End-to-End Mission Design & Trajectory Optimization

This project proposes the integration of the Copernicus and Genesis trajectory design tools to create a new capability for end-to-end mission design and optimization of all flight phases, including Earth ascent, lunar ascent, rendezvous, and lunar descent. This capability is a critical component needed for the next generation of complex human spaceflight design and operations (Orion, HLS, Gateway, Mars) and can serve as a pathfinder for developing a future autonomous, onboard trajectory optimizer.

The current state of the art is to optimize different segments of a mission independently. Ground rules and assumptions are established to allow different teams to work to a shared handoff point and produce a continuous trajectory. The handoff point itself is not optimized. Instead, it constrains the two mission phases, reducing the performance of the overall mission. This technology allows for the removal of the handoff point and for the optimization of the overall trajectory. This technology is broadly applicable, and is desired by many of our collaborators and users across the agency and in industry. For lunar exploration, the technology applies to in-space trajectory design, Earth ascent, lunar ascent, and lunar descent, and could yield improved performance in terms of mass to orbit, mass to the surface, and launch opportunities.

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.