Research Grant Awards

Space-based GMTI/AMTI Payload Development

We have been awarded a development contract under the Rapid Innovation Fund to develop a space-based GMTI/AMTI antenna leveraging MMA’s deployable truss technology to deploy and provide a stable structure for a linear feed and tensioned parabolic reflector surface.

Global L-Band Active/Passive Observatory for Water Cycle Studies

Also knows as GLOWS, this NASA Phase III project is a large-scale, low-frequency antenna for soil moisture and related earth science, replacing and continuing the data collection realized by the SMAP mission. MMA’s award will validate the packaging and performance of a compact radiometer and radar instrument leveraging a high-compaction RF aperture.

Crossed-Dipole Deployable Membrane Antenna (CDMA)

This BAA award is for an electronically steerable, membrane-based dipole array offering roughly an order of magnitude more gain (TBR) than current deployable antenna systems, that enables significantly more data transfer per orbit and increased RF payload capability.

P-band 1 meter x 1 meter Deployable Antenna for CubeSats

MMA has been awarded a P-Band Deployable Antenna for a CubeSat-based Signals Of Opportunity measurement mission. This effort, supported by NASA Advanced Component Technology (ACT) funding as well as an SBIR award, will demonstrate the viability of a boom-deployed antenna aperture packaged for CubeSat-form-factor space applications.

5-Meter X-Band T-DaHGR

Prior to this award, MMA developed a 1-meter T-DaHGR antenna under an AFRL SBIR. This follow-on is an X-Band antenna that scales the T-DaHGR to a 5-meter-class aperture suitable for SmallSat/ESPA class missions.

NASA Phase I SBIR for 4 M² High-Aspect Ratio X-Band Antenna for Small Satellites

This award supports funding to develop an offset deployed-feed, prime-fed architecture. The system uses passive reflectarray technology to electrically simulate the parabolic shape of a traditional reflector using a flat surface.

AFRL Phase I SBIR SpIDERNET

This award supports developing MMA’s Space In-situ Deployed Engagement Re-Entry (SpIDER) dragNET™ — or SpIDERNET™ — that incorporates an atmospheric drag membrane with an autonomous engage and deploy capability that requires no power after deployment.

Deployable Ku/Ka/W Tri-Band Cylindrical Parabolic Antenna

MMA is awarded a NASA Phase II SBIR to further develop a deployable composite shell cylindrical parabolic antenna aimed at tri-band applications of 13GHz, 35GHz, and 94GHz for weather monitoring missions.

AFRL eHaWK Transition

NASA Phase I SBIR for High Watts Per Kilogram, Advanced integration and Heat Management Solar Array Technology (HaWK-AIHM)

MMA is awarded a NASA Phase I SBIR to develop a new innovation in small satellite deployable solar arrays for NASA missions, specifically targeting high reliability, simple and heritage-proven designs, that achieve high performance.

NASA Phase I Deployable Ka/W Dual Band Cylindrical Parabolic Antenna Including Feed Support Structure

MMA is awarded a NASA Phase I SBIR to develop a deployable high-frequency antenna that will enable future satellite missions with one-dimensional parabolic dual frequency RF apertures operating at 35 GHz and 94 GHz in sizes ranging from <2 to 32 square meters (4 meters x 8 meters) and larger.

Navy Phase I STTR Novel Nanosat Payloads for Naval Weather Needs

MMA is awarded a Navy Phase 1 STTR to develop an offset-fed reflectarray antenna, connected to a JPL-designed radiometer, and mounted on a spinning CubeSat. Intended to provide wide area coverage, our proposed system design uses the experience and know-how of our Georgia Tech partner and JPL collaborators.

AFRL Phase I SBIR Precision Spacecraft Instrumentation Boom

MMA was awarded a Phase I SBIR to develop a deployable boom for the smaller form factors inherent to SmallSat, CubeSats.

AFRL Phase II SBIR for Deployable High-Gain Reflectarray Antenna

The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is sponsoring the development of the Deployable High-Gain Reflectarray Antenna (“DaHGR”) antenna for future CubeSat and SmallSat missions.

AFRL Phase II SBIR fo Multi-functional Membrane De-orbit Module and Deployable High Gain Reflectarray

MMA was awarded a Phase II SBIR to develop a DoD Radio Frequency (RF) antenna system that can support higher performance missions.

NASA Phase I SBIR for Precision Mobile-Joint and Latching Technologies for Deployable Optical Systems

NASA has announced that MMA’s proposal for Precision Mobile-Joint and Latching Technologies for Deployable Optical Systems was selected for award of a Phase I SBIR contract.

AFRL Phase II SBIR for Large Deployable Telescope Components

On July 25, 2013 the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) awarded a Phase II SBIR contract to MMA Design for the design and development of Large Deployable Telescope Components.  Under the two year effort, MMA will develop a deployable sunshade for a 3-meter deployable optical system.

AFRL Phase I SBIR for Large Deployable Telescope Components

On October 30, 2012, the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) selected MMA’s proposal entitled Large Deployable Telescope Components for award of a Phase II SBIR.

AFRL SBIR Phase II for eHaWK NanoSat Solar Array

On June 4, 2012,  the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) awarded an SBIR Phase II contract for MMA’s eHaWK NanoSat Solar Array. MMA’s eHaWK Solar Array System will deliver two-axis tracking and state-of-the-art solar array performance to support future NanoSat high-powered missions.

USAFA FalconSAT-7 3U CubeSat Photon Sieve Deployable System

On April 25, 2012,  the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) awarded the FalconSAT-7 3U CubeSat Photon Sieve Deployable System to MMA. FalconSAT-7 will develop and fly Peregrine, the world’s first space-based membrane telescope.

AFRL Phase I SBIR A Modular High-Power Solar Array for NanoSats

MMA is awarded a grant to advance the state-of-the-art in Nanosat power systems by developing an Enhanced High Watts per Kilogram (eHaWK) Advanced Power and De-orbit Module (APDM) consisting of an innovative, deployable, two-wing solar array and de-orbit system combined with a bi-axis sun tracking gimbal assembly specifically designed for NanoSats.

NASA FDM-HaWK, A High Performance Compact Modular Solar Array

MMA wins an SBIR to develop a next generation, high-performance solar array with significant reduction in size and weight to support improved NASA mission capabilities at lower cost.

AFRL Phase II SBIR CubeSat Advanced Power and de-Orbit module

MMA is awarded a follow on grant to design, test and build the power and de-orbit module.

AFRL Phase I SBIR CubeSat Advanced Power and De-orbit Module

MMA Design is awarded an SBIR to develop a low cost, multi-functional Advanced Power and De-orbit System (APDM) for a 3U CubeSat.

AFRL Phase II SBIR Low-Cost De-Orbiting System

MMA  is awarded a follow on grand to design, analyze, produce and test a protoflight unit for a Low Cost De-orbiting System.

AFRL Phase I SBIR Low-Cost De-Orbiting System

MMA is awarded the development of a mechanical de-orbiting system, that can be attached to a DoD satellite asset as part of the initial mission planning, and provides a means to safely and cost effectively de-orbit a satellite.