Pacific Scientific Energetic Materials Company (PacSci EMC): Leading the Charge in the NewSpace market

Gregory J. Scaven, President

Pacific Scientific Energetic Materials Company (PacSci EMC) is very excited about the current commercialization of space or if you will, NewSpace that is providing unprecedented opportunity for technological innovations at a fraction of the time and cost of the more traditional government-controlled space eras of the past. The reduction of launch overheads, improved utility of SmallSats, and advancements in pyrotechnic engineering capabilities and energetic materials has paved the way for newer players to showcase their proficiency in this new age for space age technology.

Today’s space market requires those leading the charge to have high volume manufacturing and design capabilities that would allow them to carry out safe, cost-efficient, and successful satellite missions. PacSci EMC aspires to ride this wave of innovation, fuelled by its 70 years of legacy expertise in the pyrotechnic and energetic materials industry, helping organizations transform their space initiatives. PacSci EMC’s extensive industry knowledge and proven technologies are instrumental in assisting clients safely and rapidly address complex situations within critical timeframes.

In an interview with CIO Applications, Gregory J. Scaven, President of PacSci EMC, shares his insights on the rich industry expertise and advanced space technology solutions that PacSci EMC brings to the table.

Provide us an overview of PacSci EMC’s capabilities in the NewSpace Sector.

We design and develop many pyrotechnic devices and subsystems used in legacy launch vehicles like the Atlas or Delta rockets. We also offer many devices that range from the NASA standard initiator to rocket engine igniters to linear-formed explosives for many critical launch vehicle requirements. However, we’ve now added specialization in small satellite deployment sequencing, on-orbit propulsion throughout the satellite’s lifecycle, and advanced flight termination for when launches go wrong. Our electronic sequencing system can control different smart initiating devices and trigger the release of a high number of satellites in a precise sequence. Alongside, our Smart Energetics Architecture™ or SEA™-based technology can pinpoint the simultaneity of satellite and satellite-pair releases at the same time. We also are experts in space propulsion systems—our pyrotechnic expertise in rocket motor initiation can change the altitude of a satellite and adjust the orbit to optimize communication signals or deorbit the satellite, as commanded. Subsequently, we can make those orbital adjustments across the lifecycle of a satellite through our MAPS™ solid propulsion system.

PacSci EMC ensures that every aspect of a satellite’s life cycle— the launch, orbital journey, and the eventual deorbit—are operated safely and flawlessly

Lastly, we are in the final stages of developing a remote flight termination system that autonomously triggers a decision to terminate a launch if it is going off-track. This way, we can ensure that a new launch does not threaten the surrounding population or environment.

How is PacSci EMC leveraging some of the newest trends in the space industry?

The benefits of our SEA™ technology are significant and simple at the same time since we leverage a two-wire network bus and digital technology to control the many events required in launch vehicle and satellite missions. Our ability to unify all the different pyrotechnic or non-pyrotechnic mechanisms or smart controllers on a network bus of sequenced events is game-changing in the industry. Clients can realize considerable weight savings, cost savings, and labor savings due to this unique and elegant design. This is indeed one of the most innovative mechanisms that we offer in the energetics industry—combining electronics with pyrotechnics to catalyze the growth of the NewSpace market.

What is the approach and methodology that you follow at PacSci EMC to deliver customized solutions for your clients?

Our approach starts through face-to-face interactions with customers where they express their pain points in a launch environment or specify the requirements for an upcoming satellite mission. We leverage our decades of experience in the industry to identify pitfalls in the customer’s current system and then design a custom solution to address those challenges. By spending ample time listening and understanding the specific customer needs, our engineers pinpoint the precise solutions to deliver value and that’s where we shine in the industry. Besides, PacSci EMC provides a platform that allows organizations to collect massive amounts of data from the satellites and also create constellations of satellites in space to handle the growing demand for high bandwidth. PacSci EMC ensures that every aspect of a satellite’s life cycle—the launch, orbital journey, and the eventual deorbit—are operated safely and flawlessly.

What are some of the recent achievements and awards won by PacSci EMC?

In 2017, we dedicated some of our capital to launch a CubeSat called PacSciSat into space. This launch was fruitful for our business as it established our competency in the NewSpace market and highlighted the viability of our technology to customers. With the successful launch, we were able to demonstrate our specific sequencing and dispensing capability to launch numerous satellites with unmatched precision and safety. The combination of our recent record of accomplishment in the NewSpace market and our legacy space market history is what makes PacSci EMC the supplier of choice for many organizations. The company was also a top candidate in the NASA iTech competition in 2017, in which, our MAPS™ product for small satellite propulsion won a Top 10 innovation award.

How does the future look like for PacSci EMC?

One of the aspects that differentiate us from other traditional energetic material providers is the intersection between traditional pyrotechnic devices and the modern smart mobile technology. The marriage of these two systems will stimulate tremendous growth for us in the future. Most of our customers in the NewSpace market are interested in our electronic sequencing and precise initiation control solutions. Our ability to assess the customer’s needs and provide an all-in-one enhanced electronics package that controls innumerable pyrotechnic and non-pyrotechnic events will fuel our future growth in this vertical. Our SEA™ technology is driven by innovation at the core affording our customers a space- and flight-proven system for all their future needs.