Octant Technologies - Application

Octant Technologies' engineers have experience in implementing real-world problems with phenomenal success. Read the stories below to find out more about these exciting projects!

XSS-11 Micro Satellite Program
In 2001 AFRL awarded Lockheed Martin Space Systems (LM) a contract to design, build, and flight demonstrate the Experimental Satellite System (XSS-11) micro-satellite for autonomous on-orbit operations.

As part of Lockheed's team, Octant Technologies has been responsible for the design & development of the onboard guidance, navigation, and control (GN&C), flight software development, flight software integration and test, ground support software, and mission simulator for this experimental satellite.

After completion of the the development phase of the satellite, AFRL successfully launched the XSS-11 satellite in April 2005 and the satellite is currently in orbit.

Draper Laboratory, Science Application International Corporation (SAIC), and Broad Reach Engineering are other LM team members on this project.

XSS-10 Micro Satellite Program
Automated flight navigation, vehicle inspection and rendezvous demonstrate a new era of space technology in this experimental mission. Under contract to the USAFRL, Octant provides guidance, navigation and flight code design, processor-in-the-loop testing, mission training simulators and command and telemetry ground systems.

AFRL's XSS-10 microsatllite was successfully launched in January 2003. The mission was a success and Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) 's XSS-10 team earned national recognition.

Octant was responsible for the GN&C, flight software development and integration as well as ground support software, and mission simulator of this experimental satellite.

Boeing and Science Application International Corporation (SAIC) were other AFRL team members on this project.

MSTI Flight Control and Test
Beginning in 1990, the engineering team at Octant began an ambitious adventure to develop a new series of technology demonstration satellites. Dubbed the Miniature Sensor Technology Integration (MSTI) program, each vehicle would progressively evaluate more sophisticated sensor technologies for the US Department of Defense.

IUS Telemetry Simulator
Operational satellite training simulator installed at satellite control facility. Produces IUS, selected space shuttle and remote tracking station telemetry data. Simulation operator interface for the designation of flight modes and anomoly injection to test operational performance and procedures.

Autonomous Unmanned Aircraft Ground Control and Simulation
Under contract to Naval Air Warfare Center (NAWC) Advanced Technology Test Team (ATTT) at China Lake, Octant has been developing a Vehicle Control and Simulation System (VCSS) to enhance ground control of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) through use of flight visualization and concurrent real-time mission simulation.

Star Tracker Algorithm Development
As an SAIC team member, Octant aided SAIC on their hardened star tracker development project. This work was sponsored by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency. Our Centroid-In/Quaternion-Out attitude determination module was one of the enabling technologies.

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