• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to secondary sidebar
  • NEWS:
  • SatNews
  • SatMagazine
  • MilSatMagazine
  • SmallSat News
  • |     EVENTS:
  • SmallSat Symposium
  • Satellite Innovation
  • MilSat Symposium

SatNews

  • HOME
  • Magazines
  • Events
  • Perspectives
  • Industry Calendar
    • IN PERSON
    • VIRTUAL
  • Subscribe

Redwire’s Roccor To Develop Deployable Systems For NASA’s Solar Cruiser Mission

January 29, 2021

Redwire has announced that the firm’s subsidiary — Roccor — has been awarded a subcontract to support NASA’s Solar Cruiser technology demonstration mission funded through NASA’s Science Mission Directorate.

Roccor was selected by NASA to develop the deployable structure for a nearly 18,000 square foot (1,600 m2) solar sail that will allow solar scientists to view the sun from different perspectives—and stay in orbit longer—than before.

The Solar Cruiser mission will demonstrate the ability to use solar radiation as a propulsion system. These systems could unlock new capabilities—such as smallsat observations from deep space—at a much lower cost.

The Solar Cruiser sail, when fully deployed, will measure at nearly 120 feet long and 120 feet wide—which is the size of an infield tarp for a Major League baseball field—and the sailcraft will weigh approximately 100kg. Roccor will supply a lightweight deployable sail for the mission that incorporates technology with flight heritage from NASA’s recent NanoSail-D sail (10 m2) and the upcoming Near-Earth Asteroid Scout sail (86 m2) that will launch on the Artemis 1 mission in late 2021.  The TRAC technology was originally developed by the Air Force Research Laboratory and exclusively licensed by Roccor in 2017.

Artistic rendition of the Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP) observing signals from the interaction of the solar wind with the winds of other stars.
Image is courtesy of NASA.

The Solar Cruiser mission is set to launch as a rideshare aboard NASA’s Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP) mission in 2025.

Al Tadros

“NASA’s Solar Cruiser mission exemplifies how advanced small satellite technology can be leveraged to produce large-scale architectures that can enable high-value science,” said Al Tadros, Chief Growth Officer at Redwire. “The deployable systems that we have developed for small satellites enable unprecedented capabilities that unlock more mission opportunities for our customers.”

Les Johnson

“After the flight of Solar Cruiser, solar scientists will be able to reach new destinations, allowing them to study the sun as never before,” said Les Johnson, Principal Investigator for Solar Cruiser at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. “This mission proves that we have the necessary technology and future helioscientists can access new orbits to study and expand our knowledge.”

Dana Turse

“Solar empowerment will unlock a new era of agile satellite operations and unleash the superpower of SmallSats. The timing of this technological confluence could not be more critical,” said Dana Turse, Director of Emerging Products and project manager for the Solar Cruiser mission at Roccor.

For more information on Redwire’s deployable systems and the Solar Cruiser mission, visit https://www.roccor.com/emerging_products_case_study/.

Filed Under: Agencies, Contracts, Manufacturing, Space

Primary Sidebar

Most Read Stories

  • Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace Enlists NanoAvionics For Three Surveillance Satellites
  • Miratlas Secures Million$€ In Seed Funding
  • First Structural Metal Cutting In Space Demo By Nanoracks + Maxar Will Be Aboard The SpaceX Transporter 5 Rideshare Mission
  • Wyld + DEWA Partner To Launch New IoT Satellite Network + Services For The Utilities Sector
  • Airbus' Final Two Dispenser-Free Pléiades Neo Constellation Satellites Ready For Launch

About Satnews

  • Contacts
  • History

Archives

  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020

Secondary Sidebar

x
Sign up Now (For Free)
Access daily or weekly satellite news updates covering all aspects of the commercial and military satellite industry.
Invalid email address
Notify Me Regarding ( At least one ):
We value your privacy and will not sell or share your email or other information with any other company. You may also unsubscribe at anytime.

Click Here to see our full privacy policy.
Thanks for subscribing!