Space Technology and Research
I2 Strategic Services, LLC (i2 SSL) is a wholly owned subsidiary of the i2M Corporation and is a sister company of Imprimis, Inc. i2 SSL has been supporting the United States Air Force Academy’s space technology and space situational awareness research programs since 2008. I2 SSL has strong capability in space technology research and innovation having designed and built a variety of payloads and sensors that have flown on a number of satellites. This has allowed for extensive data capture, monitoring and analysis vital to the future of space exploration and situational awareness.
Space Physics and Atmospheric Research (SPARC)
i2 SSL currently supports research groups at the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) developing next generation nano-satellite systems, sub-systems, components, and sensors.
The main goals of the research programs are to study upper atmospheric processes, demonstrate proof of concept for emerging technologies, and increase space situational awareness.
This research includes designing, building, and operating:
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Plasma sensors on the International Space Station (ISS) and other satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). The measured ionospheric density and temperature provide valuable in-situ space weather measurements and potentially damaging spacecraft frame charging can be characterized.
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Radiation dosimeters and detectors on the ISS, in LEO, and in Geostationary Orbit (GEO), provide measurements that have aided in hardware radiation-induced failure analysis and have provided the first observations in GEO in a previously unmeasured energy range of high energy electrons.
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Neuromorphic | event-based sensors observing lightning activity in the troposphere from the ground, from high altitude balloons, and from space. The experiments yield high time resolution data at much lower data volumes than traditional high speed cameras.
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i2 SSL has designed, built, and operated 2 free-flyer satellite experiments and 14 hosted payload experiments since 2009.
Center Space Situational Awareness and Research (CSSAR)
i2 SSL also supports USAFA’s Center for Space Situational Awareness Research (CSSAR) which maintains and operates a global network of twelve 0.5-meter optical Ritchey-Chretien (f/8) robotic telescopes dedicated to space situational awareness research. Our scientists are supporting the deployment and installation of instrumentation upgrades for each telescope to improve upon and expand the network’s science capabilities.
They are also pioneering new methods of satellite identification and classification using the latest artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies with optical spectro-photometric and spectro-polarimetric data from the Falcon Telescope Network.
< Colorado Mesa University (CMU) Grand Mesa Observatory Falcon Telescope Upgrade
The science objectives of this research are:
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- Non-resolved satellite characterization and identification through simultaneous slit-less spectroscopy, polarimetry, and broadband photometry
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- Astrophysical studies of exoplanets and high-energy transients.
About Our Projects
Imprimis (i2) has strong technical capability in space technology having designed and built a variety of payloads that have flown on the ISS. The capability also includes sensors important to space situational awareness. Our major accomplishments include building early nano-satellite technology and placing technology research projects on the International Space Station and various satellite platforms.
Background on Some of our Projects:
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The Falcon Telescope Network
I2 Strategic Services, LLC supports the operation and maintenance of the US Air Force Academy’s Center for Space Situational Awareness Research global network of twelve 0.5-meter optical Ritchey-Chretien (f/8) robotic telescopes dedicated to space situational awareness. Each FTN site is hosted by a partnering institution. All sites are currently in the process of upgrade to improve upon and expand science capabilities.
Core Functions and Research
- Space Situational Awareness (SSA): The primary mission is to track satellites and debris in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) through Geostationary Orbit (GEO), particularly monitoring objects larger than (10 cm).
- Global Coverage: The network's worldwide distribution (including sites in Colorado, Pennsylvania, Australia, Chile, and Germany) allows for the continuous, simultaneous observation of objects from different geometries.
- Scientific Research: Used for exoplanet photometry, variable star monitoring, and "lucky imaging" of spacecraft.
- Upgrades: Recent upgrades include larger format CMOS cameras, dual filter wheels (photometric and spectrographic), and direct-drive mounts.
Partnership and Outreach
- Educational Collaboration: The FTN operates as a partnership between the USAFA and various educational institutions, providing students with hands-on access to professional-grade equipment.
- STEM Engagement: A portion of the observing time is dedicated to K-12 STEM outreach, allowing schools to submit observational requests for educational purposes.
Network Locations (Representative Examples)
- USAFA/Farish (Colorado): Primary hub.
- Penn State University: Partner site.
- Gravity Discovery Centre (Australia): International partner.
- University of Western Australia: Partner site
Accomplishments
2024 R&D 100 AWARD
R&D 100 Winners for 2024 are announced - Research & Development World (rdworldonline.com)
By Paul Heney | August 8, 2024
The official 2024 R&D 100 Awards have been announced by R&D World. This renowned worldwide science and innovation competition, celebrating its 62nd year, received entries from 16 different countries and regions. This year’s esteemed judging panel included 56 well-respected industry professionals from across the world.
R&D 100 Award Winners Archive - Research & Development World
The Winners are listed by category, and then alphabetically by submission name, and include primary submitting organizations and then co-developing organizations, as provided to R&D World.
R&D World - R&D 100 Winners for 2024
R&D 100 Winners for 2024
By Paul Heney | January 17, 2024
“Los Alamos National Laboratory co-developed with the USAF Academy/i2 Strategic Services, LLC - Compact Space Plasma Analyzer”
NASA 2022 Agency Honor Awards Ceremony
Three Members of DFPM/SPARC were honored at the 2022 NASA Agency Honor
Awards Ceremony at the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas on
Tuesday 16th May 2023. Professor Matthew McHarg and Dr. Richard Balthazor (i2 Strategic Services, LLC),and Capt. Hayden Richards (formerly USAFA/DFEM) are members of the Space Test Program Houston 7 (STP H7) and H8 Payload Team.
The award is "for outstanding perseverance through concurrent integration of two external payloads by a single development team, resulting in successful launch on the SpaceX-24 ISS mission." The DFPM/SPARC Falcon Neuro experiment is now in its second year of operations on-orbit on the ISS.
2022 AND 2023 USAFA FALCON RESEARCH TEAM OF THE YEAR
Each year the Dean of Faculty of the US Air Force Academy selects one of the 26 different research centers at USAFA for an award for outstanding research and cadet support performed. Both awards were for FALCON Neuro and general EBS Camera Research which engaged dozens of cadets from different majors in capstone courses and research opportunities. (shown in photo – i2 Strategic Services Sr. Mechanical Engineer Mr. Jake Stauffer and Dr. John Williams, Sr. Physicist)
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