January 18, 2008

CSA Engineering's EELV Secondary Payload Adapter (ESPA) Ring is the focus of a new NASA-sponsored research program that will adapt the flight-proven system for lunar and science missions. In the initial six-month Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) effort, CSA will tailor and adapt ESPA to enable various missions by incorporation of separation technology, scaling for different launch vehicles and additional physical mounting options for satellites and components. In collaboration with NASA and other small companies, CSA's enhanced adapters will increase the number of flight opportunities for small spacecraft on multiple launch vehicles.

ESPA enables multiple small satellites to be launched together with a large satellite on the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV). The ESPA Ring flew successfully on the DOD Space Test Program mission known as STP-1 in March 2007. ESPA also forms the structural core of Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS), scheduled for a late 2008 launch together with Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter.

CSA Engineering provides products and services for vibration suppression and precision motion control, and has its main facilities in Mountain View, California and Albuquerque, New Mexico.