The mission of Aurora’s Research and Development business sector and it’s Research and Development Center (RDC) is to perform basic and applied research supporting Aurora’s core business and product development efforts in the areas of unmanned aircraft systems, small space systems, and other flight vehicles. The RDC supports all of Aurora’s other business sectors (Advanced Concepts, Tactical Systems, and Aerostructures), as well as serving the needs of external clients as diverse as NASA, the DoD, and major government contractors.

Another key aspect of the RDC’s mission is to further research cooperation with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and other universities. Aurora’s synergistic relationship with MIT gives access to the innovative ideas coming from MIT faculty and students, and joins that with Aurora’s proven ability to bring technologies from the lab into actual systems that can address customer needs. Aurora’s R&D sector is maturing technologies across a wide range of disciplines. We focus on areas such as propulsion, guidance and control, fault-tolerant avionics systems, as well as cutting-edge new vehicle designs. The R&D sector is also developing innovative subsystems and components to integrate into these technology markets. In October 2007, Aurora acquired Payload Systems Inc. (PSI), a company providing science and engineering services for spaceflight and terrestrial applications since 1984. PSI’s programs and capabilities were merged with those of Aurora’s R&D sector, further expanding and complementing the group’s portfolio of technologies and expertise.

Aurora recognizes that research and development – whether for terrestrial or orbital use – demands exacting systems and components for unique applications. Our science and engineering solutions are tailored to our clients’ precise needs and specifications.