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Active TRL 4 (started at 4, targeting 6)
The Touch-and-Go (TAG) Guidance System (TGS) for small-body and interplanetary sample collection uses optical sensors (navigation camera, LiDAR) and onboard flight software to estimate a spacecraft’s state relative to its target body in near real-time. TAG performs onboard guidance updates to safely control the vehicle as it approaches the surface, informing the vehicle of surface hazards (e.g., rocks and craters) and hazard avoidance maneuvers.
During these flight tests, TGS will gather images of natural terrain landmarks with its navigation camera and perform range-to-surface LiDAR measurements to estimate the flight test vehicle’s state relative to the ground. The TGS flight software will process measurements in a GPS-enhanced onboard navigation system (GEONS) filter, and the onboard guidance system will plan the maneuvers needed for targeting sample sites.
Problem Statement To expand NASA’s robotic missions into deep space at distances from Earth that preclude human-in-the-loop intervention, onboard navigation algorithms are needed that can support autonomous planetary landing and TAG sampling from small bodies (e.g., asteroids, comets). This requires onboard rendering (vs. pre-rendered or pre-captured imagery) in order to operate in the dynamic lighting environments and relatively fast rotation rates of these small bodies. There is also a need for onboard terrain-relative navigation (TRN) and hazard avoidance methods that are distinct from, and improve upon, previous visual-only methods. The onboard computer must render images of what the expected terrain will look like to the onboard cameras, which are then compared to actual images for navigation; these computations must be performed rapidly and on the relatively low computational power of the flight avionics.
Technology Maturation
The three flight tests will provide the system-level relevant environment necessary for all sensors to collect real measurements over planetary-analog terrain, simulating the descent a space vehicle would take as it approaches a rocky surface. It is anticipated that TGS will advance from technology readiness level (TRL) 5 to TRL 6.
- Rapid calculations: Optical sensors and software measure rapidly changing lighting conditions and dynamics of target small bodies in near real-time.
- Improves landings: Onboard guidance aims to enables safe vehicle control to the surface
Future Customers
• NASA planetary science missions
• Commercial lunar and planetary missions
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