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The Emerge Accelerator is a 12-week program to propel venture creation and accelerate technology transition. It brings together DoD mission partners and emerging technology teams. What sets the NSIN Emerge Accelerator apart is its focus on facilitating collaboration between cutting-edge companies and top research universities. FreeFall’s Aman Chandra, Ph.D., is not only a University of Arizona alum but also leads our effort in this accelerator as our Senior Engineer for Aerospace Systems R&D.

FreeFall looks forward to leveraging this opportunity to pursue federal and commercial markets and strengthen our capabilities for doing business with the federal government and private sector.

“This journey wouldn’t be possible without the support of our incredible team, partners, the University of Arizona, and the NSIN – National Security Innovation Network community. We are excited about the possibilities and committed to making a lasting impact in satellite communications.”- Julie Bonner, Director of Communications

NSIN Official Press Release

The Emerge Accelerator connects DoD mission partners with emerging technology teams and startups at our nation’s top research universities.

Cutting-edge companies will demonstrate how intellectual property from top research universities can be commercialized for dual-use, civilian, and military markets during the next cohort of National Security Innovation Network (NSIN)’s Emerge Accelerator program.

The 12-week program offers participants funding to accelerate venture creation and technology transition. The program also offers access to feedback, advisors, and potential partners from the DoD and private industry. While pursuing federal and commercial markets is highly encouraged, the NSIN Emerge Accelerator excels at providing new ventures with the tools necessary to do business with the federal government and the private sector.

13 companies representing 13 unique academic institutions were accepted into the 2024 NSIN Emerge Accelerator. The teams have reached a Technology Readiness Level(TRL) of 4 (validation in a relevant environment) or greater, and have a technology vertical focus on artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML), deep tech, autonomy, cyber security, and other general technology solutions.

Meet the 2024 Emerge Accelerator Cohort

ARMADA Marine Robotics, Inc.

Academic Institution: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI)

ARMADA provides industry and the government with an innovative hardware platform and a cost-efficient operations model that will revolutionize in situ ocean monitoring at scale.

Covert Defenses

Academic Institution: Purdue University

Covert Defenses enables zero-downtime operation of industrial control systems in cyber-contested environments. Their solution allows for continuous operations, even if penetrated by an insider.

EMP Technology Solutions

Academic Institution: University of Texas at Dallas

EMP Technology Solutions has developed a system for radioisotope identification that is portable, scalable, modular, and network-compatible. Their system works quickly, detecting and identifying radioactive threats in about five seconds.

Fourier LLC

Academic Institution: Northeastern University

Fourier is commercializing the breakthrough platform technology of thermoformable technical ceramics. The company is bringing large-scale production to the manufacturing of technical ceramic parts for the first time.

FreeFall Aerospace, Inc.

Academic Institution: The University of Arizona

FreeFall Aerospace develops low-cost antennas for ground and space. The company’s flexible designs have dramatically lower maintenance needs, saving industry and the government time and money on sustainment operations.

L5vel Inc.

Academic Institution: Texas A&M University

L5vel is developing autonomy for all-terrain logistics. Its product, L5vel Prime, automates all-terrain forklifts.

MicroAvionics

Academic Institution: Harvard University

MicroAvionics is developing innovative levitation technology to enable flight in the mesosphere (50-100 km altitudes). The technology uses sunlight to generate thrust, eliminating the need for onboard fuel or power, offering a sustainable method to carry near-space payloads in a region that is inaccessible to conventional aircraft and satellites.

Mithril Technologies, Inc.

Academic Institution: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

Mithril Technologies, Inc. is developing and commercializing a new type of space-based mesh reflector antenna using a unique electrostatic actuation technology invented at MIT to enable active beam focusing, shaping and steering. This active control allows flexibility in GEO satellite communications & jamming, signal intelligence, and space-based weather monitoring, with lighter & simpler structures than phased arrays.

ModiFly

Academic Institution: University of Texas at San Antonio

ModiFly offers an affordable drone networking solution with edge and cloud AI processing, supporting dynamic mission demands through plug-and-play modules.

Pi-Radio

Academic Institution: New York University

Pi-Radio builds software-defined radios (SDRs) that enable wireless systems prototypes for communications, sensing, and electronic warfare to be built quickly and affordably. Pi-Radio has been funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) SBIR/STTR programs.

