Utah State University¶
Type: Public research university | Location: Logan, UT Key labs: Propulsion Research Laboratory (Whitmore), Space Dynamics Laboratory (SDL), Swenson Thermal Lab SST projects: 5 (tied with Tyvak and BCT for most by any non-NASA-center org)
Last updated: 2026-04-14 (session 7)
SST Portfolio¶
| Project | PI | Technology | TRL | Period | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 106834 | Stephen Whitmore | 3D-printed ABS/N2O hybrid propulsion | 5→5 (target 7) | 2020-07 → 2025-09 | transitioned (Marshall HLS) |
| 91561 | Charles Swenson | Active CryoCubeSat (MPFL + pulse tube cryocooler) | 3→5 | 2015-11 → 2018-10 | no-visible-outcome |
| 95587 | Charles Swenson | Active Thermal Architecture (ATACOI) for cryo optics | 3→5 | 2018-03 → 2022-01 | no-visible-outcome |
| 155363 | Charles Swenson | Low-power FPGA cluster for edge computing | 3→3 | 2023-10 → 2025-09 | no-visible-outcome |
| 91602 | Reyhan Baktur | ISAAC — integrated solar-panel antenna array (X-band) | 5→5 | 2015-10 → 2017-10 | no-visible-outcome |
Three PIs, two research threads, spanning 10 years (2015–2025).
Research Thread 1: Whitmore Hybrid Propulsion → Artemis HLS¶
This is the most dramatic program transition in the SST portfolio. A CubeSat propulsion project ended up supporting the Artemis Human Landing System.
The Technology¶
Prof. Stephen Whitmore's Propulsion Research Laboratory developed a High-Performance Green Hybrid Propulsion (HPGHP) system using: - Fuel: 3D-printed Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) — common injection-molding plastic - Oxidizer: Nitrous oxide (N2O) - Key innovation: ABS has unique dielectric breakdown properties enabling electric ignition — stop/restart/re-ignite without pyrotechnics - Green: No toxic propellants (unlike hydrazine or ASCENT) - Manufacturable: 3D-printed fuel grains are cheap and reproducible
SST Project [106834]¶
- Cooperative agreement to mature HPGHP for SmallSat lunar landing and sample return
- TX09.3.2: Propulsion Systems for Landing
- Co-I: Matthew Harris
- 2020–2025, targeting TRL 7 (achieved TRL 5 per TechPort)
Transition to Marshall Space Flight Center / Artemis HLS¶
In January 2025, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center conducted extensive testing of Whitmore's hybrid rocket motor: - 30+ firings across three test facilities (ambient and vacuum conditions) - 14-inch (75-mm) thrust chamber — "the most highly tested and well-characterized hybrid motor in history" - Purpose: Support NASA's Human Landing System (HLS) descent performance and Plume Surface Interaction (PSI) research - PSI studies how rocket exhaust affects lunar regolith during landing — critical for Artemis astronaut safety
The path: SST CubeSat propulsion grant → 3D-printed hybrid motor maturation → NASA Marshall picks it up for crewed lunar lander research. The form factor grew from CubeSat-scale to HLS-scale, but the core innovation (3D-printed ABS electric ignition) transferred directly.
Team: Whitmore + graduate students Ryan Thibaudeau, Jared Coen; undergraduates Josh Sorenson, Logan Mecham, Ava Wilkey, Cody White.
Sources: - USU Engineering news, Jan 2025 - KSL News coverage - Interesting Engineering
Confidence: confirmed (USU press release, KSL, NASA Marshall testing documented)
Research Thread 2: Swenson Cryogenic Thermal (7-year persistent thread)¶
Prof. Charles Swenson led three sequential SST projects spanning 2015–2025, all focused on CubeSat thermal control:
-
Active CryoCubeSat [91561] (2015–2018): Mechanical pumped fluid loop (MPFL) + pulse tube cryocooler for 75-100K detector cooling. Additive manufacturing for conformal coolant channels embedded in CubeSat structure. TRL 3→5.
-
ATACOI [95587] (2018–2022): Follow-on to CryoCubeSat — advanced thermal control enabling cryogenic electro-optical instruments on CubeSat platforms. TRL 3→5.
