AFRL\u27s Demonstration and Science Experiments (DSX) Program – Quest for the Common Micro Satellite Bus

The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Space Vehicles Directorate has developed the Demonstration and Science Experiments (DSX) mission to research technologies needed to significantly advance Department of Defense (DoD) capability to operate spacecraft in the harsh radiation environment of medium-Earth orbits (MEO). The ability to operate effectively in the MEO environment significantly increases the DoD’s capability to field space systems that provide persistent global targeting-grade space surveillance, high-speed satellite-based communication, lower-cost GPS navigation, and protection from space weather on a responsive satellite platform. DSX uses a modular design that allows for launch either as a primary satellite on a conventional launcher, such as a Minotaur, or as a lower payload on a larger rocket, such as the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV). A key enabler to this modular design is the use of a standard micro satellite bus. An overview of the DSX spacecraft system design, spacecraft subsystems, and engineering approach will be described