Refined Imaging LLC.

Academic Institution: Louisiana State University

Refined Imaging applies new X-ray and neutron imaging technology, along with key collaborators, to develop the secure supply chain.

SoloPulse Corp.

Academic Institution: Georgia Tech

SoloPulse unlocks sensing infrastructure without the need for new hardware. With the rise of autonomy, advanced threats, and the need for more intelligible data, SoloPulse offers the necessary solutions for fast, cost-effective, high-fidelity data from any existing sensor. By introducing the capability to see from any sensor, SoloPulse is changing how the world sees.

Spectrum Defense Systems

Academic Institutions: Purdue University and Ohio Northern University

Spectrum Defense Systems is a DoD-focused startup focused on providing electronic warfare decoy capabilities to the U.S Army. Its flagship product is the Dynamic Radio Emulator System (DRES).

About National Security Innovation Network

NSIN is a program office in the U.S. Department of Defense, nested within the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU). We are set up to collaborate with a wide variety of innovators to include universities, researchers, students, entrepreneurs and start-ups. We create opportunities for collaboration across communities and connect those that might not traditionally work in national security. Together, we help drive national security innovation and develop technologies that directly support the individuals responsible for protecting our country.

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Aerospace/Defense and Space Industries Now a Foundation for the Local Economy

 

BizTucson – Spring 2022 – By Rodney Campbell
Read the entire Spring 2022 Edition here.

 

The five Cs of the Arizona economy – copper, cattle, cotton, citrus, and climate − that have traditionally driven growth in Arizona might need to dip into the alphabet soup for another economic driver. Aerospace, defense and space industries are flying high in Southern Arizona, with businesses spinning off from technologies developed at the University of Arizona or through partnerships between global companies.

 

Take, for example, FreeFall Aerospace, which develops antenna technology for satellite communications, fixed and mobile ground stations, aerial platforms, for a variety of commercial and government applications. The company got its start in 2016 with high-frequency radio technology developed at UArizona.

 

CEO Doug Stetson chalks up his company’s existence and success to its origins on campus. “We are very much tied to Tucson,” he said. Collaboration with the UA “benefits FreeFall Aerospace with a pipeline of talented engineers from UA, partners like AGM Container Controls, and local investors like UAVenture Capital. Each milestone our products reach is a crucial step for FreeFall, the University of Arizona, and Tucson’s developing space economy.”

In January, Northrop Grumman, which has a facility in Sierra Vista, awarded a contract for more than $100 million to Paragon Space Development, a company headquartered in Tucson. The deal calls on Paragon to put together a life-support system for the Habitation and Logistics Outpost program. HALO will be deployed in lunar orbit as the first crew module of NASA’s Lunar Gateway. It will serve as a crew habitat and docking station for spacecraft traveling between Earth and the moon.

 

Northrop Grumman also partnered with Raytheon Missiles & Defense, also headquartered in Tucson, last September to complete the first flight test of a scramjet-powered Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and the U.S. Air Force. The companies are on track to deliver a prototype system to the U.S. Department of Defense.

 

“Tucson has been a growing hub for space manufacturing for years,” said Phantom Space CEO Jim Cantrell, whose company provides spacecraft construction and full-service launch capability. “It’s inspiring to see the kind of work done here from companies like Paragon Space Development and FreeFall Aerospace. Unlike most cities, there’s a real community here for aerospace technology, a community that motivates, inspires, and encourages growth.” 

 

Ascent Aviation Services provides maintenance, modification, storage, and reclamation services on aircraft at Tucson International Airport and Pinal Air Park near Marana. Ascent President/CEO Dave Querio’s company found another advantage in Southern Arizona during the pandemic.

 

The International Air Transport Association found that demand fell by 65.9% in 2020 compared to 2019, easily the sharpest traffic decline in aviation history. Ascent, a supplier of services to airlines, leasing companies, and fleet managers across the globe, was able to store more than 400 client aircraft here when the desire for air travel dropped during COVID. Having the space to put all those big jets here made Querio thankful to be in Southern Arizona.

 

 “With Tucson’s deep association to aviation and aerospace, we are fortunate to be able to call the Tucson metroplex home,” he said.

