UCLA — LunaNet PNT Optomechanical Accelerometer¶
Lead PI: Chee Wei Wong, ECE, UCLA Samueli School of Engineering
FO Project: 145005 · TRL 4→6 · Completed Aug 2025
TL;DR¶
UCLA's Mesoscopic Optics and Quantum Electronics (OQEL) Lab flew a chip-scale optomechanical accelerometer under FO to validate performance in real flight conditions. The device is developed for LunaNet's PNT (Positioning, Navigation, and Timing) system for small cislunar/lunar spacecraft. Technology: radiation-pressure-driven mechanical oscillator with optical readout, achieving ~730 ng/Hz sensitivity. TRL 4→6 achieved. No confirmed LunaNet contract but directly aligned with NASA's SCaN lunar communications architecture.
FO Project¶
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Project | 145005 |
| Full title | A high precision continuous time compact navigation module for cislunar/lunar missions |
| Lead Org | University of California-Los Angeles |
| Period | Aug 2022 – Aug 2025 |
| TRL | 4 → 6 |
| Views | 3332 |
| Program context | LunaNet Small Spacecraft PNT demonstration |
Technology¶
Optomechanical accelerometer: A laser drives a mechanical resonator via radiation pressure. The resonator's oscillation frequency is modulated by external acceleration. An optical readout measures these changes with extreme precision.
Performance: - ~730 ng/Hz^½ sensitivity (sub-μg regime) - Chip-scale (MEMS-compatible) — small enough for CubeSat/SmallSat - Self-calibrating via optical reference — eliminates gyroscope drift accumulation - Published: PMC 10337392 (2023)
LunaNet requirement: LunaNet's PNT layer requires navigation sensors on small spacecraft in cislunar space where GPS is unavailable. Inertial navigation with optomechanical sensors is a candidate for filling this gap without ground station dependency.
PI Profile¶
Chee Wei Wong — Professor, UCLA ECE, director of OQEL Lab. Research focus: quantum photonics, optomechanics, frequency metrology. UCLA tech transfer page lists optomechanical accelerometer as available for licensing. Multiple IEEE/Nature publications on chip-scale optomechanics.
Assessment¶
Outcome category: Active Maturation (LunaNet architecture alignment)
Confidence: Speculative for LunaNet deployment — technology validated to TRL 6 but no mission host confirmed
Commercial angle: UCLA has a technology licensing page — could transfer to a small satellite navigation company
Archetype: Research Tool for Future Architecture
Session 16 · 2026-04-06
Session 50 Update: LCRNS Context + No New Developments¶
LunaNet/LCRNS Progress¶
NASA's LCRNS project is advancing (see SDSU FIGARO Session 50 update for details). LCRNS IOC targets 2025–2028. NASA published a Reference Constellation 3.1 document and Lunar Relay Services Requirements Document in 2025. Intuitive Machines holds a commercial relay services contract under Near Space Network.
Implication for UCLA PNT: The LunaNet PNT layer that this accelerometer targets is becoming a funded reality, not just an architecture concept. However, no specific procurement for PNT sensors has been identified.
No New Findings¶
- No new publications found beyond those already noted (PMC 10337392, 2023)
- UCLA technology licensing page still lists optomechanical accelerometer as available
- Wong continues as Tannas Professor at UCLA; no career change
- No USASpending contracts or mission selections found
Assessment unchanged: Active Maturation / speculative for deployment. The technology is validated but awaiting mission host. LunaNet progress improves the market outlook but doesn't change the near-term assessment.
Session 50 · 2026-04-07
Cross-references: fo-portfolio-tracker.md, organizations/sdsu-figaro-ft.md, topics/lunanet-cluster.md