Interferometric Tracker for CubeSats Navy SBIR FY2012.2 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2012.2 Topic No.: N122-146 Topic Title: Interferometric Tracker for CubeSats Proposal No.: N122-146-0061 Firm: Optical Physics Company 26610 Agoura Road Suite 240 Calabasas, California 91302-3857 Contact: Chien-Chung Chen Phone: (818) 880-2907 Web Site: www.opci.com Abstract: Optical Physics Company (OPC) is proposing to design, fabricate, test and deliver a payload package suitable for testing on a CubeSat. The payload's design is based on OPC's proven interferometric star tracker with demonstrated extraordinary accuracy in detecting and tracking many faint sources simultaneously in many different types of demanding missions. The Phase I effort will culminate in a Critical Design Review (CDR). The rapid technical progress is made possible by other past and ongoing work on this star tracker. During the Phase II effort, a prototype of the CubeSat payload will be built and demonstrated in a laboratory space environment. Benefits: CubeSats are gaining momentum with commercial and government organizations. The proposed CubeSat payload is derived from a proven baseline design that can serve multiple space and airborne missions. This creates an unprecedented level of "economies of scale" for the component leading to significant cost savings and manufacturing agility. OPC has already demonstrated success with transitioning technologies developed under SBIR funding to ongoing research and acquisition programs. In particular, OPC has become a preferred supplier of deformable mirrors for high energy lasers. In the case of the interferometric tracker, OPC is steadily progressing towards becoming a star tracker device manufacturer. There are multiple avenues for technology transition. Besides tracking light sources, the interferometric tracker can also be deployed in high precision star trackers for spacecraft guidance navigation and control (GN&C) and for GPS-independent navigation on airborne platforms. Return