MoonCast: Space-Rated Codec for Ultra-Low Delay, True Color Capture Lunar Broadcasting T8.08 Lunar Imagery

This Phase I effort proposes the development of MoonCast™, a modular, low SWaP-C, lunar-rated codec that can do true color capture and ultra-low delay broadcasting (< 250 ms added to distance latency between earth and moon) in space environments. Its flexible form factor enables both Intravehicular (IVA) and Extravehicular (EVA) applications. MoonCast™ is a significant improvement from the current state-of-the-art, which struggles to capture true color fidelity and is unable to transmit real-time video under tight bandwidth constraints. The effort will be accomplished through a strategic partnership between Texas A&M University (TAMU), a university with a strong record in supporting NASA missions, 6P Color, a company building a system called Full Color Range (FCR) to maintain color integrity captured from a camera, and TRL11, a privately-funded, revenue-generating early stage company with expertise in building low-latency full motion video solutions for space environments through its novel video edge processing software VIPOnly. Key personnel for this effort include experts in customized video compression/codec, real time visualizations, space imagery, resilient information systems and content distribution, and commercialization of video systems/codecs. The funding for this effort will be spent on assessing the feasibility of integration between the multiple subsystems (mainly FCR and TRL11’s VIPOnly software with the Nikon Z9) and building its design to advance it from TRL 4 to TRL 6. This will strongly position the team to develop a working flight-like ground prototype unit in the follow-on Phase II. The technology developed in this Phase I has applications for the lunar, spacecraft, and drone markets, where low delay video streaming plays a role in system health monitoring, situational awareness, scientific documentation, and facilitating safe operations. These markets are worth billions of dollars today and are growing rapidly.