Development of a compact optical pointing and tracking design to correct ranging error in laser satellite to satellite tracking (PAT)

Completed TRL 3 (started at 2, targeting 3)

Description

We propose to develop a patent-pending compact design for optical pointing, acquisition, and tracking (PAT) to correct unwanted range error in laser Satellite to Satellite Tracking (SST). Leveraging recent advances on key PAT components, our design can significantly reduce SWaP of such SST instruments to enable SmallSat planetary and Earth missions not possible with prior art.

Benefits

Significantly reduce SWaP of such SST instruments to enable SmallSat planetary and Earth missions not possible with prior art.

GRAIL at Mercury” and other planetary missions;

•understand impact formation and subsequent modification;

•Characterize the deep interior.

Details

Technology area	Communications, Navigation, and Orbital Debris Tracking and Characterization Systems > Optical Communications > Pointing, Acquisition, and Tracking Techniques and Technologies
Program	Center Independent Research & Development: GSFC IRAD (GSFC IRAD)
Lead organization	Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD
Start date	2018-10-01
End date	2019-09-30

Project contacts

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

Brook Lakew — brook.lakew-1@nasa.gov
Michael J Amato — michael.j.amato@nasa.gov
Terence A Doiron — terence.a.doiron@nasa.gov
Jeffrey R Chen — jeffrey.r.chen@nasa.gov
Erwan M Mazarico — erwan.m.mazarico@nasa.gov
Guangning Yang — guangning.yang-1@nasa.gov

How to get involved

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 3) — 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.