PTR Aerospace Group - Timeline
The PTR Aerospace Group has a long and successful career in the development of flight, satellite, and ground station software. Starting in 1998, the following timeline shows some of the major efforts that we have been instrumental in developing.
2008 - 2009
Orbcomm - OG2
The PTR Group was selected to develop the Satellite Network Software for Orbcomm's second-generation constellation. The OG2 satellites provide a 600% increase in capacity over the Orbcomm Constellation satellites. The PTR Group participates in all program-level reviews. In addition, The PTR Group plays a key role in the definition and growth of the Orbcomm network to meet these new challenges.
2007
GLAST - Gamma Ray Large Area Space Telescope
The PTR Group is currently developing the low level systems, boot code, drivers, and libraries for NASA's GLAST instrument.
2006 - 2009
Orbcomm - QuickLaunch
The PTR Group was involved in the QuickLaunch satellite development from the program's inception. The QuickLaunch mission was to replenish the existing Orbcomm constellation and further augment the AIS services provided by the CDS satellite. The PTR Group supported spacecraft integration in Germany, LEOPS, and In-Orbit Testing. The QuickLaunch satellites were launched in June 2008 and The PTR Group continues to support the operation of these satellites.
2006 - 2009
Orbcomm - CDS
The PTR Group was engaged in the development of the Orbcomm-CDS 3 satellite. This satellite builds onto an existing Orbcomm Satellite a US Coast Guard Automatic Identification System (AIS) receiver. The PTR Group was involved from the inception of the program including design, implementation, testing and integration of the AIS payload as well as updating of original Orbcomm payload to accommodate the new receiver. The CDS mission was to demonstrate the capability of receiving AIS messages from space. The PTR Group integrated the AIS messages seamlessly into the Orbcomm network. Additionally, the PTR Group developed the ground system in use for analyzing the AIS performance of the Orbcomm constellation. The PTR Group supported spacecraft integration in Germany, LEOPS, and In-Orbit Testing. The CDS Satellite was launched in June 2008 and The PTR Group continues to support the operation of the satellite.
2005
DART - Autonomous Rendezvous Technology
The DARPA Autonomous Rendezvous Technology (DART) experiment was performed to determine the feasibility of performing an autonomous, on-orbit rendezvous with a target satellite. The experiment has been completed.
2005
ROCSAT-3
As part of a joint US-China program, the PTR Group developed the satellite software and performed EGSE, integration and testing for an experimental satellite constellation of 6 satellites for the Republic of China. The constellation is still in operation.
2005
TacSat - 1 - Experimental Tactical Satellite
Built as part of the Naval Research Lab (NRL) Operationally Response Space (ORS) Program. The purpose was to build a satellite with an IR, visible, and emitter sensor package using "off-the-shelf" components in a very quick time frame. NRL, with the help of the PTR Group, was able to build the satellite in under 1 year. The satellite is currently awaiting launch
2005
TacSat - 2 - AFRL follow on to TacSat-1
In a similar effort to TacSat-1, the PTR Group worked for the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) to develop TacSat-2. This follow on to TacSat-1 implemented the Target Indicator Experiment (TIE) sensor. For this program the PTR Group was involved in the design, implementation, test and integration of the TIE Payload. The TacSat-2 satellite is currently in orbit.
2004 - 2009
Orbcomm Constellation
The PTR Group has been instrumental in identifying and implementing means to improve the subscriber performance of the Orbcomm Constellation. The PTR Group continues to assist Orbcomm, and meet their goals of network performance and spacecraft longevity.
2001
SPORT - Satellite with brakes
The SPORT program worked to develop a satellite incorporating aero-braking. This braking would allow a satellite originally in a geosynchronous orbit to transfer to a Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
The PTR Group developed the flight and satellite software for the program.
1998
BatSat - Experimental RF Satellite
Continuing its expertise gained during the Orbcomm development, the PTR Group participated in all aspects of the BatSat development and integration. BatSat was an experimental satellite designed for testing RF systems for the Boeing and Teledesic system. As with the Orbcomm constellation the PTR Group participated in the satellite software development, EGSE, system integration, testing, and LEOPS.
1998
Mublcom - Digital Voice Relay Satellite
This was a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARP) program to develop a Digital Voice Relay satellite. This satellite provides over the horizon communication using hand held units to individuals on the ground. The system is currently in operation.
1998
QuikTOMS - Total Ozone Mapping Instrument
The Total Ozone Mapping (TOM) Instrument was an experiment designed to provide long-term, space-based, global monitoring and mapping of Arctic and Antarctic ozone levels.
1997 - 1999
Orbcomm Constellation
Between 1997 and 1999, the PTR Group was a key player in the placement of a 33 different satellites in 5 different orbital planes. Each of these satellites is a low data rate Low Earth Orbit (LEO) global communication satellite and is still in operation today.
The PTR Group was heavily involved in all aspects of satellite software, EGSE, System integration and test, LEOPS, and anomaly resolution. In addition the system for maintaining and managing the code baseline and configuration was developed which is still in use today.