Andrews Space

Andrews Space was founded in 1999 by Jason Andrews and Marian Joh to be a catalyst in the commercialization, exploration and development of space. Originally named Andrews Space & Technology, the company shortened its name in 2003 to Andrews Space. Over its life the company developed many unique technologies and space transportation architectures for the US Government (NASA, DARPA, others) and commercial customers. The company is now Spaceflight Systems, a subsidiary of Spaceflight Industries, Inc.[1][2][3][4][5]

Projects and products

Andrews Space developed a number of innovative technologies and space transportation concepts including:

  • Mini-mag Orion
  • Alchemist Air Collection and Enrichment System[6][7]
  • Gryphon fully reusable horizontal take / horizontal landing space plane[8]
  • Peregrine small launch system[9]
  • SHERPA space tug[10][11]
  • Cubesat/Nanosat recovery system[12]

Andrews Space worked for most branches of the US Government. Noteworthy efforts include:

From 2008-2012 Andrews Space developed a series of cubesat and nanosat subsystems and components including the CORTEX avionics suite,[21] a lithium ion battery, solar arrays and numerous spacecraft subsystems:

  • As of November 2012, Andrews manufacturers a line of magnetorquers used to provide attitude control for small spacecraft of between 30 to 180 kilograms (66–397 lb) in mass.[22]
  • Andrews Space developed and produced the Cargo Module Power Unit for the Orbital Cygnus spacecraft.[23]

History

Andrews Space was founded in 1999 by Jason Andrews and Marian Joh to be a catalyst in the commercialization, exploration and development of space. Originally named Andrews Space & Technology, the company shortened its name in 2003 to Andrews Space. Over its life the company developed many unique technologies and space transportation architectures for the US Government (NASA, DARPA, others) and commercial customers. These include the Gryphon horizontal takeoff horizontal landing system using the "Alchemist" Air Collection and Enrichment System (ACES) as part of the NASA Space Launch Initiative. The Peregrine small launch vehicle was developed as part of the DARPA FALCON program and used a reusable first stage with expendable solid motor upper stages.[9] In 2003 Andrews Space was one of four companies selected by NASA to study commercial cargo logistics to the International Space Station.[13] This later lead to the NASA COTS (Commercial Orbital Transportation System) program to fly cargo to the ISS commercially. Andrews Space was chosen in 2006 as one of six finalists for NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program, though they were not subsequently selected for funding the COTS R&D by NASA.[24] Andrews Space later supported Rocketplane Kistler's COTS effort. In 2010 and 2011 Andrews Space support Orbital's Cygnus COTS effort.[23]

In November 2010, Andrews Space was selected by NASA for consideration for potential contract awards for heavy lift launch vehicle system concepts, and propulsion technologies.[19] In 2011 Andrews Space was one of four companies selected by the US Air Force as part of its Rocket-back Booster System demonstrator program. As part of these awards the company was awarded a $250M IDIQ contract.[25]

In 2013 Andrews Space was awarded a contract by the US Army SMDC to build the Kestrel Eye 2 small imaging spacecraft.[26] This was the result of a pivot by Andrews Space, begun in 2008, to move into space hardware production and very small spacecraft. While the Kestrel Eye 2 program was delayed and ultimately cancelled due to funding cuts as a result of Sequestration, much of the technology would make it to orbit as part of the BlackSky Pathfinder spacecraft, which was launched successfully in September 2016.

From 2011-2013 Andrews Space developed and built the Cargo Module Power Unit for Orbital's Cygnus cargo delivery spacecraft.[27] The CMPU was responsible for supplying power and managing power distribution to powered experiments inside the Cygnus spacecraft during their trip to the ISS. Andrews Space also licensed the magnetic torque rod design from Sinclair Interplanetary and produced many units which were used in a range of spacecraft, including those for the BlackSky Pathfinder / Global spacecraft, the Skybox Skysat spacecraft, as well as others.[28]

In 2015 Andrews Space was merged with Spaceflight, Inc. and BlackSky Global LLC and operated as Spaceflight Systems, a separate operating entity under the parent company of Spaceflight Industries.

