| Formerly | Spectron Instrument Corporation |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace |
| Founded | February 1977 (1977-02) inDenver,Colorado, USA |
| Founder | Richard P. Speck |
| Defunct | 2011 (2011) |
| Fate | Dissolved |
| Headquarters | , |
Micro-Space was anaerospace corporation based inDenver,Colorado, founded in February 1977 by Richard P. Speck under the nameSpectron Instrument Corporation. The corporation changed its name to "Micro-Space, Inc." in 1998. It was dissolved in 2011, following the death of the founder.
In addition to funding and building a number of its own spacecraft and rockets, Micro-Space was a component supplier to theemerging[1]CubeSat industry.[2]
Micro-Space operated using a strategy based on using modern technology to achieve radical downsizing of space systems to minimize launch cost and make mission financing feasible. They claimed that cost-effectiveness is maximised by creating satellites the size of lunchboxes or cell phones, as opposed to "Volkswagens".
While one of the smaller teams participating in theAnsari X Prize competition, Micro-Space had previously developed an activeaerospace program flying innovativeliquid fueledrockets. A long history of flying small rockets withtelemetry, tracking and control systems demonstrates its focus on the fundamental systems necessary for uncrewed - and eventually crewed -suborbital andorbitallaunch vehicle and satellite systems.[2] While its operational systems are most appropriate for atmospheric research, the company claims to have produced modules which, if clustered, could power a "spartan"crewed launch.[citation needed]
Seventeen liquid fueled, bipropellant rockets were successfully flown by 2006, with altitudes to 11,000 feet.Hydrogen peroxide andmethyl alcohol were the fuels.[citation needed]
Micro-Space competed in the 2006Lunar Lander Challenge held inLas Cruces, New Mexico, part of theCentennial Challenges competitions sponsored by NASA, and was considered by event organizers as one of two favorites to win.[3]
Micro-Space also built operational prototypes suitable for long duration life support and other needs of lunar andinterplanetary missions, includingMars landing. The company was dissolved in 2011.[4]
Micro-Space was manifested to fly twoCubeSats on a "Ride Sharing" launch withEduSAT,Sich-2 and other spacecraft, to be flown on aDnepr rocket into anear-polarSun-synchronous orbit in October 2010. Payload integration for this satellite group was handled byMorehead State University, involving Dr. Ben Malphrus (Space Science Center director) and professorBob Twiggs. Micro-Space also planned to deliver two similar spacecraft to Morehead State and theUniversity of Colorado at Colorado Springs.[5]
The complete, four satellite "PQ-Gemini ++" mission group, in addition to validating general satellite systems, was to be capable of demonstrating Micro-Spaceinterferometric techniques to characterize orbital differences using only precision range data between ultralight spacecraft in preparation for autonomous rendezvous. Additional systems were to allow the relative positions, distance and rotational alignment of the four satellites to be continuously monitored. This information is necessary for the final, docking procedures. Other developmental steps were projected to follow, leading to ultralight sample return missions on the Moon and Mars.[needs update]
In 2010 Micro-space was selected to negotiate a NASA Phase I SBIR contract entitled "Non-Radiated Field Link to Recharge, Reprogram, Test and Co-ordinate Aux. Payload Systems". Unfortunately, the untimely death of Richard P. Speck in October 2010 effectively halted all programs.
In 2007, Micro-Space was discussing return sample analysis andlunar prospecting with several organizations.[6]Prospecting operations will be aimed at locating concentrations of extractable lunar gems and minerals. High gradetitanium,rare-earth metals andhelium-3 (a potentialfusion reactor fuel) are all known to exist on the Moon. Low cost flight of concentrated ores to the Earth is feasible using Solar Powered, electromagnetic "Rail guns", and other technologies.[citation needed]
Propellant to complete rendezvous and docking was not allowed in the planned satellite cluster launch. Arrangements were being negotiated for launch 2011 of small Micro-Space spacecraft with propulsion systems to demonstrate the complete rendezvous and docking process as will be used with “Planetary Ascent Vehicles” carrying prospecting samples. Negotiations with this launch supplier also cover subsequent launch of a “Lunar Lander” and Lunar Transfer spacecraft, as well as the Planetary Ascent and Return vehicles.[citation needed]
When [the cubesat was invented] a little more than a decade ago, [it was] never imagined that the tiny satellites would be adopted by universities, companies and government agencies around the world. They simply wanted to design a spacecraft with capabilities similar toSputnik that graduate student could design, build, test and operate. For size, the professors settled on a 10-centimeter cube because it was large enough to accommodate a basic communications payload,solar panels and a battery.
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