Company Spotlight

Parent Organization: Utah State University
Retired Major General Mike Pavich, Director
Mr. Jim Marshall, Business Development Director
Ms. Karen Wolfe, Public and Media Relations
1695 North Research Park Way, North Logan, Utah 84341
www.spacedynamics.org

Introduction

The Space Dynamics Laboratory (SDL) is a not-for-profit research and development corporation owned by Utah State University and governed by the Utah State University Research Foundation.  Founded in 1959, SDL traces its origins to pioneering efforts in measurements of the upper atmosphere.

Over the last five decades, SDL has led the development of innovative remote sensing solutions for science, environmental, and military applications. Along the way, SDL achieved many firsts including developing and operating the first successful space-borne, solid-hydrogen cooled infrared sensor, and guiding the first student involvement program for the space shuttle.

As one of only twelve University Affiliated Research Centers in the nation, SDL is a recognized leader in the research, development, and testing of electro-optical sensor systems and supporting technologies.

With just under 400 personnel and access to the world-renowned scientists and engineers at Utah State University, SDL has found a niche in its ability to quickly develop prototype and one-of-a-kind remote sensing systems used from a variety of ground, air, and space-based platforms. 

SDL has proven expertise in all aspects of system engineering for small to mid-sized programs and has solved various remote sensing challenges, including optical design, jitter control, thermal management, data analysis and management, and mission planning.

Located at the USU Innovation Campus in North Logan, Utah, SDL also operates facilities in Bedford, MA, Washington, DC, and Albuquerque, NM.

Facilities

SDL is headquartered in a 5-building, 200,000 ft2 research complex on the Innovation Campus. SDL’s facilities were enhanced in 2002 with the addition of the 43,000 ft2 Calibration and Optical Research Laboratory.

The SDL research complex includes offices, conference space, a state-of-the-art computing facility, a modern, comprehensive machine shop, class-100 clean rooms with full contamination control services, optical design laboratories, high-bay integration areas, environmental test facilities, NIST-qualified calibration and characterization facilities, a spacecraft command and control center, and laboratories for full optical, mechanical, and electrical system design and assembly.

People

SDL’s relationship with Utah State University gives it access to scientists and engineers who remain at the leading edge of research and innovation. SDL is proud to have on staff the leadership and guidance of three Utah Governor’s medal recipients in Science and Technology, the highest honor awarded in the state of Utah. SDL is also the recipient of a Young Investigator Research Program award.

Collaborative relationships with the international scientific community have been fostered through years of successful science missions. SDL has been working with scientists in the Russian Federation for more than 20 years and continues to build on the common goals of understanding the space environment.

SDL graduate assistants from Utah State University enjoy close and collaborative relationships with accomplished professionals in a multidisciplinary environment. SDL works synergistically with numerous disciplines at USU including engineering, physics, natural resources, chemistry, agriculture, biology, and computer science. Graduate assistants participate in cutting-edge, hands-on engineering and scientific research. In return, SDL has access to bright, eager, and well-educated student employees. SDL is also committed to increasing the public understanding of science with an established public outreach office.

SDL’s areas of expertise

Prototype Development—SDL has a reputation for being able to rapidly produce prototype hardware and associated software for testing. With over 40 years of research and development history, SDL is able to complete fully functional prototypes rapidly and inexpensively. Its small size, streamlined management structure, access to Utah State’s faculty and students, and manufacturing, testing, and calibration facilities, make SDL uniquely capable of efficient and highly effective prototyping.

Sensors—SDL’s core capabilities include the development, fabrication, testing, and operation of infrared and visible sensors, upper atmospheric sensors, electro-optical sensors, and environmental monitoring instrumentation, including:

  • Light Detection and Ranging (Lidar) Lidar is an optical remote sensing technology that measures scattered light to obtain information about a target. SDL has developed lidar systems for a variety of applications. Scientists and engineers from USU/SDL have collaboratively developed ground-based and air-borne lidar systems to address questions as diverse as atmospheric water vapor measurements, target tracking, agricultural emissions, aerosol structure, and global measurements of tropospheric winds. SDL has developed applications of holography to lidar and hyperspectral imaging.
  • Hyperspectral and Hypertemporal Systems SDL is at the forefront of developing hyperspectral and hypertemporal imaging systems and the data processing techniques and subsystems required for them. Hyperspectral sensors developed by SDL will make revolutionary improvements in meteorological observations and forecasting.
  • Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) Synthetic aperture radar uses advanced post-processing of radar data to create high-resolution imagery over broad areas. SAR is useful for environmental monitoring, earth-resource mapping, and reconnaissance information. The technology uses the long-range propagation characteristics of radar signals and has the advantage of obtaining images in inclement weather.  Until recently, the cost of SAR systems has been prohibitive for most applications other than the military, but with technological advancements and lower cost electronics, SAR is becoming more feasible for other applications.
  • IR, UV, and Visible Sensors SDL has developed hundreds of sensors that operate across the electromagnetic spectrum, and is a leader in the innovation of infrared sensor technology. As these systems have advanced, SDL has remained at the forefront by developing improved technologies for thermal management, vibration isolation, and jitter control. In developing smaller, lighter, less costly systems and improving the accuracy of calibration, SDL is making this technology more widely available.

 

Sensor Characterization and Calibration—SDL is sharing its expertise in sensor calibration with organizations like NIST, NASA, and NOAA to provide recommendations for making meaningful measurements of climate change.  SDL also hosts both the Annual Conference on Characterization and Calibration (CALCON), which is now in its sixteenth year, and the Achieving Satellite Instrument Calibration for Climate Change (ASIC3) workshop, which brings together leaders in the calibration field to implement strategies for calibrating instruments that monitor long-term global climate change.