Space-Borne Ultra Low Noise Clock – High TRL Engineering module for VBLI telescope and High Precision Clock Enabled Astrophysics

Completed TRL 4 (started at 2, targeting 4)

Description

1.Development of an Ultra-high stability space qualified clock and clock synchronization system for science applications

2.System will service mission of Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) in ground-to-space or space-to-space configurations.

Benefits

This work will address the identified critical gap of extreme accuracy and precision clock knowledge for these large-data volume, precision navigation and geodesy, mass change, VLBI science missions.

Details

Technology area	Sensors and Instruments
Program	Center Independent Research & Development: GSFC IRAD (GSFC IRAD)
Lead organization	Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD
Start date	2024-10-01
End date	2025-09-30

Project contacts

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

Bradley T Hill — bradley.t.hill@nasa.gov
Kendall D Mauldin — kendall.d.mauldin@nasa.gov
Lavida D Cooper — lavida.d.cooper@nasa.gov
Guangning Yang — guangning.yang-1@nasa.gov

How to get involved

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 4) — 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.