLE END USE CASES AS WELL AS THE 3D PRINTABILITY OF RECYCLED RVT MATERIALS. WITH AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF THE RECYCLED RVT MATERIAL FROM TASK 1 AS WELL AS THE STERILITY AND SANITIZATION TESTS BEING PERFORMED IN THE CONCURRENT CRG PHASE II-X EFFORT, TUI WILL 3D PRINT A DEMONSTRATION PART WHOSE PROPERTIES ARE OPTIMIZED THROUGH A ROBUST PRINT AND TEST EFFORT, WHICH IS ENABLED BY THE SOFTWARE DEVELOPED IN THE CRISSP PHASE 2 EFFORT. EACH PART PRINTED IN TASK 2 WILL BE DELIVERED TO THE NASA CUSTOMER ALONG WITH A MANUFACTURING AND TEST REPORT, DETAILING THE REASONS DECISIONS WERE MADE DURING THE DESIGN PROCESS, THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS USED (INCLUDING THE PRINTER G-CODE), THE MANUFACTURING DRAWING, AND THE TEST RESULTS FOR THE EFFORT. | TETHERS UNLIMITED, INC. | $249,969 | NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION | NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION | — | 541715Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) | AR11SPACE R&D SERVICES; SPACE FLIGHT, RESEARCH AND SUPPORTING ACTIVITIES; BASIC RESEARCH | Apr 17, 2018 | Apr 17, 2018 | Sep 17, 2019 | ||
| THE BI-SAT OBSERVATIONS OF THE LUNAR ATMOSPHERE ABOVE SWIRLS (BOLAS) CONCEPT IS FOR A TETHERED CUBESAT MISSION CAPABLE OF MAKING REPEATED MEASUREMENTS AT LOW ALTITUDES ABOVE THE MOON REQUIRED IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND VITAL ASPECTS OF THE LUNAR HYDROGEN CYCLE AND SPACE WEATHERING. OBTAINING OBSERVATIONS CLOSE TO THE LUNAR SURFACE IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT DUE TO THE PRESENCE OF "MASCONS", WHICH MAKE ORBITING AT LOW ALTITUDES VERY UNSTABLE. AT PRESENT, ACQUIRING REPEATED MEASUREMENTS FROM VERY LOW ALTITUDES REQUIRES A LARGE SPACECRAFT WITH THE SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FUEL (MASS) NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN ITS ORBIT. THE MOST GROUND-BREAKING ASPECT OF THE BOLAS CONCEPT IS THE USE OF TWO CUBESATS CONNECTED BY A TETHER MANY TENS OF KILOMETERS IN LENGTH, WHICH CAN BE USED TO MAKE SIMULTANEOUS HIGH AND LOW ALTITUDE MEASUREMENTS ABOVE THE SAME LOCATION ON THE MOON. CRUCIALLY, THE CENTER-OF-MASS OF THE TETHERED SPACECRAFT IS AT AN ALTITUDE WHERE THE ORBIT IS RELATIVELY STABLE AND SIGNIFICANTLY LESS PROPULSIVE MANEUVERING IS REQUIRED. THIS INNOVATION WILL ENABLE SMALLSAT MISSIONS TO MAKE IN SITU AND REMOTE SENSING MEASUREMENTS FROM LOW ALTITUDES THAT ARE CRITICAL TO ADDRESSING MANY COMPELLING QUESTIONS IN PLANETARY SCIENCE. THE BOLAS MISSION WILL FOCUS ON INVESTIGATING THE HYDROGEN CYCLE AND SPACE WEATHERING AT THE MOON, BY DETERMINING: (I) THE MECHANISMS AND DYNAMICS OF LUNAR HYDROGEN IMPLANTATION, AND THEIR DEPENDENCE ON SURFACE COMPOSITION, REGOLITH PROPERTIES, LOCAL TOPOGRAPHY, PLASMA CONDITIONS, TIME-OF-DAY, AND CRUSTAL MAGNETIC FIELDS; AND (II) HOW THIS RELATES TO THE FORMATION OF LUNAR "SWIRLS", SPACE WEATHERING PROCESSES AND THE EVOLUTION OF AIRLESS BODIES. THESE SCIENCE OBJECTIVES ARE EXTREMELY TIMELY AND HIGHLY