Standard Network Adapter for Payloads (SNAP)

Given today's challenging budget environment for the Department of Defense, the National Security Space Enterprise is seeking unique and affordable ways to gain access to space. An emerging solution is aimed at addressing the fiscal challenges using commercially hosted payloads for military missions. With the success of Commercially Hosted Infrared Payload (CHIRP) in 2011, the United States Air Force is continuing to pursue new and innovative concepts and technologies to ensure hosted payloads remain an affordable avenue for resilient future space architectures. A specific enabling concept is a Modular, Open Networked Architecture (MONA) which is an outgrowth of two Department of Defense policy documents: the DODI 5000.02 and DoDD 8320.02. An emerging technology demonstration of MONA for the Hosted Payload Office is the Standard Network Adapter for Payloads (SNAP). In conjunction with the Space Dynamics Laboratory at Utah State University, the Space & Missiles Systems Center's Development Planning Directorate has demonstrated adapter between diverse hosted payloads and a spacecraft The demonstration was successfully conducted on November 2013 utilizing the ORS MSV testbed located at Northrop Grumman Corporation in Redondo Beach, California. The SNAP ground demonstration showcased ability to interface multiple payload types with multiple spacecraft vehicles. A specific outcome of the ground demonstration is a flight-ready version of SNAP software that can be utilized for follow-on on-orbit demonstration. The SNAP software supports both Linux and VxWorks Operating Systems. demonstration entailed three different simulated hosted payloads and quantified the integration time for each payload. The SNAP unit demonstrated that a payload with a Mil-Std-1553, RS-422, or SpaceWire connection can successfully, rapidly interface with a spacecraft that provides one of these connections. One critical component for the hosting of future military missions is resolving the information assurance aspect. For purposes of SNAP demonstration, the security layer was incorporated into the project but must be addressed operational viability in future hosted DoD missions. Demonstration of the SNAP capability has validated potential utility of adopting a MONA approach for a hosted payload adapter, and supports the notion that broader adoption of MONA for space systems development could significant benefits.