Instrument Engineering
WORLD CLASS PROFESSIONALS AND ADVANCED FACILITIES
Sigma Space employs a team of discipline-focused professionals who are well respected and recognized in the aerospace industry. Our instrument systems engineers form the core of our engineering services project teams, providing the leadership and technical expertise to help customers develop effective instrumentation solutions. Our other discipline engineering teams form our matrix organization, using their specialized skills to deliver outstanding project support.
OPTICAL
Sigma Space designs and analyzes optical systems to ensure optimal performance of customer instruments. We specify custom optics and coatings for complex optical systems in UV, visible, and near-, mid-, and far-infrared spectrums. These optics are experienced in modeling complex optical systems, conducting trade studies and in developing first-order and detailed designs. We also offer full-service optical designs including optical tolerance and error budgeting, stray light analysis, illumination analysis, radiometric analysis, and the ability to specify and select hardware for spaceflight, airborne, and ground applications.
Additionally, we offer optical integration services to assemble, align, calibrate, and text instruments and components- meeting the full range of customer needs.
THERMAL
We conduct thermal design and analysis for spaceflight and airborne platforms. We are experienced in designing, specifying, and analyzing active heating and cooling elements (e.g., strip heaters, thermoelectric coolers) and passive thermal systems (e.g., coolers, radiator plates, and heat pipe radiator systems). Our temperature control solutions entail tailoring instrument thermal systems for temperature-sensitive optical detectors, with a focus on thermal isolation of hardware and techniques to minimize parasitic losses as well as utilizing computational fluid dynamics software and Femap and Pro/ENGINEER Mechanical
MECHANICAL
When customers need help designing, analyzing or assembling instrument systems, our mechanical engineers deliver. Capabilties include mechanical, optomechanical, and electromechanical design and analysis for instrument systems using the latest CAD modeling and structural FEM tools such as I-DEAS, ProE, and AutoCAD. Our mechanical engineers also assemble and I&T of spaceflight, airborne and ground-based instrument systems as well as development of ground support equipment.
ELECTRICAL
Sigma Space develops electronics and instrument systems for spaceflight, airborne, and ground-based applications, incorporating high-speed digital electronics, low-noise analog electronics, and power electronics. We specialize in field-programmable gate array (FPGA)- based designs and laser-based imaging instrument systems. Our instruments have been used in many NASA high-altitude airborne environments, and in ground-based products autonomously running with continuous data collection. Our expertise in spaceflight electronics design includes design for radiation, vacuum, high-vibration environments, and reliable synchronous FPGA design techniques.
We perform card-level schematic capture and printed circuit card design, selection of radiation-hardened parts, and communication protocols such as SpaceWire and 1553B as well as embedded processors with real-time algorithms. We also perform parts stress analysis, worst-case timing analysis, and system-level modeling to ensure reliability.
SOFTWARE
Customers that need reliable software solutions for data acquisition and analysis, modeling, or instrument control turn to Sigma Space. Our software team focuses on systems for airborne and spaceflight instruments, and has expertise in architectural definition, algorithm design and analysis, and model-driven software development. Customized programs for mission success also include formal modeling-analysis-verification, design for text, I&T of software-hardware systems, dynamic system modeling and simulation and development and use of custom computer applications. Our team also works with cutting-edge technologies including real-time embedded computing platforms with digital signal processors, reconfigurable computers and aerospace flight computers, military avionics and national instruments LabVIEW and LabWindows/CVI Measurement Studio, MATLAB and IDL.
INSTRUMENT I&T
Sigma Space's mechanical, electrical, and systems engineers efficiently transition instruments from final design to manufacturing and assembly. Our advanced fabrication facilities include a spaceflight-certified CNC machining center with fundamental metrology capability, multiple ESD-certified laboratories, class 10,000 clean spaces and a comprehensive suite of tools, including collimators, interferometers, thermal vacuu, chambers, and electrical analysis equipment. Among our expert I&T staff are GSFC Basic Adhesive Bonding-certified technicians with expertise in optical component bonding, electrical technicians certified to NASA-STD-8739 series, and mechanical technicians experienced in assembling precision optical instruments. From cutting-edge facilities to exceptional professionals, Sigma Space is fully equipped to help customers create mission-ready instruments.
Sigma Space's instrument engineers, scientists, and technicians deliver outstanding instrument engineering services including:
Space and Earth Research
Customer Focused Support
Sigma Space is poised to help clients address some of today’s most pressing scientific challenges, from climate change to resource management. Drawing from a broad range of expertise, we deploy small, efficient teams that understand each customer’s mission, communicate well, and deliver excellent products. These teams are supported by value-added management and are responsive to evolving customer needs. To accelerate exploration, we offer a full suite of research and analysis, including hypothesis generation and data collection and analysis. Since results and models are only as accurate as the data on which they’re based, Sigma Space personnel, with decades of combined experience, calibrate instruments to exacting standards and monitor performance throughout data acquisition. We also develop custom software and manage, integrate, and visualize data for superior outcomes.
With our background in remote sensing, we bring a unique perspective to each project we support, attending to every detail while never losing sight of the big picture. Breakthroughs are waiting to be made, and Sigma Space provides the know-how to transform data into discoveries.
Verification and Validation
As demonstrated by Sigma Space’s success on current and past projects, our verification and validation staff have the expertise to ensure that customer data systems and instruments function optimally—returning reliable, high-quality data.
Data Services
Data Services
Sigma is also leading the effort to build the ICESat-2 Science Computing Facility which will provide data management, data distribution, and data analysis tools to to the project science office and science team providing the data and tools required for evaluation and improvement of science retrieval algorithms.
CNC Machining
CNC Machining
The CNC Machine Shop at Sigma Space has been providing advanced CNC machining and fabrication for over 20 years to some of the nation’s most demanding aerospace, defense and scientific clients. The 4,500 sq. foot facility offers flexible work space complete with machinists who have worked in the industry on average of 25 years, and are experts in their craft.
We’re happy to provide a quote for all your CNC machining needs. Contact us at machining@sigmaspace.com or call us at 301-552-6000 to speak directly with one of our experts.