Miniature Interferometric CubeSat-Ready Optical Sub-arcsecond Telescope Array Star Tracker

To address the NASA need for enabling communication and navigation technologies for distributed small spacecraft beyond low Earth orbit, Intellisense Systems, Inc. (Intellisense) proposes in Phase II to continue the development of the new Miniature Interferometric CubeSat-Ready Optical Sub-arcsecond Telescope Array (MICROSTAR) Star Tracker for optical navigation of distributed CubeSats. This high-accuracy star tracker for lowndash;size, weight, and power (SWaP; 0.25 U) CubeSat attitude determination is based on multi-aperture interferometric fringe detection modules with no moving parts. The innovative use of the interferometry fringe methodology developed by NASArsquo;s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and its implementation in planar waveguide optics will enable a modular compact integration of the proposed system that is capable of long-term, high-accuracy attitude determination for robust CubeSat control. In Phase I, Intellisense developed a laboratory prototype of MICROSTARrsquo;s key technology and demonstrated its performance parameters, including high-accuracy attitude positioning for navigation, high-precision pointing and tracking for long-range optical communication, and optimal power budget for extended operational longevity. We also developed a Phase II plan. In Phase II, Intellisense will develop a prototype of the MICROSTAR system that will be integrated with a commercial off-the-shelf 1 U CubeSat platform to support laboratory testing and field demonstration for development of space-qualifiable and commercially available CubeSat sensor payloads.