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:: How to get Started ::
We have a phased approach to help develop the information you need to
make an investment decision about your payload.
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Phase 1 -- Concept Definition.
A team of engineers from your company and our Center jointly investigate
the basic aspects of your proposed payload. The team analyzes such factors
as experiment requirements, conceptual design options, business rationale,
flight opportunities, and estimated costs. This phase typically lasts from
three to six months. The output is a report/briefing detailing the information
needed to make a business decision on whether to proceed to Phase 2.
Phase 2 -- Detailed Design and Payload Development.
At this stage the team undertakes a more formal definition of requirements;
determines final costs; develops, fabricates, and assembles hardware;
conducts carrier-level integration; and initiates the safety process.
This phase can typically be completed in three to nine months.
Phase 3 -- Implementation
This phase accomplishes the platform-level assembly and integration, final
safety documentation, contract with the flight provider (NASA or commercial),
and on-orbit operations.
Incremental Commitment.
At the end of each of these phases, you will have a better idea of what your
payload/experiment can do for you and what the budget commitment will be to
continue development. With this data, your company and investors have the
information they need to make the business decision to stop your technology
flight demonstration or continue it.
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The timeline for completing all three phases obviously varies with the complexity of the payload. However, it can be as short as 15-18 months. The STC will be with you throughout the process, providing professional technical analyses every step of the way.
Contact Us
If you believe that your company would benefit from an initial
Concept Definition Study which could lead to orbital testing of your
technology, please contact us.
Spacecraft Technology Center
TAMU 3118
College Station, TX 77843-3118
Tel: 979.845.8768
Fax: 979.847.8857
Email: stc@tamu.edu
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