SDL receives contract for radar imaging
The Space Dynamics Laboratory and Utah State University has won a $240,000 contract to determine the feasibility of using small satellites to create a virtual radar antenna in space.
The six-month contract, awarded by the Air Force Research Laboratory, will study the use of radar imaging using a constellation of small satellites, said USU officials.
The program, called SMART (Space-based Multi-Aperture Research and Technology), could lead to tracking targets more accurately, making more precise terrain maps and improving communication capabilities.
“There are only a handful of schools that do this kind of research,” said Pat Patterson, director of the lab’s technology department branch. “We have many brilliant people here who know a lot about space craft.”
Researchers will be developing six designs for small satellites to fly in cooperating constellations, said lab officials. One constellation will include a larger mother ship surrounded by six less capable satellites. Other constellations will have small satellites that are the same size and have exact capabilities.
The research will be conducted under the direction of Todd Mosher, a USU professor in mechanical and aerospace engineering. Researchers will include four other USU professors, along with three engineers and two graduate students in the university’s space lab.
“Dr. Mosher is putting together the research ideas and concepts for USU,” Patterson said, “and SDL will carry out the research.”
If results are positive, government officials may ask Congress to purchase the satellites. The study is scheduled to be completed in June.
The contract is part of the $70 million research contracted each year with USU’s space lab. Among the many other projects conducted at the space lab are the well-known experiments in space.
“Utah State has sent more experiments into space than any other university in the world,” said SDL spokeswoman Trina Paskett.
-gbrownlee@cc.usu.edu