See also

References
  1. "Seattle Space Companies - Spaceflight Industries". Spaceflight. Retrieved 2017-01-21.
  2. "Andrews Space Inc: Company Profile". Bloomberg. Retrieved 2018-03-27.
  3. "Andrews Space – Parabolic Arc". www.parabolicarc.com. Retrieved 2018-03-27.
  4. "Andrews Space, Honeybee To Jointly Produce CMGs - SpaceNews.com". SpaceNews.com. 2010-07-19. Retrieved 2018-03-27.
  5. "Jason Andrews - Spaceflight Industries". Spaceflight Industries. Archived from the original on 2018-03-27. Retrieved 2018-03-27.
  6. M. Crocker, Andrew; M. Wuerl, Adam; E. Andrews, Jason; Andrews, Dana (2003-07-20). "Progress on ACES: Technology for Next Generation Space Transportation". doi:10.2514/6.2003-4890. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  7. "Andrews Space :: Corporate :: Projects". www.nanosatnews.com. Retrieved 2018-10-25.
  8. Space Renaissance (2010-08-16), Gryphon Spaceplane: Flight Operations Animation @ 100 Years of Flight, retrieved 2018-10-25
  9. theworacle (2008-12-06), Andrews Space Peregrine reusable launch vehicle, retrieved 2018-10-25
  10. Andrews, Jason (August 2012). "Spaceflight Secondary Payload System and SHERPA Space Tug". 26th Conference on Small Satellites.
  11. "Spaceflight Plans 2014 Demo Launch of Sherpa In-space Tug - SpaceNews.com". SpaceNews.com. 2012-05-07. Retrieved 2018-10-25.
  12. Andrews, Jason (August 2010). "NanoSat Deorbit and Recovery System to Enable New Missions". 25th Conference on Small Satellites.
  13. "Andrews Space Wins Contract Extension from NASA". www.spaceref.com. Retrieved 2018-10-25.
  14. Kisliuk, Erin (2015-09-23). "COTS: Competition Rounds". NASA. Retrieved 2018-10-25.
  15. "Andrews Space Wins Two DARPA FALCON Contracts". www.spacewar.com. Retrieved 2018-10-25.
  16. Pike, John. "FALCON Small Launch Vehicle". www.globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 2018-10-25.
  17. "Spaceflight Industries Awarded $250 Million USAF Contract for Reusable Booster System Ground and Flight Experiments - Spaceflight Industries". Spaceflight Industries. 2011-12-06. Retrieved 2018-10-25.
  18. "Andrews Space among moon ship consultants". seattlepi.com. 2008-03-18. Retrieved 2018-10-25.
  19. "NASA Selects Companies for Heavy-Lift Vehicle Studies". NASA. Archived from the original on 8 November 2010. Retrieved 8 November 2010.
  20. "US ARMY SMDC FUNDS ANDREWS SPACE TO BUILD KESTREL EYE 2 EARTH IMAGING NANOSAT - Spaceflight Industries". Spaceflight Industries. 2013-01-31. Retrieved 2018-10-25.
  21. "CORTEX Avionics Complete Space Qualification - Spaceflight". Spaceflight. 2013-06-26. Retrieved 2018-10-25.
  22. Lindsay, Clark (2012-11-13). "Sinclair Interplanetary transfers magnetorquer manufacturing to Andrews Space". NewSpace Watch. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  23. "Andrews Space Delivers Cargo Module Power Unit for Orbital's Cygnus Spacecraft". www.spacedaily.com. Retrieved 2018-10-25.
  24. "COTS 2006 Demo Competition". NASA. 2012-03-02. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  25. "USAF Paves Way for Reusable Booster Demonstrator". Aviation Week & Space Technology.
  26. "U.S. Army Taps Andrews for Second Kestrel Eye Satellite - SpaceNews.com". SpaceNews.com. 2013-02-01. Retrieved 2018-10-24.
  27. "Spaceflight Industries Delivers Cargo Module Power Unit for Orbital's Cygnus Spacecraft - Spaceflight Industries". Spaceflight Industries. 2011-11-08. Retrieved 2018-10-24.
  28. "Spaceflight Industries to Manufacture Sinclair Rods - Spaceflight". Spaceflight. 2012-11-13. Retrieved 2018-10-24.

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