Astrobotic Terrain Relative Navigation and Visual Velocimetry Sensor (ATRN-TP)

Develop a low-cost, reliable, high-performance, stand-alone Terrain Relative Navigation (TRN) and Visual Velocimetry sensor and an accompanying Mission technology suite to precisely deliver robotic landers to planetary surfaces, enabling high-impact science and commercial missions. The proposing team of Astrobotic Technology, Inc., Moog Space and Defense, Moog Broad Reach, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), and NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) will develop a low-cost, reliable, high-performance, stand-alone Terrain Relative Navigation (TRN) and Visual Velocimetry (VV) sensor and an accompanying Mission technology suite (including simulation and map generation tools). The low-mass (~2.5 kg), low power (~15 W peak), passive-optical TRN sensor is designed to precisely deliver robotic landers to planetary surfaces, enabling high-impact science and commercial missions. Following a rigorous terrestrial development campaign, the team will raise the sensor to TRL 7 by flying it to the lunar surface as a technology demonstration on a commercial lander. Demonstrating these capabilities will allow the team to help NASA dramatically increase the capabilities of any commercial lunar or other deep space mission and infuse TRN capabilities into high-priority NASA missions such as Mars Sample Return, a Europa lander mission, and numerous New Frontiers- and Discovery-class missions at a low cost. TRN is an enabling technology that will drive an increase in public and private landed missions and activities. Additionally, customers of precision landing will be able to purchase the developed TRN sensor “off-the-shelf,” as they would a star tracker. These navigation capabilities will enable access the related markets of space infrastructure monitoring and satellite servicing, generating a broader commercial and OGA market for optical navigation to further reduce development costs for NASA and future NASA missions.

Terrain Relative Navigation provides an onboard capabiltity to use camera images to provide precision-level landing accuracy (roughly 100 m). TRN requires only a camera with a view of the planetary object's surface and a processor. This is a very powerful capability without the need to develop a specialized GN&C sensor. Under this agreement, JPL will provide expertise and consultation to Astrobotic to mature the TRN algorithm to flight quality. Astrobotic will demonstrate the algorithm at the Moon on a robotic lunar mission. Astrobotic will also develop a commercial capability to provide TRN sensors and/or services to other commercial companies. The resulting products will be directly applicable to high-priority NASA missions and will benefit all future missions requiring precision landing and surface access. Once TRN is affordable and reliable, it is difficult to imagine any science or commercial mission that would not use the capability. The technology has the potential to greatly reduce mission costs by reducing traverse distances between a landing site and scientific targets.

This is a mature technology (TRL 9) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.

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.