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Advanced Spacecraft Navigation and Timing Using Celestial Gamma-Ray Sources

Award Information
Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Branch: N/A
Contract: NNX12CE15P
Agency Tracking Number: 114269
Amount: $124,985.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: O4.02
Solicitation Number: N/A
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2011
Award Year: 2012
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2012-02-13
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2012-08-13
Small Business Information
155 East Owasso Lane
Shoreview, MN 55126-3034
United States
DUNS: 788542905
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Suneel Sheikh
 Principal Investigator
 (651) 484-2084
 sheikh@asterlabs.com
Business Contact
 Suneel Sheikh
Title: Business Official
Phone: (651) 484-2084
Email: sheikh@asterlabs.com
Research Institution
 Stub
Abstract

The proposed novel program will use measurements of the high-energy photon output from gamma-ray celestial sources to design a new, unique navigation system. This Gamma-ray source Localization-Induced Navigation and Timing, or "GLINT", concept provides deep-space vehicles the capability for self-navigation based upon measurements from observations of these source signals. In the past, gamma-ray sources have been coarsely localized on the sky. The Swift mission now provides high-precision source localizations, allowing the potential inversion of the differential timing problem to independently constrain the positions of spacecraft with gamma-ray detection equipment. A comprehensive study is proposed of the necessary characteristics for navigation of the high-energy (Ephoton>20 keV) celestial sources and the associated detectors used to collect their signal, detailed development of the algorithms and filters used to process the source signals and vehicle trajectory data, architecture design of an operational system, and an assessment of the potential performance and benefits directly for future deep-space exploration missions. Both on-board self-navigation techniques and post-processed techniques will be studied. Extensive simulation incorporating existing source observational data and orbit trajectory programs, including publicly available NASA software tools will provide a basis for our analysis and performance assessment.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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