High-order Wavefront Control for High-contrast Imaging on Space-rated Processors

Introduction: “Coronagraph contrast stability” is an identified Tier 1 gap for Exoplanet Exploration (ExEP) in NASA’s 2019 Astrophysics Biennial Technology Report. This proposal investigates the performance of advanced wavefront control algorithms on space-rated processor equivalents (D.3 1.2.3). NASA class-A missions, such as the IR/O/UV telescope recommended by the Astro2020 decadal survey, will incorporate radiation-hardened processors and potentially Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs). “Adaptive wavefront control algorithms” have not been tested on radiation-hardened components, although Astro2020 identified them as one of the “high-priority technologies to mature”. Onboard high-order wavefront sensing control (HOWFSC) was initially planned for the Roman Space Telescope (RST) Coronagraph Instrument. However, it was de-scoped due to time and budget constraints. The ground-in-the-loop approach used for RST is suboptimal for future missions that will likely require control updates on much shorter time scales. We propose to advance the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of onboard HOWFSC to 3, before the mission hardware selection process that typically occurs several years before launch. There are uncertainties in performance associated for HOWFSC on radiation-hardened processors and/or FPGAs. Radiation-hardened component performance significantly lags off-the-shelf components. Even the next generation of radiation-hardened processors might not be powerful enough to run state-of-the-art HOWFSC algorithms. FPGAs can be customized to improve performance, but their functionality heavily depends on implementation details. Porting HOWFSC to radiation-hardened processors and FPGAs may be further impaired by the rigid coding and testing practices required by a class-A mission (particularly when machine learning is involved in HOWFSC algorithms). The proposed work is crucial for assessing these risks long enough before the hardware selection process for the IR/O/UV large telescope so that technology gaps can be identified and mitigated. Approach: We will implement several HOWFSC algorithms on equivalents to radiation-hardened processors and FPGAs. An optical model relevant for the IR/O/UV Large Strategic Mission will be run on a separate machine and receive control inputs from the space-rated processors. We will document the performance of space-rated components and any challenges in porting HOWFSC algorithms to them. We will make predictions for the development effort necessary to ensure that HOWFSC computation consumes less than 5% of mission time with an optical setup consistent with that expected for the IR/O/UV telescope. Expected Results: 1) Improved time and resource consumption estimates for state-of-the-art HOWFSC algorithms on hardware relevant to the IR/O/UV Large Strategic Mission. 2) Identification of potential risks, for example, long execution times, limited radiation-hardened random-access memory, and incompatibility of algorithms with FPGAs. 3) Comparison of alternative HOWFSC approaches and processing architectures, assessing the impact on science yield, taking into account their performance as well as computation time. Significance of Results: This work will lead to an improved understanding of the risks associated with wavefront control onboard a space coronagraph. We will assess how class-A mission processing and software requirements impact exoplanet yield. We will identify technology gaps that need to be addressed and matured to enable onboard HOWFSC for an IR/O/UV telescope mission.

The Astrophysics Research and Analysis program (APRA) supports suborbital and suborbital-class investigations, development of detectors and supporting technology, laboratory astrophysics, and limited ground based observing. Basic research proposals in these areas are solicited for investigations that are relevant to NASA's programs in astronomy and astrophysics, including the entire range of photons, gravitational waves, and particle astrophysics. The emphasis of this solicitation is on technologies and investigations that advance NASA astrophysics missions and goals.

This is a mature technology (TRL 7+) — 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.