SBIR-STTR Award

Additively Manufactured, Ultra-Stable RoboSiC Proximity Imaging CubeSat Telescope
Award last edited on: 3/24/2023

Sponsored Program
SBIR
Awarding Agency
NASA : ARC
Total Award Amount
$121,376
Award Phase
1
Solicitation Topic Code
Z8.08
Principal Investigator
William A Goodman

Company Information

Goodman Technologies LLC (AKA: GT~Optical Materials Solutions LLC)

9551 Giddings Avenue Northeast
Albuquerque, NM 87109
Location: Single
Congr. District: 01
County: Bernalillo

Phase I

Contract Number: 80NSSC20C0622
Start Date: 8/25/2020    Completed: 3/1/2021
Phase I year
2020
Phase I Amount
$121,376
The purpose of sub-topic Z8.08 is to demonstrate the ability to manufacture, test and control ultra-low-cost, ultra-stable telescope systems for 12U CubeSats. Goodman Technologies (GT) offers this proposal in partnership with the Hawaiian Nanotechnology Laboratory (HNL) and the Hawaiian Space Flight Laboratory (HSFL) at the University of Hawaii at M?noa, (UHM, a Minority Serving Institution). Using an ultra-stable telescope that is integral to the 12U CubeSat structure will provide the requisite dimensionally stability for precision pointing of the CubeSat to perform proximity imaging of nearby spacecraft, the moon, or Mars. We will define with our NASA customer (ARC, GSFC, JPL) a reference proximity imaging mission which takes advantage of the 20:1 telephoto ratio of the ultra-stable RoboSiC telescope. Key parameters to be determined for the mission and an assumed camera resolution (e.g., TBD megapixel camera) are: operating range (e.g., 1-100 km) and the resolving capability as a function of object size and distance (e.g., 1-10 cm resolution at a distance of 1 km for an object that is 5-m in length). We will define primary and secondary mirror radius of curvature, clear aperture, surface figure, surface roughness and optical coating requirements (e.g., enhanced/protected aluminum or a proprietary Goodman developed VIS/MWIR/LWIR radiation survivable coating with 10-year mission life), diffraction limited performance out to a full field of view (FOV) of TBD degrees, and acceptable performance out to TBD degrees. Our RoboSiC technologies are “Mission Agnostic” and tunable to requirements. GT recently demonstrated 3D printed and additively manufactured silicon carbide mirror substrates (RoboSiC) at the 25-cm scale for a balloon experiment (BE). This would fill a Critical Technology Gap (extreme dimensional stability) for future missions such as Origins Space Telescope (OST) and Large UV/Optical/IR Surveyor (LUVOIR). Potential NASA Applications (Limit 1500 characters, approximately 150 words) Using an ultra-stable telescope that is integral to the 12U CubeSat structure will provide the requisite dimensionally stability for precision pointing of the CubeSat to perform proximity imaging of nearby spacecraft, the moon, or Mars. Other missions are LUVOIR, HabEx, OST, SPIRIT, LISA , the Balloon Experiments GHAPS and PICTURE-C , and Low-Cost Compact Reflective Telescope for NIR/SWIR Optical Communication. The project meets the needs of multiple scientists at the lead and participating centers, and NASA Priority 1-3 Technology Gaps. Potential Non-NASA Applications (Limit 1500 characters, approximately 150 words) Low cost, lightweight, stable structures are required for Astronomy, optical instruments for imaging, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions for police and paramilitary units, fire fighters, power and pipeline monitoring, search and rescue, atmospheric and ocean monitoring, imagery and mapping for resource management, and disaster relief and communications.

Phase II

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