autoNGC CAPSTONE Flight Experiment Completion

The Goddard-developed autonomy flight software, autoNGC, is scheduled for flight testing on the Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment (CAPSTONE) extended mission during fiscal year 2026. The flight test will advance autoNGC to TRL 7 for autonomous onboard navigation and guidance capabilities in the cislunar environment, with particular emphasis on the lunar Gateway near-rectilinear halo orbit (NRHO). A successful flight test would position autoNGC for infusion into future missions including moon-to-mars and enabling space situational awareness for national space security in cislunar space.

Flight tests autoNGC capabilities on CAPSTONE spacecraft to achieve TRL 7; Demonstrates autonomous navigation, guidance, and control for future lunar and Mars missions; Validates onboard maneuver planning and celestial navigation algorithms in space environment

This is a mature technology (TRL 7+) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.

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.