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FASTSAT-HSV (Fast Affordable Science and Technology Satellite - Hunstville)
On December 12, 2008, NASA MSFC, DOD Space Test Program, and VCSI entered into a Flight Opportunity Agreement for the development of FastSat-HSV – a microsatellite that would fly experiments for DOD. This initiative would capitalize on local Huntsville assets, including key personnel at NASA MSFC, and it would require private sector financing.
Based on extensive reviews, Dynetics announced on February 9 that it was making a $4.4M investment in the Von Braun Center for Science Innovation (VCSI), to develop a this small satellite in partnership with VCSI and in collaboration with NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC).
The new spacecraft will be called FASTSAT-HSV, short for the Fast Affordable Science and Technology Satellite – Huntsville. In addition to the above mentioned FOA, VCSI and MSFC also have put an Umbrella Space Act Agreement in place that enables collaborative projects between the two organizations.
In exchange for its investment, Dynetics will receive from the VCSI future contract rights for the production of FASTSAT-HSV. The first flight of this standardized bus will be on a Minotaur IV launch vehicle from the Kodiak Launch Complex in Alaska. The FASTSAT-HSV bus is also compatible with other launch vehicles.
Senator Richard Shelby originally challenged the Huntsville community to come up with a new low-cost standardized bus. The Senator recognized such a platform would be a key asset for both NASA and the DoD, as well as the university research community. Senator Shelby recognized that by combining the technical capabilities and strengths of the Huntsville community, new products would emerge and Huntsville would expand its ability to meet the challenges that face our region and nation in space, energy, and national defense.
In addition to overseeing the project and securing the external investment, VCSI will continue to market the FASTSAT-HSV bus to other potential Government customers. In parallel, VCSI hopes to expand the payload development and flight opportunity market in the Huntsville region and to capitalize on local assets to meet key science and technology requirements for NASA, DoD, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and other key federal agencies.
Currently the FastSat-HSV Team is gearing up for the Critical Design Review that is scheduled for June 2, 3 and 4 at Dynetics. Key representatives of the DOD Space Test Program will be in attendance as will key technical support staff from Aerospace Corporation. In addition to having the lead for development of the bus, NASA MSFC also has the lead for integration of seven key payloads.
Mark Boudreaux, NASA MSFC, is the overall project lead for the FastSat-HSV activity and he has built an exceptional team to execute this design to cost project. In addition to core staff at MSFC and Dynetics, Mark has integrated UAH, DCI, SAIC, BD Systems, USRA, Gray, APL and several other key organizations into the team. Each brings unique space flight credentials.
The team has made incredible progress since it secured authority to proceed in December. The team is fully cognizant of the fact that a successful CDR will put the FastSat-HSV bus on a fast track for launch. In parallel with the CDR process, key acquisitions are being made, key flight hardware is being developed, the mass model testing has been completed, and the actual spacecraft build has started.
Overall Program Lead – Marty Kress, VCSI
Project Manager – Mark Boudreaux, NASA MSFC
Deputy Project Manager – Mike Graves, Dynetics
Customer – Space Test Program, Albuquerque, NM