Center Innovation Fund: GSFC CIF
Formation Flying with a Beach Ball Coronagraph (FFTB)
Project Introduction
This Early-stage CIF will produce a formation-flying test bed (FFTB) of a two-spacecraft (one passive, one active) solar coronagraph, increasing this concept from TRL-2 to TRL-4 upon conclusion. The approach is to develop prototype hardware and control algorithms, and test this system at an existing GSFC Sun Simulator facility in Bldg. 21 by the end of July, 2016.
Hardware-in-the-loop testing of formation flying control software using actual, planned CubeSat hardware.
More »Anticipated Benefits
This will help demonstrate the formation flying capabilities for a future CubeSat or Heliophysics Explorer. The development can also be used in the future as a starting point for more complex formation flying, including both Heliophysics and Astrophysics applications.
More »Primary U.S. Work Locations and Key Partners
| Organizations Performing Work | Role | Type | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
Goddard Space Flight Center
(GSFC)
|
Lead Organization | NASA Center | Greenbelt, MD |
Primary U.S. Work Locations
-
Maryland
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Organizational Responsibility
Responsible Mission Directorate:
- Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD)
Lead Center / Facility:
- Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC)
Responsible Program:
- Center Innovation Fund: GSFC CIF
Project Management
Program Director:
Principal Investigator:
Project Duration
Start: Oct 2015
End: Sep 2016
Technology Maturity (TRL)
| Start: | 2 |
| Current: | 2 |
| Estimated End: | 4 |
Applied Research
Development
Demo & Test
Technology Areas
Primary:
- TA 8 Science Instruments, Observatories, and Sensor Systems
- TA 8.2 Observatories
- TA 8.2.3 Distributed Aperture
Other / Cross-cutting:
- TA 5 Communications, Navigation, and Orbital Debris Tracking and Characterization Systems
- TA 5.4 Position, Navigation, and Timing
- TA 5.4.2 Onboard Auto Navigation and Maneuver