National Technical Systems Wins Contract from the University of Hawai'i's Hawaii Space Flight Laboratory To Build, Integrate and Test Space Satellite and Rocket Launching System
June 5, 2013
National Technical Systems, Inc. has signed a contract with Hawaii Space Flight Laboratory (HSFL) to design, build and test a rocket and satellite launching system called the Super Strypi Launcher. HSFL is affiliated with the University of Hawai'i at Manoa and its School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST) and College of Engineering. The project manager is the Air Force's Operationally Responsive Space Office or ORS located at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. This effort supports the ORS-4 mission demonstrating a new, low-cost small launch capability that will deliver 300 kilogram satellites to Low-Earth Orbit.
The contract, currently valued at more than $500,000, includes the precision fabrication of a rail system and structural steel boom for the launching system. NTS will then design and conduct a series of tests to analyze the strength and mobility of the launcher as well as the proper functioning of its rail slides and its electronic control system before shipping the entire launching system to Kaua'i.
The HSFL project is part of the University of Hawai'i's effort to accelerate the validation of new space technologies while providing workforce training for its students in all aspects of unmanned space missions. HSFL is dedicated to developing, launching and operating small spacecraft from the Hawaiian Islands.
"We chose NTS because of its broad mix of technical capabilities and its proven level of success in engineering and testing similar structural systems," said HSFL Director Luke Flynn . "At the same time, part of our mission is to promote synergistic collaborations between educational and corporate institutions interested in space exploration. This is a very important commercial project, but it's also an opportunity for students to be involved in satellite design, rocket payload design and other related topics. For us, this is a teaching moment as well as a commercial activity."
University of Hawai'i President M.R.C. Greenwood said, "Hawai'i is located in a unique position to become a low-cost gateway to space. The University of Hawai'i is one of the only universities in the world to have both satellite fabrication capabilities and unique, direct access to orbital space."
NTS expects to complete the launching system project by mid-summer prior to its deployment to the U.S. Navy's Pacific Missile Range Facility.
"The ORS Office has a mission to accelerate delivering space capabilities to our nation's warfighters. The Super Strypi launch system being demonstrated in Hawai'i will expand launch opportunities for low cost satellite launches," said NTS President and CEO William McGinnis . "Our job is to build the launcher, exercise it to be sure it works and document our entire effort. This is another prime example of our engineering and testing capabilities as they relate to the aviation industry and we are excited to be involved in such a high-profile, important project."