The United States Air Force Research Lab is currently examining options to launch small satellites (<200 kg e.g., 440 lb) more economically and efficiently. This class of satellite is quickly becoming a government and industry mainstay due to their ability to inexpensively demonstrate new technology, test prototype operational hardware, as well as perform space experimentation. Most of existing launch options include foreign sources, such as the Ariane launch vehicle, that are not available to Department of Defense (DoD) launches. Through the efforts of team members from the Air Force Research Lab$Space Vehicles Directorate (AFRL/VS), DoD Space Test Program (STP), TRW, and CSA Engineering, a secondary payload adapter has been developed to allow small satellites to be launched with the primary payload. This is to be accomplished by using an adapter on the upcoming Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicles (EELV), DoD medium lift vehicles, more specifically, the Boeing Co. Delta IV and the Lockheed Martin Atlas V launch vehicles. This adapter, known as the EELV Secondary Payload Adapter (ESPA) will take advantage of the primary payload's unused volume and mass margins.


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    Title :

    EELV Secondary Payload Adapter (ESPA) Static Qualification Tests


    Contributors:
    G. E. Sanford (author) / J. S. Welsh (author)

    Publication date :

    2004


    Size :

    26 pages


    Type of media :

    Report


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English





    Development and Structural Qualification of the EELV Secondary Payload Adapter (ESPA)

    Sanford, G. / American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2002


    EELV secondary payload adapter (ESPA): providing increased access to space

    Wegner, P.M. / Ganley, J. / Maly, J.R. | IEEE | 2001


    Secondary payload adapter for EELV

    Fosness, Eugene / Sciulli, Dino / Meink, Troy et al. | AIAA | 1999


    ESPA: EELV secondary payload adapter with whole-spacecraft isolation for primary and secondary payloads

    Maly, J.R. / Haskett, S.A. / Wilke, P.S. et al. | Tema Archive | 2000