Space Dynamics Laboratory

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Space Dynamics Laboratory
PredecessorElectro-Dynamics Laboratories (EDL),
Upper Air Research Laboratory (UARL)
Founded1982; 40 years ago (1982)
Headquarters
North Logan, Utah
,
United States
Number of locations
8 [1] (2020)
RevenueAbout US$175 million [2] (FY2019)
Number of employees
900+ [2] (FY2019)
ParentUtah State University
Websitesdl.usu.edu

Space Dynamics Laboratory (SDL) is a nonprofit government contractor owned by Utah State University. SDL was formed in 1982 from the merger of Utah State University's Electro Dynamics Laboratories (founded in 1959) and the University of Utah's Upper Air Research Laboratory (founded in 1948).[3] The corporation has been responsible for the design, fabrication, and operation of sensors on over 430 payloads ranging from aircraft and rocket-borne experiments to space shuttle experiments and satellite-based sensor systems. SDL is the Missile Defense Agency's University Affiliated Research Center (UARC) and one of 14 UARCs in the nation. SDL provides sensor systems and supporting technologies to address challenges for the United States government. SDL designs and develops electro-optical sensors, builds small satellites, provides calibration services, and creates real-time data reconnaissance systems.[2]

SDL employs over 900 engineers, students, and professional staff at facilities in Logan, Utah; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Bedford, Massachusetts; Dayton, Ohio; Huntsville, Alabama; Houston, Texas; Los Angeles, California; and Washington, D.C.

History[]

SDL origins date back to 1948 with experiments by the University of Utah Upper Air Research Laboratory (UARL) to measure electron density in the upper atmosphere of Earth utilizing German V-2 rockets.[3] In 1959, the Electro-Dynamics Laboratories (EDL) was founded at Utah State University. The UARL relocated to Utah State University in 1970 and merged with EDL in 1982 to form SDL. One of the early missions involved measurements during Operation Dominic in 1962. In 1965, the laboratory participated in its 100th launch aboard a sounding rocket. In 1982, SDL participated in its first experiment (the Vehicle Charging and Potential experiment) aboard a space shuttle as part of STS-3.

Projects for NASA[]

SDL has been a contractor for NASA on a variety of missions for decades.[4]

In 2019, NASA selected USU to conduct the (AWE) led by Mike Taylor. AWE involves an imager built at SDL that will be mounted on the International Space Station (ISS) to map airglow.[5]

Other NASA projects include:

  • The detector electronics assemblies for the OSIRIS-REx Camera Suite (OCAMS) to image the asteroid, search for outgassing plumes, and document the sample acquisition.[10]
  • Cryogenic Infrared Radiance Instrumentation for Shuttle (CIRRIS 1A) flew onboard Space Shuttle Discovery in 1991 as part of STS-39. CIRRIS was used to measure phenomena such as airglow and auroral phenomenology. SDL designed, built, and tested the instrument.[11]

References[]

  1. ^ "SDL - Locations". Space Dynamics Laboratory, Utah State University. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  2. ^ a b c "Overview" (PDF). Space Dynamics Laboratory. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  3. ^ a b "SDL - History". Space Dynamics Laboratory, Utah State University. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Space Dynamics Laboratory Delivers James Webb Space Telescope Subsystem to NASA". spaceref.com. Utah State University. 3 February 2014. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
  5. ^ "USU's Atmospheric Waves Experiment chosen by NASA for mission to study space weather". sdl.usu.edu. 6 March 2019. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
  6. ^ "Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer". sdl.usu.edu. Space Dynamics Laboratory. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
  7. ^ "Orbiting Carbon Observatory". sdl.usu.edu. Space Dynamics Laboratory. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
  8. ^ "Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere Solar Occultation for Ice Experiment". sdl.usu.edu. Space Dynamics Laboratory. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
  9. ^ "Floating Potential Measurement Unit" (PDF). sdl.usu.edu. Space Dynamics Laboratory. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
  10. ^ "OSIRIS-REx" (PDF). sdl.usu.edu. Space Dynamics Laboratory. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
  11. ^ "Cryogenic Infrared Radiance Instrumentation for Shuttle". sdl.usu.edu. Space Dynamics Laboratory. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
  12. ^ Cortez, Marjorie (21 April 2020). "USU Space Dynamics Lab delivers test unit to NASA for spacecraft set for 2022 launch". Retrieved 23 May 2020.

External links[]

Coordinates: 41°45′47″N 111°49′19″W / 41.76306°N 111.82194°W / 41.76306; -111.82194

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