Path to the First Flight of the SL-OMV

The growing number of Small Launch Vehicles (SLV) will lower the cost of space access in the coming years, but many challenges remain for CubeSats. CubeSats still have the concerns and obstacles as a secondary payload on a larger rocket as they do on a small rocket such as desired orbital location and constellation phasing without using on-board propulsion or time-consuming differential drag. Many of these challenges can be met using the Small Launch Orbital Maneuvering Vehicle (SL-OMV). The SL-OMV is a propulsive adapter that can be used to distribute CubeSat payloads with different orbital parameters than the primary payload or each CubeSat with a different orbital destination. The SL-OMV is designed with small launch vehicle systems in mind including using low-cost platform avionics, composites structures, modular payload accommodations, and green propellant for non-Hydrazine operations. The development and first flight SL-OMV is funded jointly by Moog and the United Kingdom Satellite & Launch Program (UKSLP) and is scheduled for launch in 2023 from a new launch site from SaxaVord in the Shetland Islands off the coast of Scotland14. Moog has extensive component heritage, but this is Moog’s first fully integrated space vehicle leveraging both US and UK design and production expertise.