Vastly Improved Search for Interstellar Asteroids, Year 2

Completed TRL 5 (started at 4, targeting 5)

Description

The first interstellar object (ISO) (Oumuamua) was detected after 10 years of observations. The proposed concept would be able to find 10X more Interstellar Objects at a ~100X lower cost as compared to the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) under construction. Higher detection rates require detection of fast moving objects and searching a wide field of view. Once a dozen of ISOs have been detected, NASA may consider sending a probe to “flyby or rendezvous” with an ISO.

Benefits

Key innovation is the combination of advanced synthetic tracking, to detect objects moving at high speeds, with low cost small wide FOV telescopes using large format (150Mpix) CMOS sensors. This task will demonstrate a proof of concept using the algorithms on a single telescope.

Details

Technology area	Sensors and Instruments > Observatories
Program	Center Innovation Fund: JPL CIF (JPL CIF)
Lead organization	Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA
Start date	2020-10-01
End date	2021-09-30

Project contacts

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

Michael Shao — michael.shao@jpl.nasa.gov

How to get involved

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 5) — 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.