[Proposal setup] Proposal title
Please provide your proposal title
Satellite Hardware R&D for Cardano & Decentralized Data Node
[Proposal Summary] Budget Information
Enter the amount of funding you are requesting in ADA
100000
[Proposal Summary] Time
Please specify how many months you expect your project to last
9
[Proposal Summary] Translation Information
Please indicate if your proposal has been auto-translated
No
Original Language
en
[Proposal Summary] Problem Statement
What is the problem you want to solve?
Extend Cardano node availability and decentralized data storage to orbit.
[Proposal Summary] Supporting Documentation
Supporting links
[Proposal Summary] Project Dependencies
Does your project have any dependencies on other organizations, technical or otherwise?
No
Describe any dependencies or write 'No dependencies'
No dependencies
[Proposal Summary] Project Open Source
Will your project's outputs be fully open source?
Yes
License and Additional Information
NASA Open Source Agreement (NOSA) - Export Restrictions May Apply
[Theme Selection] Theme
Please choose the most relevant theme and tag related to the outcomes of your proposal.
Infrastructure
[Campaign Category] Category Questions
Describe what makes your idea innovative compared to what has been previously funded (whether by you or others).
Nobody has yet to deliver blockchain infrstructure or decentralized data storage to orbit. We're deviating from the software based proposals into deep hardware while still remaining within the confines of Cardano's core mission.
Describe what your prototype or MVP will demonstrate, and where it can be accessed.
Maxium grant funding is insufficient to generate a full MVP satellite, but we can at least create MVPs of the Attitude Determination and Control System and Computer system which in the context of the full satellite make up a majority of the R&D effort. Additionally the documents produced will outline the path for a feasible constellation of Cardano node satellites.
Describe realistic measures of success, ideally with on-chain metrics.
The ultimate metric of success would be accessibility of a Cardano node from space as well as decentralized data availability. In the scope of this grant, success will measured with a feasible approach clearly shown to achieving this along with experiments and simulations.
[Your Project and Solution] Solution
Please describe your proposed solution and how it addresses the problem
I want to be very clear that 100k ADA is not enough to get 1 satellite into orbit. The purpose of this grant request is to provide the initial funding to:
- Clearly define a feasible methodology to make Cardano and decentralized data storage infrastructure available from orbit
- Initial design and development of system architecture and various hardware components
- Derisk the integrated technologies to eventually serve Cardano infrastructure and decentralized data storage in space.
What this project is NOT:
- A full satellite constellation
- A launched and operational satellite
The end goal here is a full Starlink-like or GPS/GLONASS constellation and this grant will help provide the framework and path forward to enable that.
[Your Project and Solution] Impact
Please define the positive impact your project will have on the wider Cardano community
- Will enable the first blockchain node to serve users from space
- Will enable the first decentralized data node to serve users from space
- Will extend Cardano node availability much like Starlink has extended internet availibility
[Your Project and Solution] Capabilities & Feasibility
What is your capability to deliver your project with high levels of trust and accountability? How do you intend to validate if your approach is feasible?
- Extensive experience in spacecraft R&D
- Experience in operating Cardano nodes
- Access to test facilities
- Access to top aerospace engineering university faculty, students, and labs
- Access to NASA
[Milestones] Project Milestones
Milestone Title
Develop a Mission Conops
Milestone Outputs
- Orbital constellation design
- Latency charecterization
- Preliminary system requirements set
- deltaV budget
- satellite bus configuration
- mass, volume, thrust estimates
- System Test Plan
Acceptance Criteria
- An acceptable mission scenario is presented that is feasable in design with a clear outline defining the path forward in the format of a conops
- Simulation is shown with satellite coverage
- Latency values are characterized for various orbits
- Test plan coverage demonstrates abllity to elevate system to mission readiness
Evidence of Completion
- Documentation detailing the mission concept of operations with initial studies to support a preliminary design will be provided.
- A simulation will be presented showing satellite coverage and latency characterization
Delivery Month
2
Cost
20000
Progress
20 %
Milestone Title
Preliminary Design
Milestone Outputs
- Structural design
- requirements document
- renderings
- analysis report
- Computer architecture design (PRELIMINARY -- Component of Milestone #3)
- requirements document
- fault-tolerant design
- detailed test plan to overcome radiation survivability
- Attitude determination and control system design (PRELIMINARY - Component of Milestone #4)
- requirements document
- thruster design and prototyping
- stability analysis
- orbital manuevering simulations
Acceptance Criteria
- Documents that support mission feasibility are reviewed:
- System requirements are within reasonable mission parameters.
- Analysis produced is scientifically sound.
- Simulations adhere to physical accuracy.
Evidence of Completion
- Documents are produced
- System requirements
- Analysis
- Simulations are produced
- Hardware prototyping is shown
Delivery Month
5
Cost
60000
Progress
100 %
Milestone Title
INVESTIGATION: Flight and Service Computers and Radiation Surivability
Milestone Outputs
- A report investigating potential options, tradeoffs, and possible experimentation
- A feasable fault tolerant flight and service computer architecture
- Characterization of radiation resistance
- Generates a set of electrical requirements
Acceptance Criteria
- The report concludes with
- potential solutions for proceeding with a feasible architecture of flight and service computers that can survive the high radiation environment of space
- a set of electrical requirements
Evidence of Completion
- A report investigating potential options, tradeoffs, and possible experimentation
- A feasable fault tolerant flight and service computer architecture
- Characterization of radiation resistance
- Generates a set of electrical requirements
Delivery Month
3
Cost
20000
Progress
40 %
Milestone Title
INVESTIGATION: Attitude Determination and Control System
Milestone Outputs
- An investigation into the:
- primary propulsion element
- attitude thruster elements
- system stability requirements
- mission fuel requirements
- mission life span
- Experimental prototype of attitude control thruster
Acceptance Criteria
- The investigation report document shows feasibility in mission requirements and details the path forward for completing the Attitude Determination and Control System.
- Simulations substantiate report contents
- Experiments substatiate report contents
Evidence of Completion
- A detailed report will be produced
- Simulations shall be produced
- Experiments will be conducted
Delivery Month
3
Cost
20000
Progress
60 %
[Final Pitch] Budget & Costs
Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources
- Labor: 60k
- ConOps Mission Design
- ACDS Study
- Computer Architecture Study
- Preliminary Design Report
- Procurement of hardware: 40k
- Flight and service computers
- Sensors
- Actuators
- Tanks
- Propellant
[Final Pitch] Value for Money
How does the cost of the project represent value for the Cardano ecosystem?
- Prestige to Cardano ecosystem
- World wide availability
- Lean operation with intention to provide work and mentorship opportunity to university students
- Relevant field experience reduces risks associated with project
- This normally costs many multiples of the proposed grant value
[Required Acknowledgements] Consent & Confirmation
Terms and Conditions:
Yes