Advanced Space Technologies Research & Engineering Center

To regain its competitive edge, the U.S. space industry needs to return to a paradigm that demands – and produces – innovation. Such a program would break the status quo and lead to faster product delivery, greater functionality, increased cost-effectiveness, and “smart” risk-tolerance.

The Advanced Space Technologies Research & Engineering Center (ASTREC) breaks this status quo, offering the space industry a paradigm for innovation. Using nearly the same design-build-fly philosophy practiced by the unmanned-vehicle community, ASTREC incorporates technological innovations and evaluates them in their true operational environment.

To speed product delivery while offering a good value, ASTREC utilizes innovative fractionated satellite systems that provide incremental growth in capability. This scalable model means that increases in functionality can actually decrease cost. Economics-based technology — that's innovation!

Objective

ASTREC aims to transform the culture of the space industry from risk-averse to smartly risk-tolerant. By distributing risk across multiple satellites, ASTREC will retain multi-sensor functionality while ensuring that overall capability remains robust.

Outcomes

• A leader in space technology (emphasis on small satellite) development verification, and validation; i.e., become the “SEMATECH” of the space industry.
• A rejuvenated and responsive space industry that is affordable and sustainable (through infusion of technological advances; e.g., ORS Tier 3).
• Provides the space industry an avenue for transforming its culture from risk averse to risk tolerant through its validated innovations.

ASTREC offers an alternative to the current industry paradigm

Mission

• To contribute to the nation’s research infrastructure base by developing long-term partnerships among industry, academia and government.
• To leverage NSF funds with industry to support graduate students performing industrially relevant research.

Vision

• To expand the innovation capacity of our nation’s competitive workforce through partnerships between industries and universities

ASTREC is an I/UCRC

An I/UCRC (Industry/University Cooperative Research Center) is a National Science Foundation program to develop a long-term partnership between academia, industry, and government.

• Founded in 1981 with over 50 centers nationwide
• NSF's funds leveraged through partnerships with industry and government
• I/UCRCs have greater than 80% success rates

For more information, visit the NSF's website.

Status Quo

"The committer recommends that representatives from relevant government agencies,the aerospace industry, including the emerging private sector and the academic community work together to develop a coordinated national strategy to ensure an effective aerospace workforce ecosystem."

- Building a Better NASA Workforce:

Meeting the Workforce Needs for the

National Vision for Space Exploration,

THE NATIONAL ACADEMIC PRESS, 2O07