RELEVANT TO THE 2014 NASA SCIENCE PLAN, IN PARTICULAR TO THE QUESTION OF HOW THE SOLAR SYSTEM HAS FORMED AND EVOLVED, AND WILL PRODUCE HIGH IMPACT SCIENCE. FOR THE NECESSARY NEUTRALS, FIELDS AND PLASMA MEASUREMENTS, THE PRELIMINARY SCIENCE PAYLOAD CONSISTS OF AN ION SPECTROMETER, ENERGETIC NEUTRAL ATOM IMAGER, PLASMA WAVE SYSTEM, AND MAGNETOMETER. SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENT HAS ALREADY BEEN INVESTED IN MINIATURIZING THESE INSTRUMENTS FOR A CUBESAT PLATFORM. THE INSTRUMENTS WILL BE MOUNTED ON BOTH OF THE TETHERED CUBESATS IN ORDER THAT HIGH AND LOW ALTITUDE MEASUREMENTS CAN BE COMPARED. THIS WOULD BE ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT WHEN FLYING ABOVE A CRUSTAL MAGNETIC FIELD, AS IT WOULD PROVIDE CRUCIAL MEASUREMENTS RELATING TO THE FORCING FROM THE INCOMING SOLAR WIND AND THE RESPONSE OF THE PLASMA, FIELDS, AND NEUTRALS WITHIN THE "MINI-MAGNETOSPHERE". THIS WOULD THEN BE USED TO UNDERSTAND THE HYDROXYLATION, HYDRATION AND SPACE WEATHERING PROCESSES IN THESE REGIONS AND THEIR ROLE IN FORMING THE ENIGMATIC "SWIRL" PATTERNS ON THE LUNAR SURFACE. THE BOLAS CONCEPT STUDY TEAM CONSISTS OF A SMALL, EXPERT LUNAR SCIENCE AND INSTRUMENTATION TEAM AT GSFC; SPECIALISTS IN DESIGNING, INTEGRATING AND BUILDING CUBESATS AT MOREHEAD STATE UNIVERSITY (MSU); EXPERTS IN CUBESAT PROPULSION SYSTEMS AT BUSEK CO. INC.; PIONEERS IN SPACE TETHER SYSTEMS AT TETHERS UNLIMITED, INC.; AS WELL AS WORLD CLASS GSFC ENGINEERS TO PROVIDE THERMAL MANAGEMENT, ATTITUDE DETERMINATION AND CONTROL, AND FLIGHT DYNAMICS SOLUTIONS. A MAJOR TASK IN THE CONCEPT STUDY WILL BE ADDRESSING THE FEASIBILITY AND LIMITATIONS OF A TETHERED SMALLSAT, SUCH AS TETHER DEPLOYMENT (RETRACTION), STABILITY (ORBITAL CONFIGURATIONS), LIFETIME, ALTITUDE RANGE, AND ABILITY TO TARGET REGIONS-OF-INTEREST. THIS WILL INVOLVE TRADES BETWEEN TETHER LENGTH, MASS, AND DEPLOY-ABILITY, AS WELL AS SPACECRAFT SIZE, CONFIGURATION AND SCIENCE CAPABILITY. THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE BOLAS CONCEPT PROMISES TO SIGNIFICANTLY ENHANCE THE ABILITY OF SMALLSAT MISSIONS TO ACHIEVE CUTTING EDGE PLANETARY SCIENCE. | TETHERS UNLIMITED, INC. | $49,371 | NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION | NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION | — | — | AR21 | Aug 22, 2017 | Jul 26, 2017 | Mar 31, 2018 | ||
| IGF::OT::IGF | TETHERS UNLIMITED, INC. | $34,500 | NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION | NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION | — | 334220Radio and Television Broadcasting and Wireless Communications Equipment Manufacturing | R408SUPPORT- PROFESSIONAL: PROGRAM MANAGEMENT/SUPPORT | Aug 3, 2017 | Aug 3, 2017 | Aug 3, 2017 | ||
| IGF::OT::IGF THE CONSTRUCTABLE PLATFORM: MODULAR ARCHITECTURE FOR A PERSISTENT PLATFORM IN GEO | TETHERS UNLIMITED, INC. | $1,484,690 | DEPARTMENTAL OFFICES | DEFENSE ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY (DARPA) | — | 541712 | AZ12 | Jul 26, 2017 | Jul 28, 2017 | Sep 27, 2020 |