Miniature Interferometric CubeSat-Ready Optical Sub-arcsecond Telescope Array Star Tracker

To address the NASA need for enabling communication and navigation technologies for distributed small spacecraft beyond low Earth orbit, Intellisense Systems, Inc. (Intellisense) proposes in Phase II to continue the development of the new Miniature Interferometric CubeSat-Ready Optical Sub-arcsecond Telescope Array (MICROSTAR) Star Tracker for optical navigation of distributed CubeSats. This high-accuracy star tracker for lowsize, weight, and power (SWaP; 0.25 U) CubeSat attitude determination is based on multi-aperture interferometric fringe detection modules with no moving parts. The innovative use of the interferometry fringe methodology developed by NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and its implementation in planar waveguide optics will enable a modular compact integration of the proposed system that is capable of long-term, high-accuracy attitude determination for robust CubeSat control. In Phase I, Intellisense developed a laboratory prototype of MICROSTARs key technology and demonstrated its performance parameters, including high-accuracy attitude positioning for navigation, high-precision pointing and tracking for long-range optical communication, and optimal power budget for extended operational longevity. We also developed a Phase II plan. In Phase II, Intellisense will develop a prototype of the MICROSTAR system that will be integrated with a commercial off-the-shelf 1 U CubeSat platform to support laboratory testing and field demonstration for development of space-qualifiable and commercially available CubeSat sensor payloads. The MICROSTAR system demonstrated in Phase I addresses NASA’s need for new communication and navigation technologies to provide relative and absolute position knowledge of small spacecraft. Designed for high-precision navigation of distributed CubeSats, MICROSTAR fills several key technological gaps. MICROSTAR’s innovation is in the use of a phased, high-numerical-aperture, planar waveguide lens, telescope array interferometer with high-resolution CMOS sensor and micro-optics. The innovative, integrated, modular, Fizeau interferometric star tracker design implements NASA JPL’s stellar interferometer fringe detection technique. This will allow MICROSTAR to meet NASA’s sub-arcsecond accuracy requirement for CubeSat attitude determination. Objectives of the MICROSTAR star tracker project are (1) refinement and analysis of the MICROSTAR system, taking into account NASA’s needs, (2) development and fabrication of the MICROSTAR components, (3) Assembly, testing, and demonstration of the MICROSTAR prototype, and (4) commercialization of the MICROSTAR technology. In Phase II, Intellisense will optimize and refine the design and build, test, and deliver a demonstration MICROSTAR star tracker prototype at TRL-5. The key milestones of Phase II will be fabrication of a phase-matched planar waveguide lens telescope array for Fizeau interferometry; integration and testing of the prototype in a relevant environment; and collaboration with NASA (e.g., JPL and Goddard) and a commercial CubeSat test laboratory (e.g., Cal Poly CubeSat Lab). The technology will be developed into space-qualifiable and commercially available CubeSat communication payloads through Phase II and beyond. Deliverables will include an IT Security Management Plan, a New Technology Summary Report, and a New Technology Report if technology is developed under the award. Reports will be submitted in accordance with contractual requirements.

With its low-SWaP-C design, MICROSTAR will be suitable for many NASA applications, including lunar, Mars, and deep space distributed science missions, and for distributed aperture virtual telescopes, small spacecraft swarms for gravimetry and transient phenomena observations, and proximity operations for inspection of space assets. Additional applications include high-precision relative attitude determination between CubeSats and optical communications. Non-NASA applications of MICROSTAR include commercial surveillance satellites, space telescopes (DoD), homeland security and law enforcement aerial surveillance, agricultural and geospatial imaging, high data rate FSO communication, and FSO nodes on UAV platforms. The sub-arcsecond precision of MICROSTAR could also enable the scientific community to collect high-accuracy astronomical data.

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.