NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, CA
Sierra Lobo (SLI) is one of three companies awarded the Multi-divisional Engineering, Design, Analysis Lab-wide Support (MEDALS) subcontract for NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, CA. JPL is managed by the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) for NASA. SLI performs tasks and provides services in support of non-flight and flight areas of engineering, technology development, hardware development, test development, and operations support. Tasks span both formulation and flight development activities and include efforts relating to requirements definition, concept definition, tradeoff studies, hardware design, modeling, simulation, analysis, review support, mechanical and electrical fabrication, inspection, assembly and integration, and technical-documentation support. The subcontract period of performance is five years.
Our partner, Orbital ATK, brings diverse experience providing engineering, technology development and hardware development through engineering services to JPL and NASA. Headquartered in Dulles, Virginia, Orbital ATK offers an array of highly specialized engineering services, scientific research, and aerospace expertise. Orbital ATK has an 18-year history of providing engineering services to the Engineering and Science Directorate at JPL.
Our other partner, Stellar Solutions, Inc., a leader in government and commercial aerospace programs, brings a cadre of qualified personnel holding the necessary security clearances and who support the areas of systems engineering and mission support. Their experienced engineers and scientists provide expertise through all phases of advanced engineering projects, from planning, development, instrument and payload integration, to mission launch and operation.
Systems Engineering
The SLI Team brings over 18 years of experience gained by supporting JPL on a variety of projects from Flight Systems to Technology Demonstration efforts to the Multi-divisional Engineering, Design, Analysis Lab-wide Support (MEDALS) contract.
Capabilities
- Conceptual design, feasibility studies, design reviews, margin/budget management, specification development/review, interface definition/control, & technology validation
Tools
- Application of a comprehensive Systems suite of requirements, modeling, design, simulation, CONOPS, & analysis tools
- DOORS, NX Teamcenter Systems Engineering, custom Excel forms
- Model Based Systems Engineering
- Siemens NX CAD & Analysis
- SolidWorks, Autodesk MDT & AutoCAD, 3D Studio Max
- STK, Adams, FEMAP
- TMG, Thermal Desktop, SINDA
Mechanical Hardware
The SLI Team brings over 18 years of experience gained by supporting JPL on a variety of projects from Flight Systems to Technology Demonstration efforts to the Multi-divisional Engineering, Design, Analysis Lab-wide Support (MEDALS) contract.
Capabilities
- Mechanical structure development
- Deployment mechanism development
- Mechanical hardware development
- Ground Support Equipment (GSE) design
- Mechanical test execution & support
Tools
- Siemens NX
- SolidWorks
- AutoCAD (Inventor)
- Creo (Pro/E)
- Siemens Teamcenter Engineering
- Product Data Management
- Application Administration
- CAESAR
Projects
Microwave Radiometers
- Lead multi-disciplinary team in developing mechanical housing for breadboard, engineering and flight models for the Juno MWR Receiver, COWVR Receiver, NISAR transmit/receive module, & Jason-3 microwave radiometer
Mars Science Laboratory
- Designed all special tooling used to fabricate the Rover and Cruise-stage heat rejection system
Moon Mineralogy Mapper and MATMOS
- Lead designer in charge of the instrument passive cooled
- Designed parabolic reflectors to direct energy to space
Planck Sorption Cooler
- Supported the design, fabrication, & integration efforts for ten years
- Efforts successfully culminated in providing spacecraft pre-cooling for the High Frequency Instrument & the primary cooling for the Low Frequency Instrument
Spectral and Photometric Imaging Receiver
- Designed thermal isolation mount for the Bolometer detector support
Optical Systems
Optical System Design/Opto-Mechanical Design: The SLI Team brings over 18 years of experience gained by supporting JPL on a variety of projects from Flight Systems to Technology Demonstration efforts to the Multi-divisional Engineering, Design, Analysis Lab-wide Support (MEDALS) contract.
