TRL11 and Starris will join forces to build a more robust and accurate camera for spacecraft, which combines the tech needed for RPO with space domain awareness capabilities.
Meet the players: The two companies have a mutual supply agreement that will allow them to share tech and make mutual introductions among customers, according to TRL CEO and founder Nicol Verheem.
- TRL11 builds full motion video hardware and software for space.
- Starris focuses on in-orbit optics, including monolithic telescopes that can withstand the vibrations and temperature fluctuations that come with spaceflight.
Tech with benefits: TRL11’s RPO tech uses three cameras—a pair that help with close-up maneuvering, and one camera with long focal length to acquire targets at a distance. Through the partnership with Starris, TRL11 replaced its long focal length camera with a monolithic telescope-enabled camera to boost how far it can see, at a better resolution.
“RPO and docking is really just a very short part of the total mission,” Verheem said. “What if we can turn those sensors into dual-use, and get a larger camera that can see further? While you’re still approaching, you might as well use cameras for space domain awareness to characterize objects in your vicinity.”
Verheem predicted the enhanced visibility will be especially useful for companies working on life-extension missions, such as refueling. Better visibility will also assist companies looking to inspect assets in orbit—the first step in a grappling mission that’s also critical for intelligence collection.
VIPs: Under the partnership, TRL11 will continue developing its “Video Intelligence Platform”, which uses algorithms to autonomously detect changes in the environment, and prioritize sending the most important intelligence down to Earth.
“It’s like dealing a deck of cards. We will send you all the aces first,” said Rod Clark, TRL11’s marketing director. “It allows people doing missions or orbital dogfighting…to characterize objects, like the Ring doorbell system for your spacecraft.”
