VIrtual Super-resolution Optics with Reconfigurable Swarms (VISORS)

Completed TRL 2 (started at 2, targeting 2)

Description

The objective of this task is to design a meter-class sunshade deployable from a CubeSat or SmallSat that would greatly increase the signal-to-noise ratio of ultrahigh angular resolution observations of the solar corona.

Benefits

The technology necessary to deploy a meter-class sunshade will also be applicable, with appropriate specialization, to Small-Sat-based solar and stellar coronagraphs.

Details

Technology area	Aerospace Power and Energy Storage > Power Generation and Energy Conversion > Photovoltaic Electrical Power
Program	Center Independent Research & Development: GSFC IRAD (GSFC IRAD)
Lead organization	Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD
Start date	2019-10-01
End date	2021-09-30

Project contacts

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

Deborah A Amato — deborah.a.amato@nasa.gov
Nikolaos Paschalidis — nikolaos.paschalidis@nasa.gov
Steven D Christe — steven.d.christe@nasa.gov
Anne-marie D Novo-gradac — anne-marie.novo-gradac-1@nasa.gov
Adrian N Daw — adrian.daw@nasa.gov
Douglas M Rabin — douglas.rabin@nasa.gov

How to get involved

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 2) — 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.