Technical Area Capabilities:

Mechanical Systems and Analysis

• Design, analysis, testing of mechanical systems and structures
• Mechanical/structures design and solid modeling
• Finite element analysis of stress, dynamics, vibration, fracture
• Non-linear/transient analysis
• Metallic and non-metallic structures
• Aeronautical research, human and robotic spaceflight, ground/launch support systems

Electronics Systems, Software, and Controls

• Analog and digital design (sensors, data acquisition, signal conditioning)
• Controls / GN&C
• Embedded systems (FPGA, micro-controllers, etc.)
• Attitude Control Systems (ACS), star trackers, sun sensors, instrumentation

Instrumentation and Engineering Technology R&D

• Expertise in microfluidics, bioengineering, and machine learning
• Support flight projects and technology development (BioSentinel, WL2, EMILI/MICA, ExCALiBR, LEIA, E-nose)
• Biological NanoSat projects – fluidic cards that house organisms
• Search for life projects/technology development – sample processing and machine learning to support data analysis
• ISS payloads – sample processing and analysis
• E-nose – detect COVID using breath samples – design, testing and machine learning to support data analysis

Mechanical Systems and Analysis Technical Area

Capabilities

• Mechanical Design, Mechanical Engineering Analysis
• Structural Design & Analysis
• Loads and Dynamics
• Mechanism Design
• Fracture Mechanics
• Thermal Design & Analysis
• Mechanical, Structures, Thermal Testing

Tools

• Mechanical/structures design and solid modeling:
  • PTC Creo (Pro/Engineer)
• Finite element analysis of stress, dynamics, vibration, kinematics, fracture, thermal:
  • Creo Simulate, MSC-NASTRAN, PATRAN, ABAQUS, STAAD, NASGRO, Thermal Desktop
• Non-linear/transient analysis:
  • LS-DYNA

Applications

• Major aerospace systems, payloads, spaceflight hardware and structures
• Aircraft and airborne sciences and systems
• Wind-tunnel structures, wind-tunnel models and model support systems
• Systems requiring non-conventional materials; design with composites
• Research facilities, motion simulators and structures/systems supporting ground operations
• Thermal-protection and Entry systems
• ISS Bioscience payloads and associated structures

Prototyping Lab

• Small-scale machine shop, lightweight metal fabrication
• 3D, Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) printing systems
• Assembly area, tools

Electronics Systems, Software, and Controls Technical Area

Electronics, Avionics, Power Systems

Capabilities

• Instrumentation
• Power Systems Design
• Instrumentation
• Command & Data Handling
• Data Acquisition Systems
• Communications

Tools

• Circuit Simulation:  Altium, P-SPICE
• Systems Analysis:  STK
• SW Development: C, C++, Basic, Fortran, HTML, Java
• Circuit Design: Altium
• PCB Layout:  Altium

Software and Control Systems

Capabilities

• Instrument Embedded Controls
• Algorithm Development
• Spaceflight payload software
• Servo Controls
• Spacecraft software
• Spacecraft GN&C
• Propulsion

Tools

• MatLab/Simulink
• Real-time Hardware-In-The-Loop simulation/tuning — ISI’s AC100 Systems Analysis:  STK
• C, C++, Basic, HTML, Java
• Altium, Labview
• ITOS

Instrument Technology

Capabilities

• InfraRed Detector Testing & Verification
• Optical System Design & Testing
• Cryogenic electronics
• Distributed Cooling Systems for Large Propellant Tanks
• Cryocooler Design & Analysis
• Scanning technology

Tools

• MatLab/Simulink
• Real-time Hardware-In-The-Loop simulation/tuning — ISI’s AC100 Systems Analysis: STK
• RF Test Lab (N244)
• C, C++, Basic, HTML, Java
• Cadence OrCAD
• ITOS

Instrumentation and Engineering Technology R&D Technical Area

Capabilities

• Fluidic Module Design and Testing
• Science Testing Support
• Science Data Analysis Support including Machine Learning Algorithms
• Material Selection and Compatibility Testing
• Sterile Hardware Builds
• Automation Testing

Tools

• Fluidic module design and solid modeling:
  • PTC Creo (Pro/Engineer)
• 3D Printing
• Data acquisition and hardware testing:
  • LabVIEW
• Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning:
  • Python, PyTorch, Jupyter Notebook