Capabilities
- Optical Design & Optical Analysis
- Optical ray trace & prescription development
- Optical tolerance analysis/manufacturability
- Optical bench structure design
- Filter-wheel & focus mechanism design
- Integrated opto-mechanical analysis
- Opto-mechanical mechanism design, fabrication, assembly & test
- Laser comm. terminal design & analysis
- Hyperspectral imager design & analysis
- Raman instrument design & analysis
Tools
- Siemens NX
- SolidWorks
- AutoCAD
- ZEMAX
- FRED
Projects
Moon Mineralogy Mapper
- Managed all aspects of the procurement and fabrication of the proto-flight/GSE mechanical & optical components
- Designed the opto-mechanical system from a “clean-sheet” & delivered a flight instrument on-time in less than two years
- Optical performance & opto-mechanical tolerance analysis of the hyperspectral instrument
- Designed a fiber-optic based in-line metrology tool for optimizing focal-plane alignment during thermal-vacuum tests
- Supported JPL I&T efforts using JPL processes
Space Interferometry Mission
- Successful optical design & opto-mechanical tolerancing of a multi-laser polarization-preserving fiber-coupled metrology system for SIM
Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter-Optical Navigation Camera
- Opto-mechanical design effort took the camera from initial concept through final flight built. Camera exceeded all operational performance requirements
Electronics Design
Electronics Design and Performance Analysis: The SLI Team brings over 18 years of experience gained by supporting JPL on a variety of projects from Flight Systems to Technology Demonstration efforts to the Multi-divisional Engineering, Design, Analysis Lab-wide Support (MEDALS) contract.
Capabilities
- Design
- Circuit Simulation & Analysis
(AC/DC/Transient) - Thermal, Structural & Vibration Analysis
- Worst-Case Analysis & Magnetic Sim.
- Circuit Simulation & Analysis
- Schematic Capture/PCB Layout
- High Voltage/High Current
- Analog
- Precision Data Acquisition
- High Channel Count
- Instrumentation Front Ends
- Power & power management
- Digital
- FPGA/Microcontroller/CPLD
- High speed/low power
- IP & software
Projects
Mars Science Laboratory Descent Power and Analog Module (DPAM) Simulator
- Thermal protection system Sensor Support Electronics (SSE) for NASA ARC. An integrated, turnkey system supporting 16 heatshield PRT/recession sensors, 12 Type K and Type R thermocouples and 16 analog inputs. Compatible with operation in high-EMI environment
Cryogenic Orbital Testbed Avionics
- Design, analysis, IP development, fabrication, assembly and testing of a conduction cooled, radiation-tolerant, FPGA-based cryogenic fluid sensing system for a long-duration LEO experiment sponsored by NASA KSC
NASA GRC Zero-Gravity Facility Experiment Power Distribution and Igniter Systems
- A custom, vacuum-compatible, small-footprint precision igniter system designed to maximize combustion experiment repeatability in a simulated zero-gravity environment and exposed to high deceleration loads. Accompanied by a custom 14-output battery-powered distribution system for drop tower carrier and experiment subsystem payloads for use in the same environment
Electronic Packaging
Electronics Packaging and Cable/Harness Engineering: The SLI Team brings over 18 years of experience gained by supporting JPL on a variety of projects from Flight Systems to Technology Demonstration efforts to the Multi-divisional Engineering, Design, Analysis Lab-wide Support (MEDALS) contract.
Capabilities
- RF, high voltage, & hybrid microelectronics packaging
- PWB design & PCB fabrication
- Electronic chassis design
- Electronic assembly design
- Thermal and structural analysis of electronic packages
- Harness design
- Cable/harness fabrication & test support
Tools
- Siemens NX
- SolidWorks
- AutoCAD (Inventor)
- Altium Designer
- Siemens Teamcenter Engineering
- Creo (Pro/E)
Projects
CheMin
- Mechanical design of all integrated Instrument electrical board housings
- Layout of Instrument boards
- Thermal and Structural analysis of entire Instrument
SWOT
- Mechanical design of the Low and High Frequency assemblies including RF hybrid circuit packaging
Moon Mineralogy Mapper
- Flight electronics packaging for the electronic control unit
Mars Science Laboratory
- Managed more than 20 engineers and designers responsible for the Mars Rover electronics flight packaging and PCB design
RF flight packaging design for the decent stage Transmit and Receive Module (TRM) and Power Distribution Unit (PDU)
Designed Rover cable support/thermal isolation bracket. Directed the Decent Stage installation of propulsion line and heaters. Oversaw cabling, connector, heat insulation on all Rover mobility, antenna, and door actuators
Structural and Thermal
Structural Analysis and Thermal Engineering: The SLI Team brings over 18 years of experience gained by supporting JPL on a variety of projects from Flight Systems to Technology Demonstration efforts to the Multi-divisional Engineering, Design, Analysis Lab-wide Support (MEDALS) contract.
