Abstract: A non-contact angular motion measuring device includes a mirror configured to move or rotate about a pivot axis. The device also includes a curved target, circularly symmetric around an axis normal to the mirror. The device further includes at least one pair of sensors configured to emit fields towards the curved target rather than the mirror.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include modular solar power cells, arrays, and power management systems for use in satellite systems and constellations. In one embodiment, a solar cell module can include: a module substrate including a high-emissivity side and a mounting side; a power management circuit mounted to the mounting side of the module substrate; a battery arranged adjacent to the power management circuit; a solar cell substrate arranged adjacent the battery and including an embedded battery heater; and a solar cell mounted directly to the solar cell substrate and connected to the battery.

Abstract: An autonomous compliance controlled generic mooring station includes a pair of mooring systems connected to each other. The pair of mooring systems includes a pair of mooring interfaces, allowing the pair of mooring systems to change between a mooring state and a release state. One of the pair of mooring interfaces includes an electropermanent magnet and the other one of the pair of mooring interfaces includes a ferromagnetic plate. The electropermanent magnet and the ferromagnetic plate are configured to connect the pair of mooring systems together.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include a two-stage blending filter that blends the measurements from two angular sensors to form a single superior high bandwidth measurement for improved disturbance rejection in a satellite systems for increased accuracy in satellite pointing, orientation, and attitude control. Embodiments of the present invention can include a satellite system including a first sensor including or defining a first measurement bandwidth; a first filter connected to the first sensor; a second sensor including or defining a second measurement bandwidth; a second filter connected to the second sensor; and a third filter connected to the first filter and the second filter. The third filter blend the first signal and the second signal into a third signal; and transmit the third signal to a flight controller configured to adjust an orientation of the satellite, a satellite subsystem, or both, relative to a target in response to the third signal.

Abstract: Provided herein are circuits and methods for processing samples of a received in-phase and quadrature (I/Q) domain signal that includes a desired signal and an interference signal that spectrally overlaps the desired signal. In the I/Q domain, a first contribution to the interference signal is removed from the samples using a first algorithm to generate first processed signal samples. Amplitudes and phases of the first processed signal samples are obtained. In an amplitude domain, a second contribution to the interference signal is removed from the amplitudes of the first processed signal samples using a second algorithm to generate second processed signal samples. A signal quality metric of the second processed signal samples is obtained. Based on the signal quality metric of the second processed signal samples, one or more parameters of the first or second algorithm are adjusted to improve the signal quality metric of the second processed signal samples.

Abstract: A multi-purpose in-situ contamination sampler includes an inner frame surrounded by a plurality of removable or attachable pieces, each of which include of a single witness surface configured to collect both particulate and molecular contamination within an environment on a payload or a spacecraft.

Abstract: Cell-based systems may interlock in a reconfigurable configuration to support a mission. Space systems, for example, of a relatively large size may be assembled using an ensemble of individual “cells”, which are individual space vehicles. The cells may be held together via magnets, electromagnets, mechanical interlocks, etc. The topology or shape of the joined cells may be altered by cells hopping, rotating, or “rolling” along the joint ensemble. The cells may be multifunctional, mass producible units. Rotation of cell faces, or of components within cells, may change the functionality of the cell. The cell maybe collapsible for stowage or during launch.

Abstract: A reconfigurable QKD transceiver capable of transmitting and/or receiving qubits using a single optical hardware platform. This reconfigurable QKD transceiver enables various link scenarios specially for LEO-ground network, where the satellites have limited engagement time with a ground station. The reconfigurable QKD transceiver may reduce the optics SWaP by 50 percent and may allow for new mission scenarios that were otherwise not feasible with a transmitter only architecture or receiver only architecture.

Abstract: A system and method for periodically varying a center frequency for assured time transfer in order to securely transfer a signal from a source to a receiver, without adding additional encryption to signal.

Abstract: A payload-bus kinematic interface system includes one or more kinematic devices. Each kinematic device includes a first contacting surface and a second contacting surface. The first contacting surface kinematically interfaces with the second contacting surface, passing loads or forces to the second contacting surface.

