Spaceflight Projects

Our current and recent spaceflight projects include both operational and experimental systems, and span life sciences, satellite technology, computer systems, advanced control algorithms, and space station pressure integrity (among other topics!). Featured examples are presented for online viewing or download.

	SPHERES (Synchronized Position Hold, Engage & Reorient Experiment Satellites) is a testbed for satellite constellation control and distributed systems research, jointly developed by MIT and Payload Systems. Aurora is directing flight hardware design, fabrication and flight planning. The U.S. Air Force provides flight manifest support.
	SPHERES components are launching on 12P, 13P and 14P for operation on ISS increments 8 and 9. SPHERES operations are planned for ISS 12A, continuing through spring 2004.
	Download SPHERES details (249K)

	CCU (Cell Culture Unit) is the first of the NASA Space Station Biological Research Program facilities. Payload is designing, fabricating, and integrating the multi-flight apparatus, with expert biological support from the MIT Tissue Engineering Laboratory. We are also conducting an extensive ground research program to ensure that the CCU facility can support cell lines ranging from yeast to plants, and from aquatics to mammalian tissues.
	CCU is presently manifested for flight on ISS in 2006.
	Download CCU details (273K)

	PPRV (Positive Pressure Relief Valves) protect the ISS modules pressure integrity during the launch and assembly phase. Payload designed, fabricated, and certified 17 safety-critical valves. We also refurbish and re-certify used valves as they are deinstalled and returned to Earth.
	PPRV are installed on all US and Japanese ISS modules during preflight preparation.
	Download PPRV details (85K)

	ESFX (Experiment Support Facility—External) is a robust generic-use experiment support computer system developed by Payload, funded by the Air Force Research Laboratory. ESFX is intended to be a flexible, user-configurable experiment control tool for data collection and interactive monitoring for investigators wishing to fly ISS-external payloads. Compared to custom-developed systems with similar capacity, ESFX is significantly operationally streamlined and very cost-effective.
	A ground evaluation prototype ESFX unit was delivered to the AFRL in July 2003.
	Download ESFX details (161K)

	MACE/MACE II (Middeck Active Control Experiment) was originally flown on STS-67 under NASA funding. Developed collaboratively by MIT and Payload Systems, MACE is designed to execute advanced closed-loop control experiments. MACE was so successful that the Air Force elected to refly it on ISS.
	MACE-II was the first experiment payload activated on ISS (ISS-04/2a-2b / STS-106). Featured in the IMAX movie Space Station, it completed all of its planned operations before being returned to Earth in late 2001.
	Download MACE details (248K)