Sierra Lobo provides a broad range of engineering and scientific capabilities. These services are comprised of various engineering disciplines that include space systems engineering, test engineering & design, R&D engineering, modeling & analysis, and related software development. Our engineers, scientists and researchers also have experience that encompasses the research, design, analysis, fabrication, build-up, assembly, installation, integration, and operation of complex hardware and systems. Illustrated below are examples of some of the multi-disciplinary engineering services we provide. Please contact us directly if you require additional information.
MECHANICAL HARDWARE ENGINEERING
SLI supported NASA GRC in the development of an on-orbit, adaptable software-defined radio/STRS-based facility
Communications, Navigation, and Networking reConfigurable Testbed (CoNNeCT)
to conduct a suite of experiments to advance the software-defined radio STRS standards. We helped translate
requirements into electronic components; designed and fabricated them; developed test sets for testing and integrating
them; and delivered the components, test set, dish, and Pelican case to GSFC. We collect data on system performance
and component performance in the simulation of spacecraft-to-ground and ground-to-spacecraft communications. SLI
created a fiber connection to CoNNeCT to simulate communications with the TDRSS, the NASA communications
satellite constellation. We designed and built circuit boards, a test and training set enabling a user to train themselves
using simulation boxes, before interfacing with the TDRSS satellites. In addition, we developed electro-mechanical
deployable solar arrays for the program.
COMBUSTION AND COMBUSTION MANAGEMENT
Combustion stability of injector interaction with chamber acoustics
Liquid Rocket Engine Modeling and Simulation
Space simulation modeling; diffusers, condensers and coolers, ejectors
TOOLS:
Rocets, CEA, COMSOL, CFD, DaDiSP, Winplot, MATLAB, FEA, Refprop, RP1prop,
SolidWorks, GEMS, ALREST/AHFM, LESLIE
Combustion instability analysis
MODELING & ANALYSIS
Modeling & Simulation
Thermal Analysis
Computational Fluid Dynamics
Structural Analysis
Electronic Circuit Analysis
High-speed DAQ and Video Simulation
Optical Analysis
Combustion Analysis
Solid Modeling
ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
SLI employees support methods of electrical engineering for test set-up and execution for four large
James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) FAC290 Thermal Vacuum Tests, a multitude of TV tests in FAC238.
FAC225 for the Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission (MMS), Atmospheric Laboratory Applications and
Science (ATLAS), Neutron Start Interior Composition Explorer (NICER), Satellite Servicing Capabilities
Office (SSCO), Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation Lidar (GEDI), and the Wide Field Infrared
Survey Telescope (WFIRST).
Left: ETIS II Team
in front of the MMS
Top Right: JWST at GSFC
Bottom Right: NISAR
Below: GEDI
OPTICAL ENGINEERING
Tolerance & manufacturability analysis
Integrated opto-mechanical analysis
Mechanism design, fabrication, assembly & test (filter wheel, focus mechanism, etc.)
Hyperspectral imager design & analysis
Raman instrument design & analysis
Laser communications terminal design & analysis
Optical bench structure design
Optical System Assembly & Integration
Ray tracing & prescription development
TOOLS:
ZEMAX, FRED, Siemens NX, SolidWorks, AutoCAD
STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING
FEA of creep/fatigue life assessments
Nonlinear FEA of variable camber compliant wing mechanisms and wing skins
Conduct analyses and participate in failure investigation boards for spacecraft structure novelties
Aerospace GSE and transportation structures and pressure systems
Spacecraft structural and aeroelastic analysis for re-entry models
Airworthiness verification for rotor and fixed-wing research aircraft
Failsafe and safe life analyses for fracture critical flight parts
Static/dynamic and real-time synthetic visualization/simulation of flight systems
Analysis of flight loads on spacecraft systems
TOOLS:
Thermal Desktop Suite, Sinda/Fluint, PATRAN, NASGRO, FLAGRO,
NASTRAN, ANSYS, ALGOR, and COMSOL Multiphysics
THERMAL, FLUIDS, AND CRYOGENIC ENGINEERING
Thermoacoustic modeling
Thermal modeling for optics
Multilayer Insulation System (MLI)
Precision calorimetry
Electronics packaging design and analysis
Cryocooler development, thermal link and isolator analysis, active and passive space insulation systems
Thermal chamber design
Spacecraft & payload systems analysis
Spacecraft orbital heating and component thermal assessment
TOOLS:
Delta E, in-house software, COMSOL Multiphysics, Thermal Desktop Suite, NX TMG
MATERIALS ENGINEERING
performance and testing disciplines
Moisture Diffusion in Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (MMRTG)
Thermal Protection System materials development and inspection processes
Modeling and ground testing of hypersonic vehicle materials
Materials modeling, heat shield instrumentation, and test programs for the
Mars Science Laboratory (MSL)
Developed a set of requirements for the Non-Destructive Evaluation (NDE) of each Orion
heat shield architectures to ensure manufacturing quality and flight readiness
COMSOL Multiphysics, FIAT (Fully Implicit Ablation and Thermal)
Extensive analytical and experimental experience in both high temperature materials
NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory
Heatshield-Phenolic Impregnated
Carbon Ablator (PICA) material
OMAX Water Knife multi-axis with Tilt
and Contour Controlled head
TOOLS:
SLI developed the plant system, hazards analysis, Logic of Operations, and Standard Operating Procedures for the 33,000 gal LH2 vessel that houses the Linde Model LR1620 refrigerator system.
Multi-disciplinary Engineering
- Structural Engineering
- Aerospace Engineering
- Fluids and Thermal Engineering
- Chemical Engineering
- Electrical and Electronics Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Electro-Mechanical Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Specialized Data Acquisition and Control Systems
Engineering-Related Services
- Program Management
Electronic assemblies recently completed at the SLI TDEC facility
- Systems Engineering
- Advisory Assistance Services
- Integration and Test
- Operations, Maintenance, and Sustainment
Specialized Engineering and Fabrication Skills
- Liquid and Gas Process System Design, Fabrication, Installation, and Checkout
- Thermal-Flow, Heat Transfer and Stress Analysis
- Piping and Pipe-Support Design, Fabrication, Installation
- Design of Control Systems for Hazardous Classifications
- PLC and HMI Programming
- Specifications for Hardware
Analog, Digital & Mixed-Signal PWB/PWA design, analysis, fab, assembly, test and integration
- Instrumentation for Process Systems
- Complex Welding, Tubing, Wiring
- Oxygen-Clean Systems
- Systems Engineering and Validation of Complex Systems
- Vacuum System Design, Fabrication, Installation, and Checkout
- Systems Integration Capabilities
- Project Management: Cost and Schedule
- Documentation and Configuration Control System: ISO Certified