Abstract: Processes for rapidly and accurately measuring the coefficient of moisture expansion for materials, such as adhesives, are disclosed. A replication technique may be used to manufacture highly flat and smooth adhesive samples. Moisture is introduced in a controlled humidity atmosphere, distortion is monitored with an accurate laser interferometer (e.g., ˜1 nanometer (nm) accuracy), and measurements are correlated with moisture content change. Such processes decrease sample size by three orders of magnitude as compared with conventional techniques and have a smaller adhesive mass requirement, which enables measurement of expensive microelectronic adhesives that were previously cost-prohibitive to measure. Also, thinner films allow CME measurements of ultraviolet (UV) cured adhesives that would otherwise have depth of penetration issues. Furthermore, saturation occurs quickly, allowing pre-stabilization at room temperature, which enabled parametric studies as a function of processing or cure state.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a satellite in the form of a plate having a thickness being smaller than a width of the satellite. The apparatus also includes a plurality of contact points distributed on a face of the satellite, allowing for one or more additional satellites to be stacked upon the satellite.

Abstract: Under one aspect, a method is provided for processing a received signal, the received signal including a desired signal and an interference signal that spectrally overlaps the desired signal. The method can include obtaining an amplitude of the received signal. The method also can include obtaining an average amplitude of the received signal based on at least one prior amplitude of the received signal. The method also can include subtracting the amplitude from the average amplitude to obtain an amplitude residual. The method also can include, based upon an absolute value of the amplitude residual being less than or equal to a first threshold, inputting the received signal into an interference suppression algorithm so as to generate a first output including the desired signal with reduced contribution from the interference signal.

Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring health of one or more cells in a battery includes a health monitoring system configured to measure voltage on one or more cells when a waveform is injected into the one or more cells. The waveform is measured at an end of a pulse for each current.

Abstract: A self-regulating battery may generate a basis state for one or more modules using one or more system inputs. The system inputs comprise current, voltage, and battery degradation. The battery generates a family of weighted forecasts for future bus demands using usage and performance based weights. The battery generates one or more plans to support demand from the battery using the weighted forecasts. The battery scores the one or more plans based on efficiency of power extraction from the battery, and combines the scored one or more plans with an updated SoH value based on induced degradation from a usage plan. The battery generates the combined scored for each of the one or more plans, and transmits one of the combined scored to the battery management unit for execution.

Abstract: Embedded antennas in integrated circuits, and methods of making and using the same, are provided herein. An integrated circuit within a semiconductor die may include a control circuit; an antenna configured to wirelessly receive a control signal at a predefined frequency; and an interconnect configured to provide the received control signal from the antenna to the control circuit. The control circuit may be configured to control a function of the integrated circuit responsive to the received control signal.

Abstract: A waveform analysis and vulnerability assessment (WAVE) tool is disclosed that can analyze the characteristics and vulnerabilities of waveforms. The WAVE tool may identify issues in waveforms prior to their implementation in a transmit device or building the back-end processing to receive the waveform at a ground station. The WAVE tool may quantify waveform vulnerabilities, address which vulnerabilities a particular waveform has, and enable the user to modify the waveform design to optimize its performance against threats prior to implementation. Additionally, the WAVE tool may save time and money since new waveforms can be vetted against the tool before implementation. Data from waveforms can be analyzed against a plurality of metrics and scores can be generated providing a quantitative assessment of waveform performance.

Abstract: System and methods are disclosed that comprise receiving at least one signal via a receiver. The at least one signal is extracted for data via a processor coupled to the receiver, wherein the data includes at least one message and a set of parameters related to the message. A signal output is generated using the at least one message and the set of parameters such that the signal output includes a first portion and a second portion. At least one error is identified in the signal output and corrected using the first portion and the second portion. An output is generated that is used to perform at least one task related to the at least one signal.

Abstract: Systems and methods for simulating performance of receivers in realistic interference scenarios are provided herein. A method for simulating the performance of a receiver may include (a) generating a set of observables that a receiver in a truth state would ideally see; (b) adding interference to the set of observables to generate a set of corrupted observables; and (c) generating a position, navigation, and timing (PNT) solution using the set of corrupted observables.

Abstract: High-throughput software-defined convolutional interleavers and de-interleavers are provided herein. In some examples, a method for generating convolutionally interleaved samples on a general purpose processor with cache is provided. Memory is represented as a three dimensional array, indexed by block number, row, and column. Input samples may be written to the cache according to an indexing scheme. Output samples may be generated every MN samples by reading out the samples from the cache in a transposed and vectorized order.