Standardization of an ESPA Rideshare on the EELV

Paper number

IAC-08.B4.5.1

Author

Mr. Matthew Kanter, The Aerospace Corporation, United States

Coauthor

Mr. Cary Pao, The Aerospace Corporation, United States

Year

2008

Abstract

Satellite rideshare opportunities can be expensive for small satellite manufacturers and provide few launch opportunities with matching orbit, volume, and performance requirements. The Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program provides exceptional lift capability to several orbit options, and many launches do not utilize the volume or launch mass capability of the EELV. This produces opportunities for ridesharing; however, efficient utilization of excess EELV capability requires an adapter to support auxiliary payloads (APL). The EELV Secondary Payload Adapter (ESPA) ring is a flight-proven structure that supports up to six secondary satellites to utilize the excess volume and mass for these rideshare opportunities. The Space Test Program-1 (STP-1) mission proved the concept of the ESPA ring, but showed that the integration of several diverse satellites on rideshare missions can be extremely challenging due to inconsistent design and test criteria for APLs compared to the primary spacecraft on EELV missions. 

Typically, the primary spacecraft are subjected to a rigorous test program to ensure flight compatibility with the EELV as well as meet the Class A satellite standards. APLs, on the other hand, are generally built to reduce cost, resulting in limited testing, consistent with Class C or D satellite standards. The EELV integrator ideally wants to consider the entire satellite stack (primary and secondary integrated satellites) as one mission that meets the EELV compatibility requirements. To close this gap in satellite development philosophies and in order for this integrated system to be compatible and cost effective, a set of standardized APL rideshare requirements needs to be established.

This paper discusses the requirements and processes that must be considered and standardized in order to provide a consistent process for ESPA ridesharing on an EELV to reduce integration complexity and cost.

Abstract document

IAC-08.B4.5.1.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-08.B4.5.1.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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