SPACEINNOVA

When it comes to space mission planning, specialists are often equipped with oldschool tools, and burdened by outdated design methodologies, arduous manual setup, and cumbersome maintenance processes that require months to produce a handful of payloads. Along with these difficulties, mission designers are continuously challenged as they try to collaborate with teams and share their latest ideas.

SPACEINNOVA addresses these complexities with its innovative space-age laser transmitters, receivers, optomechanical assemblies, and solid-state lasing products.

A small business specialty consultancy, the firm provides engineering and designing of lasers to space and defense contractors. Initially working as a partner for launch operations, SPACEINNIOVA transitioned into lasers and continues to drive innovation in photonics technology.

The firm’s founder, Sylvia Ramos, is a mechanical engineer with over 20 years of first-hand experience working with rockets, spacecraft, and laser-based payloads. Always taking an active role, her responsibilities include networking with suppliers, visiting facilities, working with clients, and training technicians.

“I am passionate about inventing and innovating space technology with my extensive experience in photonics that can aid mankind to advance technologically and explore the universe,” says Ramos.

SPACEINNOVA specializes in developing conceptual trade studies, supporting system requirements definition, and packaging optomechanical solid-state systems. Ramos is well-versed in using design tools like computer-aided design (CAD) software, including Creo, SolidWorks, and cloudbased Onshape, analysis tools like Ansys, Mathematica, and MATLAB, along with project management solutions like Jira.

She regularly attends conferences, always having a finger on the pulse of prevalent market needs and emerging market trends, competitions, journals, and white papers.

An excellent example is the use of direct metal laser sintering (DMLS) technology for the miniaturization of optics. DMLS is a type of 3D printing that generates specialized and intricate prototypes in a fraction of the time and cost compared to CNC machining.

Setting SPACEINNOVA apart from market contemporaries is its unique organizational engineering approach to understanding laser system requirements throughout all stages of the development lifecycle. The firm’s vast experience helps clients foresee the highest design risks during the initial review phase and organize design tasks accordingly. Essentially, SPACEINNOVA presents a top-down view of how optical, mechanical, thermal, and electrical specifications shape the system, including the crucial integration, testing, and launch parameters.

In one instance, SPACEINNOVA was approached to accelerate the production of a new laser system from five units in six months to 15 units within the same time span. During the initial 5-unit production, the firm identified that the tooling process comprised more than 100 steps. The process was updated and improved while maintaining the optical performance parameters. This minimized the integration time during procedural acceptance tests, enabling the client to deliver the 15 units to their customer on time.

SPACEINNOVA aims to continue supporting its existing clients, onboarding new ones, and helping them develop nextgeneration photonics for space applications. The firm also plans to build a design studio to test hardware and continuously improve on delivering solutions that align with diverse client specifications.