SBIR/STTR Research Award
Guidance Algorithms and Software that Enable Spacecraft Proximity Operations with Electric Propulsion
Award amount
$49,996Program and phase
SBIR · Phase IAward year
2021Award details
- Awarding agency
- Department of Defense
- Branch
- Air Force
- Recipient company
- STARFISH SPACE, INC.
- Proposal award date
- 2021-04-15
- Contract end date
- 2021-07-14
- UEI
- QM7PN38M94U7
- Solicitation number
- X20.3
- Topic code
- AF203-CSO2
Research abstract
Starfish Space is developing autonomous Rendezvous and Proximity Operation (RPO) software to enable a new set of in-space vehicles and missions. The Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) software is capable of docking using exclusively low-thrust electric propulsion. Removing the reliance on chemical propulsion enables small space tugs with 8x more orbital maneuvering capability. The software capitalizes on Starfish Space co-founder Dr. Trevor Bennett's novel extensions to linear relative orbit equations (LROEs). The LROE format is combined with modern computing techniques to reliably and efficiently run on-board RPO vehicles. The guidance software is combined with sensor-fusing navigation filters and vehicle control algorithms to maneuver as desired in proximity to the target asset. The software stack is running in a physics-based simulation, and is ready for testing in simulated scenarios of interest.
Technology keywords
Not reported
Other awards by this recipient
Verified by the same UEI. These are other public SBIR/STTR award pages, not a merged company record.
- Project Theseus: Orbital Infrastructure Outfitting enabled by a Universal OSAM Connector for Cost-Effective In-Space Assembly
- Starfish Space STRATFI
- Software and Hardware Development for "Manta", an Articulating Thruster Boom Enabling Responsive Servicing by the Otter Space Vehicle
- Nautilus: GEO Survivability of Novel In-Space Docking Hardware & Capture Mechanism for High-Radiation Orbital Environments
- Nautilus Capture Mechanism Configuration: A Study to Compare Tolerances of Electrostatic and Gecko-like Adhesion of Spacecraft Docking System for Long-Duration Space Missions
Awards with the same topic code
Verified by an exact topic code match. This is not a text-similarity match.
- Hermes - Data Relay to pLEO
- Space Capability for OPIR Ranking and Evaluation (SCORE)
- Catalytic Propellant Decomposition Chamber for Multi-Mode Propulsion
- Dynamic ISR planning with multi-level security access for space asset tasking
- CEPHALOPOD: 21st Century Software for Satellite Proximity Operations
Research funding history
17 SBIR/STTR records share this UEI (2021–2025). Reported award amounts total $13,799,525. Reported amounts are not federal obligations.
Phases: Phase I, Phase II, Phase II – Direct to Phase II
Agencies: Department of Defense, National Aeronautics and Space Administration