By Simone D'Amico June 17, 2023
The first two distributed space missions enabled by GNC algorithms and flight software of the Stanford Space Rendezvous Laboratory are on the manifest of Rocket Lab's Electron (NASA's STARLING, July 15th 2023) and SpaceX's Falcon-9 Transponder-12 (NSF's VISORS, October 2024).
Link to NASA's STARLING Mission
Link to the NSF's VISORS Mission
On STARLING (4x 6U CubeSats), our algorithms and related flight software are intended to demonstrate the first optical navigation system distributed across a swarm of nanosatellites for autonomous orbit determination (PNT) independent from GNSS using inter-satellite angles only measurements.
On VISORS (2x 6U CubeSats), our algorithms and related flight software are intended to demonstrate the first distributed telescope with 40m focal length and 0.1" imaging resolution of the solar corona through precise formationflying using carrier-phase differential GNSS, optimal control, and cold-gas propulsion.
I took the photo below during the temporary handover of the 4x STARLING's CubeSats from NASA ARC to Rocket Lab for the launch in July 2023. It is literally a satellite swarm in a box. We really hope to "see" you soon dancing, communicating, and staring harmoniously at one another in orbit.
Thanks Roger Hunter and NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration, thanks Mangala S. and National Science Foundation (NSF) for the vision and the big opportunity with these first-of-its-kind distributed space missions!
Simone D'Amico is the founder and director of SLAB.
