Description: Space Micro proposes an aggressive, but achievable, space communications experiment to evaluate in-orbit SDR performance which include advanced COTS processor and ADCs in the space radiation and thermal environment. Space Micro will be able to leverage the rapid development of our Ka-Band SDR for MISSE-FF deployment, including under current NASA SBIR contract 80NSSC-19-C-0468. Why Space Micro? Superb record of SBIR insertions and commercialization Leveraging of our previous MISSE-X project Currently using advanced COTS microelectronics in space Exceptionally technically qualified team, including senior PI Fits in our space SDR product family for commercialization Engineering depth to perform in Phase I, II, and III Fully facilitated with clean rooms, parts upscreening, and space qualification equipment Ability to partner with major space primes for future product sales Already a qualified supplier to all U.S. space prime contractors Our Phase I deliverables will be data from ground based testing the candidate technology and an experiment design for flight on the MISSE-FF. Our Phase II deliverables will include an active SDR technology experiment, packaged, qualified, and ready for flight on the MISSE-FF. This experiment would then fly very soon after Phase II, free of charge, with standard services on the NASA surface area allocation of the MISSE-FF. Our proposal describes the need for spaceflight exposure, and justifies that the ISS environment is adequate to gather the data they need.

Benefits: The cross-cutting SDR space product evolving from this SBIR has the potential to add value to and enable many potential NASA space missions. Some of these future NASA missions include Lucy, Psyche, IXPE, Restore, Hermes, Whipple, TiME, Hera, Chopper, etc. which encompass both Discovery-class and SMEX missions. Customers include NASA centers, spacecraft prime contractors and even university CubeSat projects. Space Micro has worked with most of the satellite prime companies and also the NASA centers

This product can be scaled for a wide range of customers, including emerging commercial constellations for space-based Internet service and Earth observation data e.g. (Google, WorldVu, SpaceX, etc. There are also a number of DoD (Air Force, MDA< NRO) space applications; Space Micro will manufacture and market this product to potential DoD customers and spacecraft primes.