-
Edge Computing [155363] (2023–2025): Pivoted from thermal to computing — low-power FPGA cluster for CubeSat edge computing. Multi-FPGA independently reprogrammable on-orbit. TRL 3→3 (did not advance). 5 co-investigators including Joseph Casas, Jacob Gunther, Todd Moon, Denis Loubach.
Assessment: This is a 7-year persistent research effort with no visible downstream impact. The cryothermal work hit TRL 5 but didn't transition to industry or flight. The edge computing pivot reached TRL 3 only. Swenson's work represents the academic TRL ceiling pattern seen across SST thermal/power projects — university labs advance to TRL 5-6 but lack the pathway to flight or commercialization.
Notable: Swenson also appears on the USASpending data as part of USU Space Dynamics Laboratory (SDL) contracts, but those are instrument-building contracts (AWE, OCI, JWST heat straps) — separate from his SST thermal work.
Standalone Project: ISAAC Antenna [91602]¶
Prof. Reyhan Baktur developed an optically transparent X-band antenna array integrated with CubeSat solar panels: - Circularly polarized, high-gain, compact - Doesn't compete for surface real estate (transparent overlay on solar cells) - Modular, independent from solar cell design - TRL 5→5 (2015–2017)
Outcome: No visible downstream. The concept is elegant (shared real estate for power and comms) but didn't produce publications, products, or follow-on contracts visible in NTRS or USASpending.
Federal Footprint (USASpending — NASA awards to USU)¶
USU/SDL has a large NASA footprint, but most is unrelated to SST:
| Award | Amount | Description | SST-related? |
|---|---|---|---|
| LARC0200006DNAS100071 | $63.3M | Long-duration contract (2000–2012) | No (SDL) |
| 80GSFC18C0007 | $51.5M | Atmospheric Waves Experiment (AWE) | No (SDL) |
| 80GSFC18C0051 | $21.5M | OCI instrument for PACE | No (SDL) |
| NNG15FA97C | $1.91M | Cryogenic ISS experiment dewar | Partially (SDL/thermal) |
| 80KSC025P0003 | $1.88M | Utah Reusable Root Module (2025) | No |
| 80MSFC18C0010 | $699K | Langmuir/impedance probes for MSFC | No |
USU total NASA footprint: >$140M, dominated by SDL instrument contracts. The SST projects are a small slice (<$5M estimated) of USU's NASA relationship.
NTRS Publications¶
No NTRS citations found for "Whitmore hybrid rocket" or "Utah State University CubeSat propulsion." Whitmore's work is primarily published through: - USU DigitalCommons (SmallSat Conference proceedings) - AIAA conference papers - USU press releases
This is notable — the most impactful USU SST project (hybrid → HLS) has no NTRS trail. The knowledge transfer happened through direct NASA-university collaboration (cooperative agreement), not through published reports.
Assessment¶
USU is a mixed case: - One standout: Whitmore's hybrid propulsion → Marshall HLS testing is the most dramatic program transition in the SST portfolio. CubeSat propulsion feeding into crewed lunar landing research. - One persistent thread: Swenson's 7-year cryothermal effort hit TRL 5 twice but didn't break through to flight or industry. - Two dead ends: Edge computing (TRL 3) and ISAAC antenna (TRL 5) with no visible downstream.
Pattern: USU exemplifies the academic TRL ceiling — university labs can advance technology to TRL 5-6 but typically lack the commercialization pathway. The Whitmore exception proves the rule: his technology transitioned because NASA Marshall directly adopted it for an internal program (HLS/PSI), not because a company commercialized it. The transition was institution-to-institution, not lab-to-startup.
Archetype mix: - Whitmore → Institutional Capability Builder (center adopts university tech) - Swenson/Baktur → Academic TRL ceiling (no archetype fit — this is the anti-pattern)
Overall outcome: 1 transitioned, 4 no-visible-outcome | Confidence: confirmed (Whitmore/HLS confirmed via press releases; Swenson/Baktur non-outcomes confirmed via absence in NTRS/USASpending/web)