Fast Light Optical Gyroscopes for Precision Inertial Navigation

Under this project, we will develop, demonstrate, and test the first fast light optical gyroscopes to advance significantly NASA GN&C capabilities. The proposed game changing technology is expected to revolutionize the state-of-the-art in gyroscopy technologies for Flexible Path and other deep space missions that are constrained by current navigation systems which suffer from accumulated dead-reckoning errors and must rely on additional technologies (some of which are Earth based) and methods which are not always available for absolute attitude and position determination. (The current limitations in the performance of spacecraft navigation systems have even resulted in spacecraft losses.)