 

 

 

Joe Snell, President, and CEO at Sun Corridor Inc., the region’s economic development arm, has another “C” to throw into the mix. His organization plays a significant role in attracting and keeping high-tech industry in Southern Arizona. That requires coordination. “We have worked with a wide range of businesses in this space over the past 15 years,” he said. “These projects take intense coordination, which we quarterback among all regional partners and private dinners and meetings. Roadblocks appear, and we knock them down. We’re great problem solvers. We’ve done this a long time, and we know what’s important to companies.”

 

One of Sun Corridor’s key victories came in 2020 when it worked with local officials to keep Raytheon Missile Systems hereby delivering Raytheon Integrated Defense from Massachusetts. The relocation resulted in Tucson becoming home to the new Raytheon Missiles & Defense business. The collaboration resulted in the addition of 2,000 jobs and an impact of several billion dollars.

 

“This would have been an unprecedented loss for this community if that hadn’t happened,” Snell said. “This took private conversations with Raytheon at the highest levels, and we ultimately won the deal.” 

 

All of this collaboration adds up to real money. According to the Arizona Commerce Authority, the Southern Arizona aerospace and defense industry pulled down $12.2 billion in Department of Defense contracts in 2019. A year later, companies across the entire state earned $17.3 billion in contracts during the pandemic.

 

The positive effects of those agreements are felt throughout the community. There are more than 25,000 people employed in the industry in the region.

 

“Aerospace,  defense and space companies offer high wages, at every level, for all our citizens,” Snell said. “These industries lead to a stronger economic foundation for all.”

 

Universal Avionics has a 165,000-square-foot headquarters near Tucson International Airport. The company, which has been in business for four decades, specializes in making and fixing flight management systems and cockpit instrument displays for private, business and commercial aircraft.

 

“Tucson is a great place for our headquarters, with manufacturing and repair integral to our success,” said Steve Pagnucco, VP of operations. “We have a large modern facility that has and continues to allow us the ability to produce many of our own components, which have allowed us to continue to deliver for our customers through supply shortages.” 

 

 World View Enterprises, which specializes in space tourism and exploration, started in 2012 because of a collaboration with Pima County. The organization’s headquarters at Spaceport Tucson is where the company manufactures its stratospheric balloons and fabricates the crafts it flies on remote sensing missions. World View also launches stratospheric missions from Tucson.

 

 CEO Ryan Hartman said the region’s strong tradition in the aerospace, defense and space industries made Tucson a natural choice for his company’s headquarters. “Tucson provides an exceptional breeding ground for some of the top aerospace talent in the world,” he said. “Being headquartered in Tucson has allowed us to recruit and employ some of the best and brightest minds in the industry who exemplify our company ethos.” 

 

Phantom’s Cantrell is bullish on the space industry’s future in Tucson, including for those who earn their living on the ground. “The need to explore outer space isn’t going anywhere,” he said. “The need for space technology and manufacturing isn’t going anywhere. The need for Tucson’s bustling industry isn’t going anywhere. Tucson, and by extension the state of Arizona, will continue to lead the way when it comes to space technology production, manufacturing, and launching.” 

 

In addition to its facility at Tucson International Airport, Universal Avionics has facilities in Marana. It has electronic assembly, test, and repair facilities here that are responsible for building and supporting the company’s avionics products for customers around the world.

 

 

Universal CEO Dror Yahav said Tucson is the perfect spot for his company because of the region’s collaboration and competition. “Tucson is home to a great aviation and aerospace community which allows us to attract talented professionals looking to make advances in the aviation and avionics industries,” he said. “The city is becoming a hub of innovation and for startups and people looking for alternatives to California. We are excited to be part of this growth.” 

 

Snell said Tucson competes with larger cities, including Austin, Denver, Dallas, Seattle, and Portland, and smaller communities such as Huntsville, Ala., and Wichita, Kan. when recruiting and retaining high-tech companies. He said Tucson is ranked in the top 10 among metro regions for aerospace manufacturing because of its highly concentrated aerospace product and parts manufacturing sector.

 

It helps to have great weather, a world-class university producing quality graduates in the sciences, and engineering and complementary businesses to push organizations to success. “Southern Arizona’s clear blue skies, stable weather, and dry climate have attracted aerospace-related businesses since the early 1990s,” Snell said. “Our natural environment was and still is a draw. With decades of aerospace and defense companies locating and operating here, we have built an amazing pipeline of talent and workforce to fill their needs.”

