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Microelectromechanical Systems and Microstructures in Aerospace Applications 5

several types of MEMS microthrusters and characterize their performance, and to
fly MEMS microthrusters in space and verify their performance during launch,
flight, and landing.

1.3.2 PICOSATELLITE MISSION
Six picosatellites, part of the payload on OPAL, were launched on January 26, 2000
at Vandenberg Air Force Base. The picosatellites were deployed on February 4,
2000 and performed for 6 days until February 10, 2000, when the batteries were
drained. Rockwell Science Center (RSC) designed and implemented a MEMS-
based radio frequency switch experiment, which was integrated into the miniature
satellite (picosat) as an initial demonstration of MEMS for space applications. This
effort was supported by DARPA Microsystems Technology Office (MTO), and the
mission was conducted with Aerospace Corporation and Stanford University as
partners. MEMS surface-micromachined metal contacting switches were manufac-
tured and used in a simple experiment aboard the miniature satellites to study the
device behavior in space, and its feasibility for space applications in general. During
the entire orbiting period, information was collected on both the communications
and networking protocols and MEMS RF switch experiments. The performance of
RF switches has been identical to their performance before the launch. 3

1.3.3 SCORPIUS SUB-ORBITAL DEMONSTRATION
A microthruster array measuring one fourth the size of a penny, designed by a
TRW-led team for use on micro-, nano- and picosatellites, has successfully dem-
1
onstrated its functionality in a live fire test aboard a Scorpius sub-orbital sounding
rocket built by Microcosm on March 9, 2000. Individual MEMS thrusters, each a
poppy seed-sized cell fueled with lead styphnate propellant, fired more than 20
times at 1-sec intervals during the test staged at the White Sands Missile Range.
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Each thruster delivered 10 newton sec of impulse.
1.3.4 MEPSI

The series of MEMS-based Pico Sat Inspector (MEPSI) space flight experi-
ments demonstrated the capability to store a miniature (less than 1 kg) inspector
(PICOSAT) agent that could be released upon command to conduct surveillance
of the host spacecraft and share collected data with a dedicated ground station.
The DoD has approved a series of spiral development flights (preflights) leading
up to a final flight that will perform the full MEPSI mission. The first iteration
of the MEPSI PICOSAT was built and flown on STS-113 mission in December
2002.
All MEPSI PICOSATs are 4 4 5 in. cube-shaped satellites launched in
tethered pairs from a special PICOSAT launcher that is installed on the Space
Shuttle, an expandable launch vehicle (ELV) or a host satellite. The launcher that
will be used for STS/PICO2 was qualified for shuttle flight during the STS-113
mission and will not need to be requalified. 5

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