University of Texas at Austin¶
Type: Academia | Location: Austin, TX | SST projects: 1 (Active)
SST Portfolio¶
| Project | Title | Period | TRL | Status | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 106826 | Surface Feature-Based Navigation & Timing | 2020-07 → 2027-08 | 3→7 | Active | unknown (demo pending) |
What Was Developed¶
Crater-based Navigation and Timing (CNT): ML-based PNT system that identifies lunar craters via optical cameras to estimate spacecraft position and time bias — independent of the Deep Space Network. Targets 100 m per-axis position and 100 ms timing accuracy for spacecraft in 100–1,000 km lunar orbits. Uses visible + infrared cameras (CubeSat-compatible sensor suite).
All CNT software components integrated and tested using simulated detections and Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) images. Performance metrics met in simulation.
Key People¶
Brandon M Jones — PI. Director of CAELUS Laboratory and Texas Spacecraft Laboratory at UT Austin. Research: space situational awareness, satellite navigation across near-Earth, cislunar, and beyond.
- TechPort footprint: 2 projects across 2 programs:
- 91512 — Automated Robust Maneuver Design (STRG, CU Boulder, 2015–2019, TRL 2→3)
- 106826 — Surface Feature Nav (SST, UT Austin, 2020–2027)
- Career: CU Boulder → UT Austin. STRG→SST pipeline confirmed.
Renato Zanetti — Co-I. Navigation expert at UT Austin. Single TechPort project (this one).
Upstream Lineage¶
| Source | Program | Connection | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| 91512 Automated Maneuver Design | STRG | Same PI (Jones), CU Boulder → UT Austin. Autonomous maneuver planning → autonomous nav | confirmed |
Downstream Impact¶
SCOPE-1 Mission (In Development)¶
SpaceCraft for Optical-based Position Estimation-1 (SCOPE-1): LEO CubeSat demonstration that will validate the CNT algorithms using coastal features (instead of lunar craters) as a proof-of-concept for the lunar application.
- NASA agreement for launch secured
- NASA cooperative agreement for build + software + testing
- Target launch: end of 2026
- Built by Texas Spacecraft Laboratory (student-led)
- If successful, validates the core algorithm for operational lunar missions
Mission Context¶
The technology addresses a documented gap: cost-effective PNT for cislunar spacecraft independent of DSN (an over-subscribed asset). Relevant to Gateway, Artemis surface missions, and any CubeSat/SmallSat operating near the Moon.
Relationship to other SST navigation work: - John Christian (GA Tech) 155359: autonomous optical nav using planet observations (different approach — horizon-based, not crater-based) - UCLA/Matsko 106828: LunaNet PNT via photonic clocks (complementary — timing layer vs. positioning layer) - Caltech/Vahala 155361: microphotonic clock for cislunar (timing source that CNT could consume)
Publications¶
No NTRS citations found for this project. Academic publications likely in AIAA/AAS venues (Jones has extensive Google Scholar profile in navigation).
Assessment¶
Outcome category: unknown (demo pending) — SCOPE-1 launch ~end 2026 will be the decisive test.
Pattern: "STRG→SST Pipeline" — Jones built autonomous navigation foundations at CU Boulder under STRG, then moved to UT Austin and applied them to lunar surface-feature nav under SST. The career move IS the technology transfer.
Distinctive: Only Active SST project with a university PI (most Active projects are industry/center-led). The LEO-first-then-lunar demonstration strategy is smart — it de-risks the core algorithm before committing to a lunar mission.
Last updated: 2026-04-14 (session 20)