← Back to NASA Technology Projects
Terrain Relative Navigation Descent Imager (TRNDI) Testing
Canceled
TRL 4 (started at 4, targeting 4)
Description
The Vision Navigation System (VNS) project plans to perform flight demonstration of cross-cutting vision based navigation and hazard avoidance in support of precision planetary landing. The proposed effort will mature the VNS technology to TRL 6 through flight demonstrations on a suborbital reusable launch vehicle (sRLV).
Benefits
The vision-based navigation and hazard avoidance technology will benefit future NASA missions, other government agencies such as the Dept. of Defense, and the commercial space industry by reducing the risks associated with precision planetary landings.
Details
| Technology area | GN&C > Navigation Technologies > Onboard Navigation Algorithms |
| Program | Flight Opportunities (FO) |
| Lead organization | The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc., Cambridge, MA |
| Start date | 2012-03-23 |
| End date | 2017-08-14 |
Project contacts
Listed on TechPort itself — the most direct way to ask about this specific project.
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.