Small payload orbit transfer (SPORTTM) system: lowering launch cost without increased risk

The past decade has seen efforts to lower costs by “doing more with less”, instead of making innovative changes in the way missions are designed and implemented. Now, the industry is turning towards more intelligent approaches to mission design. AeroAstro has developed the Small Payload ORbit Transfer (SPORT^TM) system to provide a flexible low-cost orbit transfer capability, enabling small payloads to use low-cost secondary launch opportunities and still reach their desired final orbits. This allows small payloads to effectively use a wider variety of launch opportunities, including numerous under-utilized geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO) slots. Its use, in conjunction with growing opportunities for secondary launches, enables “better, cheaper, faster” missions through innovative mission design and lower cost access to space, not increased risk. SPORT uses a suite of innovative technologies that are packaged in a simple, reliable, modular system. SPORT achieves its orbit transfer capability through a combination of chemical propulsion and aerobraking technology. This paper discusses the SPORT design and its application to overall small satellite mission development