← Back to NASA Technology Projects

Precision Deployable Mast for the SWOT KaRIn Instrument

Completed TRL 4

Description

Design and prototype a lightweight, precision-deployable mast for the Ka-band Radar Interferometer (KaRIn) antennas in the Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) mission. Performance goals are: Azimuth pointing deployment precision: < 0.11° Elevation stability: < 16 milli-arcsec First mode frequency: > 10 Hz Technologies including a precision deployable mast containing a multi-joint cable driven precision latch mechanism and a pointing adjustment mechanism.

Details

Technology areaCommunications, Navigation, and Orbital Debris Tracking and Characterization Systems > Radio Frequency > Innovative Antennas
ProgramAdvanced Component Technology Program (ACT)
Lead organizationNASA Headquarters, Washington, DC
Start date2012-02-07
End date2014-06-29

Project contacts

Listed on TechPort itself — the most direct way to ask about this specific project.

How to get involved

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 4) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.