CC22 Ultralight Starshade

Completed TRL 3 (started at 1, targeting 3)

Description

Can we develop a 100M scale starshade with a low enough mass for a single launch?
NASA is seeking to challenge the GrabCAD Community to design an ultralight starshade structure to support the proposed NASA Advanced Innovative Concepts (NIAC) study called the Hybrid Observatory for Earth-like Exoplanets (HOEE). The HOEE study team seeks ultralightweight structural concepts for a starshade that could help determine if there is life on planets around other stars. Can we develop a 100M scale starshade with a low enough mass for a single launch?

Benefits

The global competition received 60 entries While none were able to meet all the requirements we received some extremely creative submissions that provide some really interesting ideas and concepts that deserve to be examined.
Incrementally Advanced Towards a Solution
Planned for future implementation
CAD/Mech Design

Details

Technology area	Sensors and Instruments
Program	Prizes, Challenges, and Crowdsourcing (PCC)
Lead organization	Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD
Start date	2022-06-01
End date	2022-09-30

Project contacts

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

John C Mather — john.c.mather@nasa.gov

How to get involved

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 3) — 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.