Autonomous Navigation, Guidance and Control (autoNGC)

Active TRL 5 (started at 4, targeting 6)

Description

FY25 start.

Advance onboard autonomous navigation, guidance, and control (autoNGC) capabilities ready for adoption by missions including hardware-in-the-loop testbed capabilities for verification before flight.

Fill PNT-related technology shortfalls needed in support of Artemis III+ and future missions, including those identified as high priorities in the STMD Civil Space Shortfall List: Rank #4 - PNT for In-Orbit and Surface Applications, Rank #11 – Autonomous Guidance and Navigation for Deep Space Missions, Rank #14 – Deep Space Autonomous Navigation.

Goals:

Provide resilient PNT solutions across multiple orbit regimes
Lower operations cost through onboard autonomy
Provide reusable and customizable PNT solution that lowers mission NRE costs over time
Enable new mission capabilities through real-time in-situ navigation and guidance

Benefits

Reduced Operations Costs
Reduced reliance on ground-based assets
Earth Independent Operations (EIO)
Enable new mission capabilities
Distributed Systems Missions (DSM)
Communications Limited Missions

Details

Technology area	Communications, Navigation, and Orbital Debris Tracking and Characterization Systems
Program	Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN)
Lead organization	Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD
Start date	2024-10-01
End date	2028-09-30

Project contacts

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

Marie T Piasecki — marie.t.piasecki@nasa.gov
Sun H Hur-diaz — sun.h.hur-diaz@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.