Platform Isolation and Control

CDI has developed a free-floating isolation and pointing technology that addresses a critical need for free-space optical communications. This research develops a new inertial sensor to replace an obsolete sensor and provide improved robustness and performance, while staying within the size/mass/power and operational environment constraints for space terminals. Packaged into 2-axis strut assemblies, the design is modular to accommodate a wide range of space terminal geometries. Using inertial sensors and non-contact actuators, the design provides 6-DOF isolation with high-bandwidth active stabilization to attenuate a broad range of both on-platform and host-spacecraft disturbances. By developing new inertial sensors tolerant to the deep-space environment, CDI’s isolation and pointing technology will be sufficiently robust and reliable to support all NASA mission classes in the future. Phase I will establish the feasibility of the inertial sensor design through architecture development, simulation, and proof-of-concept prototype demonstration. Phase II will develop and qualify the inertial sensor and then integrate it into an updated design for the 2-axis strut assembly. Four prototype strut assemblies will be delivered in Phase II, complete with design updates from lessons learned on the Psyche DSOC technology demonstration mission.

Planetary mission communication using optical relays back to Earth. Deep-space exploration. The design is scalable to a wide range of deep-space missions; from small solar-system probes, to human Moon and Mars missions. Primary Technology Taxonomy: TX 05.1 Optical Communications.

Commercial Moon and Mars missions that require high bandwidth communications back to Earth. Free-space optical communication in Earth orbit for satellite-to-satellite communication and communication from orbit to ground.

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.

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