Abstract: A method using an etchant and a laser for localized precise heating enables precise etching and release of MEMS devices with improved process control while expanding the number of materials used to make MEMS, including silicon-dioxide patterned films buried in and subsequently released from bulk silicon, as a direct write method of release of patterned structures that enables removal of only that material needed to allow the device to perform to be precisely released, after which, the bulk material can be further processed for additional electrical or packaging functions.

Abstract: A refrigerator apparatus includes a housing with an interior chamber, thermoelectric devices that are thermally coupled to the interior chamber, and dual redundant electronics configured to generate and apply input power to the thermoelectric devices.

Abstract: A refrigerator apparatus includes a housing with an interior chamber, a thermoelectric device that is thermally coupled to the interior chamber, a temperature sensing device that is thermally coupled to the interior chamber, the temperature sensing device providing a temperature measurement; and electronics configured to generate and apply input power to the thermoelectric device, and to adjust the input power maintaining a functional relationship between the input power and the temperature measurement.

Abstract: Integrated glass ceramic spacecraft include a plurality of glass ceramic components including molded, tempered, annealed, and patterned glass ceramic components coupled together for forming a support structure or frame or housing through which is communicated optical signals through an optical communications grid and electrical signals through an electrical communications grid, with the optical communications grid and electrical communication grid forming a composite electrooptical communications grid for spacecraft wide intercommunications. The support structure multifunctions as a frame, a housing, a support, a thermal control system, and as part of an electrooptical communications grid while encapsulating a plurality of optical, electronic, electrical, and MEMS devices between which is communicated the electrical and optical signals over the electrooptical communication grid.

Abstract: Integrated glass ceramic spacecraft include a plurality of glass ceramic components including molded, tempered, annealed, and patterned glass ceramic components coupled together for forming a support structure or frame or housing through which is communicated optical signals through an optical communications grid and electrical signals through an electrical communications grid, with the optical communications grid and electrical communication grid forming a composite electrooptical communications grid for spacecraft wide intercommunications. The support structure multifunctions as a frame, a housing, a support, a thermal control system, and as part of an electrooptical communications grid while encapsulating a plurality of optical, electronic, electrical, and MEMS devices between which is communicated the electrical and optical signals over the electrooptical communication grid.

Abstract: An inflatable structure includes a plurality of inflation cells each have a respective internal gas generator connected to an external control processor for sequential inflation of the inflatable structure. Power and control lines feed through the inflation cells for powering the internal gas generator and for communicating control signals between the gas generators and the external control processor. A method of sequence inflation can use various types of exemplar gas generators, such as cellular containment evaporation gas generators and laser ablation gas generators.

Abstract: A deployment method maintains a cluster of subsatellites within a rigid formation relative to and orbiting about a real or fictitious center satellite that in turn orbits the earth in a frozen inclined eccentric reference orbit by determining the subsatellite reference orbits of the each of the subsatellites based upon position and velocity vectors of the center satellite. The determined subsatellite reference orbits can then be maintained through fuel efficient microthrusting so as to maintain the rigid formation for coherently combining communication signals within a very large sparse antenna array formed by the cluster having improved beam directionality for improved signal communications.

Abstract: An inflatable structure includes a plurality of inflation cells each have a respective internal gas generator connected to an external control processor for sequential inflation of the inflatable structure. Power and control lines feed through the inflation cells for powering the internal gas generator and for communicating control signals between the gas generators and the external control processor. A method of sequence inflation can use various types of exemplar gas generators, such as cellular containment evaporation gas generators and laser ablation gas generators.

Abstract: An address element, including a polysilicon resistor functioning as a heating element and blocking diode preventing sneak current to unaddressed elements, is selectively addressed using row and column address lines in a thin film structure having a minimum number of address lines and a minimum number of layers. The resistor heater element is well suited for igniting a fuel cell such as a fuel cell in an array of fuel cells disposed in a thin film microthruster.

Abstract: An address element, including a polysilicon resistor functioning as a heating element and blocking diode preventing sneak current to unaddressed elements, is selectively addressed using row and column address lines in a thin film structure having a minimum number of address lines and a minimum number of layers. The resistor heater element is well suited for igniting a fuel cell such as a fuel cell in an array of fuel cells disposed in a thin film microthruster.

Abstract: An address element, including a polysilicon resistor functioning as a heating element and blocking diode preventing sneak current to unaddressed elements, is selectively addressed using row and column address lines in a thin film structure having a minimum number of address lines and a minimum number of layers. The resistor heater element is well suited for igniting a fuel cell such as a fuel cell in an array of fuel cells disposed in a thin film microthruster.

Abstract: The method addresses and interrogates addressable cells having at least one element including a polysilicon resistor functioning as a heating element and blocking diode preventing sneak current to un addressed elements, for selectively addressing one of the cells using row and column address line in a thin film structure having a minimum number of address lines and a minimum number of layers. The resistor heating element can be used for igniting a respective fuel cell in an array of fuel cells disposed in a thin film microthruster. After ignition, the address lines are used to interrogate the cell location for verification of fuel cell ignition well suited for monitoring fuel burns and usage of the microthruster.