Summary
Space vehicles in low Earth orbit (LEO)—altitudes of up to 2,000 km (around 1,200 miles)—must regularly perform thrust maneuvers to counteract atmospheric drag and remain in the correct operational orbit.
The amount of propellant that can be carried limits mission lifespan.
Incorporating low-drag materials could extend mission life by decreasing the amount of thrust needed to maintain the designated orbit, commonly known as station keeping. Low-drag materials in LEO degrade quickly due to the extremely reactive environment, which includes factors such as atomic oxygen, ultraviolet radiation, and extreme temperature change.
The DARPA Materials Investigation for Novel Operations in Space (MINOS) Disruption Opportunity seeks material system solutions with low-drag characteristics and significantly increased erosion and corrosion resistance for vehicles in LEO.
MINOS will investigate novel combinations of substrate and coating materials and innovative manufacturing processes to create a material system for use on outer mold lines, solar panels, or other surfaces in contact with the exterior environment. Reducing drag and increasing resistance to atmospheric degradation has the potential to greatly extend the useful life of systems in LEO.