Capabilities
- Finite element modeling
- Stress, load, & dynamics analysis
- Normal modes
- Random and sine vibration, fatigue
- Opto-mechanical analysis
- Structural test development & planning
- Thermal hardware design & development
- Spacecraft & payload systems thermal analysis
Tools
- Siemens NX
- FEMAP
- NX NASTRAN
- MSC NASTRAN
- NX/TMG
- SINDA
- COMSOL
- PTC Mathcad
- NASGRO
- CAESAR
- Creo (Simulate)
- Thermal Desktop (RadCAD & FloCAD)
Projects
Juno
- Performed static, thermal, & acoustic structural assessment of the Juno A1 and A2 composite panels
CheMin
- Stress analysis & evaluation of CCD and X-Ray source deflection for various thermal loads & operating conditions
- Lead Thermal Design Engineer for the instrument, performed unit-level thermal analyses & trade studies to finalize the thermal design of the flight hardware currently operating
Mars Science Laboratory
- Complete stress analysis of MSL Rotation Cradle & Spacecraft Assembly Rotation Fixture (SCARF)
- Thermal analysis of the MSL Cruise Phase configuration
Moon Mineralogy Mapper
- Structural analysis of the instrument mirrors under static & thermal loads. Analysis iteration of base plate & flexible mounting brackets to optimize design & meet stress and frequency requirements
- Thermal analysis & performance characterization of the optical bench & sized radiators
Propulsion Engineering
Propulsion Engineering: The SLI Team brings engineering experience gained by supporting customers on a variety of projects from Flight Systems to Technology Demonstration efforts to the Multi-divisional Engineering, Design, Analysis Lab-wide Support (MEDALS) contract.
Capabilities
- System Design
- Design & Simulation: 0-D level up through a multidisciplinary 3-D level
- Technology Trade Studies: hypergolic storable propellants including ignition systems, energy release, compatibilities, supply, & sources
- Component Sizing & Procurement
- Pump, valve, piping, & other component sizing
- Integration & Test Support
- Support of space propulsion system designs and trade studies; liquid engine systems; cryogenic and non-cryogenic propellant systems; electric propulsion; rocket-based combined-cycle propulsion systems; and advanced propulsion systems
Projects
- Developed a parametric Sinaps model of the AFRL (Edwards) Test Stand LOX & RP process systems
- Provide research & engineering services to support the AFRL Propulsion Directorate in the development of advanced rocket propulsion technology and the transition into space and missile propulsion systems and their associated vehicle and mission systems
- Supported the Hydrocarbon Boost (HCB) Technology Demonstrator program to develop critical technologies that reduce the risk in developing a long-life liquid oxygen/kerosene oxygen-rich staged combustion booster engine
- Supported the government/industry Integrated High Payoff Rocket Propulsion Technology (IHPRPT) initiative, focusing on long-term technical challenges & three critical components: Ox-Rich PreBurner, TurboPump Assembly, & the Thrust Chamber Assembly
- Research and Technologies for Aerospace Propulsion Systems 2 (RTAPS2) prime contract at NASA's Glenn Research Center (GRC) in the area of Space Propulsion
RF Engineering
Radio-frequency (RF) Engineering: The SLI Team brings engineering experience gained by supporting customers on a variety of projects from Flight Systems to Technology Demonstration efforts to the Multi-divisional Engineering, Design, Analysis Lab-wide Support (MEDALS) contract.
Capabilities
- Design, architect, analyze, implement & test RF communications subsystems for telemetry & command or high data rate applications
- Design, build, & test antennas from S to Ka band
- Subcontractor oversight for key component procurements
Tools
- MathWorks MATLAB & Simulink
- ANSYS HFSS, AGI STK
- TICRA GRASP & POS
- Remcom XGtd
- Mician Microwave Wizard
- LLNL NEC/GNEC
- AWR (NI) Microwave Office
- In-house tools for antenna optimization
Projects
- Designed, analyzed, implemented, & tested the RF Communications subsystem for use with TDRSS & NEN/USN (e.g., OCO-2, NuSTAR, Cygnus) & DSN (e.g., DAWN, TESS). Subcontractor oversight including requirements definition & test evaluation for major active components such as transponders
- Designed, analyzed, fabricated & tested in-house S-band monofilar & quadrifilar antennas (e.g., OCO-2, TESS, ICESat-2) & X-band high gain patch array (e.g., OCO-2)
- Designed, analyzed & tested Ka-band axially displaced elliptical high gain antenna (e.g., TESS). Implemented rapid prototyping using additive manufacturing in both metal & plated thermoplastic for engineering model demonstration RF tests of feed horn & polarizer
- Modeled spacecraft-level antenna pattern complete with spacecraft-induced multipath effects from two passively combined hemispherical antennas (e.g., Cygnus)
- Developed link budget tools to enable complete mission dynamic link analysis for proximity communications (e.g., Cygnus)
Cryogenics Engineering
Cryogenics Engineering: The SLI Team brings over 18 years of experience gained by supporting JPL on a variety of projects from Flight Systems to Technology Demonstration efforts to the Multi-divisional Engineering, Design, Analysis Lab-wide Support (MEDALS) contract.
