Testbed for Responsive Experiments and Demonstrations in Space

(formerly known as In-Situ Technology Test Bed - ISTTB)

The Testbed for Responsive Experiments and Demonstrations in Space (TREADS) is a technology demonstration and scientific gathering platform specifically designed to allow investigators to easily, and quickly, integrate and fly their instrumentation on a 'full-service' operational satellite.

TREADS supports new electronics, software and hardware. TREADS contains several standard interface slots that carry the Devices-Under-Test (DUTs) and an all-purpose flight computer to test software. The TREADS platform will: measure the radiation experienced by the payloads; read the spacecraft sensors; capture payload data; and send the telemetry to a ground station.

TREADS is a recurring flight opportunity (2-3 times per year starting in 2009) that enables your company to:

• demonstrate your new technology in a real-world radiation environment;
• integrate your devices with real-world hardware for 'in-the-field' experimentation and system performance characterization;
• and give your components a competitive-edge by increasing Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) at an inexpensive 'firm-fixed� price.

The TREADS solution offers several advantages over other technology demonstration programs such as the New Millennium Program and TacSat such as: offers 100% dedicated on-orbit testing time; multiple launch opportunities; and 'primary payload' designation.

The first deployment of a TREADS platform is scheduled for the 2009 timeframe. Use our Self Manifest ^TM form (under development) to manifest your technology on the next flight!

Description of Opportunities

Most launches, no matter who the primary payload provider may be, have a certain degree of excess capacity on the vehicle that can be used to put smaller, secondary payloads on-board. Most primaries do not choose to fill this capacity because of the logistics and costs associated with dealing with a secondary customer. Space Access Technologies (SAT) is addressing this issue with their RideShare Adapter (RSA). The RSA is an adapter ring (Figure 1) that sits between the rocket’s second stage and the primary payload. The RSA is based on standardized hardware, standardized interfaces and standardized integration processes for each launch provider to simplify the secondary payload processes. SAT provides the one-stop shop, end-to-end solution for secondary payloads so the primary does not have to incur the expense. These agreements, qualification steps and standardized processes taken by SAT enable each launch vehicle to judiciously take advantage of their entire rocket’s lifting capability on every launch without any inconvenience to the primary payload.

Redefine Technologies has extended SAT’s RSA capability to launch secondary payloads with our TREADS platform. Where the RSA inherently supports stand-alone CubeSats and Nano-satellite class riders, the TREADS platform enables “stand-alone instrumentation” to also be flown. These 'instruments' could be board-level electronics, new spacecraft components, or scientific instruments.

TREADS is a technology demonstration and scientific gathering platform specifically designed to allow investigators to easily, and quickly, integrate their instrumentation into a ‘full-service’ operational environment.

When a customer has scientific/technology devices that they would like to orbit, Redefine, with SAT, will work to secure a position on a launch vehicle that is already going to the orbit desired. While the RSA cannot dictate an orbital destination, there will almost always be an acceptable solution in the near-term that will facilitate a successful NASA/mil/commercial mission. TREADS can be launched to almost any orbital position: Low, Medium and High Earth Orbit (LEO, MEO, HEO), as well as to Geo-Transfer Orbit (GTO). All TREADS missions provide  several months, to several years on-orbit. After launch, TREADS will provide an operational environment for the science instrumentation. Power generation, thermal control, and communication capability are included on the TREADS bus. The TREADS mission operators will support the customer in running the experiments on-board the platform and retrieving the data.

 TREADS has three configurations shown in Figure 2: the Electronics Platform, the Instrument Platform, and the Free-Flying Plaform. These variants can be mixed on a single launch. The Electronics Platform will house electronic boards for testing (Devices-Under-Test = DUTs). The Instrument Platform will house science and technology instruments (Science/Technology Instrument Laboratories = STILs). The FF-Platform will separate from the RSA to test either science instruments or technology demonstrations.

TREADS offers payload capacities from 0.5kg electronic boards to 2kg hardware stand-alone components, to 15kg free-flying payloads. Power allocations range from 5W to 30W accordingly. Mission Status TREADS is a recurring, mission of opportunity designed to provide affordable access to space for technology demonstration and scientific instrumentation. The adapter ring that mounts TREADS and the DUTs/SILs to the launch vehicle is already qualified on two launch vehicles: Falcon I and Minotaur I. Other agreements with other launch providers are being worked and acceptance is anticipated within 12 to 24 months.

The TREADS bus is currently being designed and manufactured with anticipated first flights in early 2008 and mid 2009. The 2008 LEO launch opportunity has positions available for two additional instruments. The next TREADS mission is already partially filled. Thereafter, two (2) TREADS launches per year are baselined, but may increase as the number of launch vehicles it is being qualified to ride with increases.