Plug and Play Satellite

The Air Force Research Laboratory’s Space Vehicles Electronics Branch has developed key Plug-and-Play technologies for use on tactical and larger satellites. The goal is to rapidly acquire and field capabilities to accommodate the growing rapid-response needs of the warfighter. The building of satellites has traditionally been a very labor intensive operation with some estimating that 85 percent of total cost is due to labor. To demonstrate the potential of standardization and modularity, the Branch built a fully flight-qualified PnP satellite. The goal of the PnPSat program is to substitute open interface standards (such as Space Plug-and-Play Avionics, or SPA) for proprietary custom interfaces to dramatically reduce the labor required to design, build, test and operate satellites. The PnP program supports the realization of truly responsive space from every aspect of spacecraft design, including hardware, software, mission design tools, modeling and creation of open standards. Benefits Quick assemby Customizable Reduction of labor Interoperability hardware and software