Capabilities
- Fluid dynamics, heat transfer
- Zero-gravity thermal/fluid models
- Material selection & compatibility
- Liquid level monitoring/temp. stratification
- Two-phase flow
- Low-gravity propellant management devices
- Multi-layer insulation modeling & fabrication
- Low conductivity structural systems
- Cryocoolers, solar shading
- Radiation shields, pumps
Tools
- Creo (Pro/E)
- AutoCAD (Inventor)
- Thermal Desktop
- Sinda/Fluint
- COMSOL Multiphysics (CFD)
- FLOW-3D
Projects
- PCFS/EPCS - Propellant Conditioning Systems
- Provided customized design, analysis, & fabrication of complex cryogenic test systems used for precision temperature control of cryogenic propellants at specific pressure & flow ranges. This includes both cryogenic gases as well as sub-cooled liquids (GO2, LO2, and LCH4)
- C7VS - Cryogenic Insulation Calorimeter
- Provided customized design & analysis of state-of-the-art, large-scale calorimeter to measure the effectiveness of multi-layer insulation (MLI) packages at specific, precisely-controlled cryogenic temperatures
- INP1 - Undersea Fuel Cell Power Systems
- Developed the capability to provide gaseous oxygen & hydrogen via controlled vaporization of ultrapure cryogenic liquid in dewars. Testing was conducted at SLI’s Hydrogen Test Facility which allowed LOX and LH2 dewars to be refilled
- LZBO - Liquid Oxygen Zero Boil-off Storage
- Developed a liquid oxygen thermal management test system that was the first to achieve zero boil-off, using LN2 in place of LOX, in tests at NASA GRC’s SMIRF
Guidance and Navigation
Guidance, Navigation, and Control Services: The SLI Team brings over 18 years of experience gained by supporting JPL on a variety of projects from Flight Systems to Technology Demonstration efforts to the Multi-divisional Engineering, Design, Analysis Lab-wide Support (MEDALS) contract.
Capabilities
- Design, analysis, attitude determination and estimation, ACS simulations, multi-body dynamics analyses and simulations, including separation mechanism kinematics, hardware/software specifications and interfaces, GN&C algorithm development, technical monitoring
Tools
- MathWorks MATLAB & Simulink
- MathWorks Real-time Workshop for GNC flight code generation
- AGI STK for mission analyses
- LabVIEW for real-time dynamic simulators
- In-house tools for modeling & analyses
Projects
Dawn Asteroid Rendezvous Spacecraft
- Designed, analyzed, implemented, & tested the GN&C subsystem
- Provided (and still providing) operations support since launch in September 2007
- Designed a thrust vector control system for low-thrust ion engines, one of the first applications of such a design on an interplanetary spacecraft
- Designed a gyro-less attitude determination system, one of the first applications of such a design on an interplanetary spacecraft
- Designed an attitude steering algorithm to maintain simultaneous asteroid pointing & solar array Sun pointing
- Designed, implemented, tested, & uploaded to the spacecraft flight software a hybrid wheel-thruster control system after the spacecraft experienced a wheel failure during the cruise to Vesta
Dawn Spacecraft Tools
- Developed a high-fidelity hybrid simulation that can be run in either an all-software or hardware-in-the-loop mode for GN&C flight software
- Delivered to JPL a flight system test bed based on this simulation
Contamination Control
Contamination Control Services: The SLI Team brings over 18 years of experience gained by supporting JPL on a variety of projects from Flight Systems to Technology Demonstration efforts to the Multi-divisional Engineering, Design, Analysis Lab-wide Support (MEDALS) contract.
Capabilities
- Design
- Analysis
- Modeling
- In-situ testing for particulate and molecular contamination at all levels of assembly
- FTIR and Mass Spec for in-house analysis
Tools
- Multiple Cleanroom facilities in Pasadena, Ohio, and Maryland
- COMSOL (CFD and Chemistry Extensions)
- Internal processes & procedures for H20 mitigation in cryogenic & vacuum environments
- 5S/FOD workmanship program included in our AS9100 scope
Projects
Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) Centric Contamination Tiger Team
- Supported Materials Screening
- Materials Testing and Evaluation
- Design Support
Organic Check Material Development
- Evaluated Base Matrix Materials for Organic Cleanliness
- Defined Concept of Blank Sample
- Identified Materials for Blank
- Developed Material Doping Concept
- Verified Material Doping Concept
Program Panel Review Support
- JPL Mars 2020 Mars Sample Return Organic Contamination Panel
- NASA Mars Sample Return Technology Development Panel