CraigX Launch Scheduled for October 2019 on Cygnus Spacecraft

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (Craig Technologies PR) -– Craig Technologies Aerospace Solutions (Craig) is pleased to announce the upcoming launch of CraigX, their on-orbit external experimental facility hosted on the NanoRacks International Space Station External Platform (NREP). The mission is scheduled to launch in October2019 on the Northrop Grumman Antares rocket mission NG-12 under the NASA Commercial Resupply Services (CRS2) contract.

The CraigX Flight Test Platform (FTP) is designed to mount externally to the International Space Station (ISS) and promote electronics testing to raise Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) at a low cost and a reduced time frame. The interchangeable panel design minimizes hardware changes between missions while maximizing flexibility to accommodate customer requirements. Additive manufactured hardware is used internally to reduce manufacturing cost and schedule.

Some of the features include:

• Flight computer with a custom power distribution board capable of scheduling multiple payloads
• Data downlink and uplink availability to analyze data during missions with the option to modify operational software and test parameters while the payload is deployed
• 2TB onboard data storage
• Wake facing camera with limited streaming
• Two 2.4 in. spiral antennae (nadir and zenith facing)•GPS patch antenna for position data
• Volume: ~ 18U
• Payloads are not required to conform to standard CubeSat footprints
• Typical mission duration: 15-24 weeks

The first CraigX mission includes multiple payloads ranging from additive manufactured material sample exposure to software defined radio testing to a STEM thermal dissipation experiment. Mission 1 customers include Rincon Research, Quest Institute, Alfred University, Second Baptist School, Cobra Puma Golf, Explore.org, Genesis Dimensions, and Lamborghini in partnership with the Houston Methodist Research Institute.

In addition to CraigX, NG-12 will be carrying the DoD Space Test Satellite-4 (STPSat-4) which is made up of five distinct experiments from the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL), the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA), and the U.S. Navy. These experiments include Radio Frequency (RF) Module Tiles, the Modular Array Technology for Reconfigurable Spacecraft (MATRS) the Integrated Miniaturized Electrostatic Analyzer (iMESA), Navy Interferometric Star Tracker Experiment (NISTEx), and Nanosat Tracking Experiment (NTE).

STPSat-4 will be launched from the ISS using the Space Stations Integrated Kinetic Launcher for Orbital Payload Systems (SSIKLOPS). Craig currently provides turnkey services to manage and perform the work for integration and on-orbit operations of payloads using SSIKLOPS for both government and commercial customers. The SSIKLOPS platform robotically deploys satellites from the ISS and is designed to provide a method to transfer internally stowed satellites to the external environment.

Founded in 1999 by CEO Carol Craig, Craig Technologies (and subsidiaries) is a Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB), Economically Disadvantaged Woman-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB), Veteran Owned Small Business (VOSB), Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB) and a Hispanic Minority-Owned Small Business. Craig is ISO 9001:2015 and AS9100 Rev. D certified and ITAR compliant. Craig leads nationwide operations with associates in approximately 20 different states with Headquarters in Merritt Island, Florida and regional business offices in Texas and California.

Craig Technologies’ wide scope of engineering, technical and manufacturing solutions include Software Design/Development, Systems Engineering, Multidisciplinary Engineering, Training and Courseware Development, Modeling & Simulation, IT Support, Integrated Logistics Support, Satellite Payload Integration and Operations support, Wire/Fiber Cable Harness and Electronics Assembly, and Precision Machining, Fabrication and Assembly.

More information can be found at https://www.craigtechinc.com