SpaceDev to develop deployable structures technology for AFRL, enhance SpaceDev satellite program

POWAY, Calif., 25 June 2007.SpaceDev's subsidiary, Starsys Inc., has been awarded a $750,000 cost reimbursable design and development subcontract from the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Space Vehicles Directorate, for continued development of deployable boom structures for satellites.

The award is a Phase 2 small business innovation research (SBIR) contract resulting from design and trade study work completed during a Phase I SBIR. The contract period of performance is approximately 24 months during which SpaceDev will develop a large, high stiffness, high expansion ratio deployable boom.

According to Mark N. Sirangelo, SpaceDev's chairman and CEO, "This system enables the deployment of large aperture sensors and payloads for a variety of launch vehicles by allowing very large structures to be deployed from existing spacecraft payload envelopes." The technology will help transform how payloads are positioned and deployed.