FA864924P0043

Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR) Phase I

Magnetic bearing reaction wheels for low-jitter and long-life operation

???????The USSF's shift towards robust and proliferated satellite architectures for Space Domain Awareness, missile warning/tracking, ISR and high-speed optical communication demands precise pointing capabilities that must fit within the constraints of low-cost satellite buses and limited SWaP (Size, Weight, and Power) budgets. Achieving accurate pointing control is particularly challenging due to vibrations originating from reaction wheels (which are present in every satellite in clusters of 3-4 wheels). Traditional satellite reaction wheels produce micro-vibrations that disrupt satellite stability and are a leading cause of mission failures, creating significant challenges for USSF strategies. In contrast, Magma Space has pioneered a novel magnetic reaction wheel (MRW) that eliminates the sources of disruptive vibrations, resulting in remarkable stability and extended lifetime. Magma's MRW features an innovative, low-power design that is far simpler than previous attempts, empowering the USSF to achieve higher imaging resolution with existing sensors and considerable increase in laser communication data rates. For this effort, MIT Lincoln Lab will partner with Magma to carry out performance and case study analyses. Magma has secured an MOU from the Space Development Agency and received Letters of Intent from prominent organizations such as Ball Aerospace, AFRL, MAXAR, Axiom Space, Moog, and D-Orbit.

The goal of phase I is to establish the technical merit, feasibility, and commercial potential of proposed R&D efforts and determine the quality of performance of the small business awardee organization.

AFX237-PCSO1

FX237-PCSO1-0160

X23.7

Meghan Scott