An Advanced Optical Navigation Camera for Autonomous Navigation, Guidance, and Control

Completed TRL 3 (started at 2, targeting 3)

Description

This prototype hardware development aims to mature lower cost sensor technology for the harsh demands of sensing through dynamic optical and lighting environments encountered in Autonomous Navigation, Guidance, and Control (autoNGC) applications.

Benefits

This will benefit various mission applications requiring Guidance Navigation & Control (GN&C) autonomy, and multi-function detector capabilities for science and/or navigation instruments.

GN&C teams will be able to maximize their mission concept of operations, simulations and hardware development for cis-Lunar missions and Commercial Lander programs.

Details

Technology area	GN&C > Navigation Technologies > Navigation Sensors
Program	Center Independent Research & Development: GSFC IRAD (GSFC IRAD)
Lead organization	Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD
Start date	2020-10-01
End date	2021-09-30

Project contacts

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

Kendall D Mauldin — kendall.d.mauldin@nasa.gov
Lavida D Cooper — lavida.d.cooper@nasa.gov
Sean R Semper — sean.r.semper@nasa.gov
Augustyn Waczynski — augustyn.waczynski@nasa.gov
Robert W Moss — robert.w.moss@nasa.gov
Shane M Williams — shane.m.williams@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.