VERY LOW COST GN&C FOR LAUNCH VEHICLES AND UPPER STAGES

In cooperation with Northrop Corporation, Microcosm proposes a program to develop a star tracker based on the Mini-OWLS three axis miniaturized telescope. The Mini-OWLS optical head, developed and patented by Northrop, weighs only 18 grams and can track 6th magnitude stars with an accuracy of 10 arc seconds. The final weight and power of the complete system, estimated at 3 W and less than 0.5 kg, will depend essentially on the microminiaturization of the electronics and the processing algorithm complexity which determines the computational requirements. The recurring sensor cost is expected to be less than 10% of the cost of current units. While the importance of this development will be greatest in interplanetary flight and other applications where weight is critical, it can also help initiate a new generation of small, low- cost, high-accuracy, Earth-orbiting spacecraft. In Phase I, Microcosm will undertake definition of requirements for a general purpose scientific/military/ commercial star tracker, do the system engineering to establish the feasibility of meeting these requirements with the Mini-OWLS technology, and define a programmatic structure for Phase II and Phase III to bring this technology into operational use as rapidly as possible.