Spacecraft Formation Control withDirect Interferometer-Output Feedback

Optimal Synthesis Inc. Los Altos CA  

ACCOMPLISHMENTS Formulated control problem for interferometer concepts

with multiple pairs of apertures. Developed spatial-domain and frequency-domain

processing techniques to estimate interferometer control errors.

Verified feasibility of technical approach by testing estimation and control solutions with interferometer simulation in fast-prototyping environment.

COMMERCIALIZATION Phase II collaboration with specific space interferometer

mission will enhance technology readiness for NASA to consider adoption for deployment.

Separate funding will be sought from DoD to transfer technology to space-based reconnaissance/surveillance.

Potential in medical and industrial applications will be explored.

SmallBusinessInnovationResearch

2001 Phase I, SS5-064

GOVERNMENT/SCIENCE APPLICATIONS Space science applications to enable space

interferometer missions for imaging celestial bodies and phenomena

Earth and planetary sciences to enable orbiting interferometers to map and collect geo-spatial data

NASA and DoD as customers Space-based reconnaissance and surveillance Synthetic-aperture-radar (SAR) interferometry

Goddard Space Flight Center

INNOVATIONMaintains spacecraft and interferometer-component formation in interferometry mission by exploiting its primary scientific product. Uses these measurements as a form of real-scene wavefront sensing to infer the control error towards a formation-control solution.

Points of Contact:NASA – Jesse Leitner (301) 286-2630Optimal Synthesis Inc. -Victor Cheng (650) 210-8282

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