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Phoenix Business Journal
By Steve Zylstra | Dec 16, 2021

FreeFall Aerospace is developing revolutionary antenna technology for ground, air, and space. Spherical antennas offer a wide field of view, efficient beam steering, and low mass to simplify and improve satellite communications. This allows entire constellations of low-cost satellites to be integrated in a complete communications network. The technology is based on research in high-frequency radio astronomy at The University of Arizona.

Read Full Article at Phoenix Business Journal:
On many clear evenings, it’s no surprise to see me casting my eyes to the stars. That’s especially true when I’m reflecting on my past while considering what lies ahead in our future.

One of the early stops in my career found me working as a principal engineer at Ford Aerospace. Even then, I knew space held the potential for paydays. Little did I realize that the commercial space industry was going to help sustain Arizona’s economy for years to come in Arizona.

There are a number of companies in the Valley and beyond that have used our state as the launch pad for ideas leading to enterprises offering products and services ranging from satellites orbiting the earth to space tourism in the next few years.

In the East Valley, the name Northrop Grumman is behind two campuses. Gilbert is home to a new administrative and engineering building created to expand the company’s Northrop Grumman’s multi-building satellite manufacturing campus, which was already one of the largest of its kind in the nation. Clients include NASA, the U.S. Department of Defense and commercial customers. A few years ago, a campus was opened in neighboring Chandler to serve as home to Northrop Grumman’s launch vehicles business.

Tempe is the home of KinetX Aerospace, the first private company qualified by NASA for deep space navigation. In addition, it offers world-class expertise flight dynamics, operations and systems engineering. The KinetX Space Navigation and Flight Dynamics team has navigated spacecraft on complex planetary exploration missions such as OSIRIS-REx, MESSENGER and New Horizons. KinetX also specializes in the design, development and operation of large-scale space systems including Iridium.

Speaking of Iridium, which has its business operations in Tempe, the company offers the only mobile voice and data satellite communications network that links people, organizations and assets to and from anywhere around the world in real time. In 2019, the company completed an upgrade of its satellite network and launched its new specialty broadband service, Iridium Certus.

Stretching to Tucson

Arizona’s commercial space corridor also stretches south to Tucson. Paragon Space Development Corporation has worked on every major human space flight program since 1999 and its hardware has flown on NASA spacecraft (e.g., Space Shuttle, International Space Station), foreign spacecraft (e.g., Soyuz, Mir) and commercial spacecraft.

Paragon’s expertise in engineering, design, analysis and manufacturing combined with its patented ECLSS Human-Rating Facility and Testing Facilities has made it a leader in the development of innovative life support and thermal control solutions. The company is part of the Northrop Grumman team that will create the Habitation and Logistics Outpost (HALO) for the Lunar Gateway outpost planned to orbit the moon.

Want to get a closer look at the moon but don’t think you’ll make the cut for NASA? World View Enterprises is the creator of the Explorer Stratospheric Capsule that will use balloons to take you and others to the stratosphere as soon as early 2024 for $50,000 each. The memorable moment will be seeing the Earth’s curvature against the blackness of space.

It’s worth noting that Paragon and World View share a common pedigree. Both companies were founded by Taber MacCallum and Jane Poynter, who have launched the company Space Perspective in Florida. The company’s Spaceship Neptune will be lifted by a SpaceBalloon for an experience similar to that being marketed by World View.

Back in Tucson, Phantom Space Corp. helps companies design, build and integrate spacecraft from single small spacecraft to the complete buildout of constellations. With a track record of successful satellite programs, spacecraft design and various space missions, one of its products is Daytona, a mass-manufactured expendable two-stage rocket considered the most efficient and cost-effective small payload rocket in the world.

FreeFall Aerospace is developing revolutionary antenna technology for ground, air, and space. Spherical antennas offer a wide field of view, efficient beam steering, and low mass to simplify and improve satellite communications. This allows entire constellations of low-cost satellites to be integrated in a complete communications network. The technology is based on research in high-frequency radio astronomy at The University of Arizona.

This overview is just a sample of what is happening in Arizona. While there are plenty of voids in space, there are far fewer when it comes to our commercial space industry.

Steve Zylstra is president and CEO of the Arizona Technology Council.

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