University of California, Los Angeles¶
Type: Academia | Location: Los Angeles, CA | SST projects: 1
SST Portfolio¶
| Project | Title | Period | TRL | Status | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 106828 | LunaNet PNT Compact Module | 2020-07 → 2025-09 | 3→3 | Completed | transitioned |
What Was Developed¶
High-precision laser inertial navigation unit — a chip-scale optomechanical accelerometer for continuous-time PNT (Position, Navigation, Timing) enabling small spacecraft to operate in GPS-denied environments (cislunar/lunar). Designed for LunaNet architecture: enables data exchange with lunar assets without complicated procedures.
The optomechanical accelerometer achieves near-thermodynamical-limit performance: 730 ng/Hz^1/2 resolution and 193 ng/Hz sensitivity via optical pumping and RF readout of radiation-pressure-driven backaction oscillation.
TRL stayed at 3 during SST — design and analysis phase.
Key People¶
Chee Wei Wong — PI¶
Tannas Professor of Engineering, UCLA ECE. Leads the Fang Lu Mesoscopic Optics and Quantum Electronics Laboratory. Major photonics researcher: 180+ journal papers, 340+ conference papers, 30 patents.
- TechPort footprint: 2 projects across 2 programs:
- 106828 — LunaNet PNT Module (SST, 2020–2025, TRL 3→3)
- 145005 — High-Precision Continuous-Time Nav Module (FO, 2022–2025, TRL 4→6)
- Career: 180+ journal papers (Nature, Science Advances, PRL, Nature Physics, Nature Photonics), 30 patents
Andrey B Matsko — Co-I (JPL)¶
Key People Chain connector. Matsko appears on both UCLA [106828] AND Caltech [155361] SST projects, plus 6+ other TechPort projects across JPL/SAT programs. He is the thread connecting the LunaNet PNT stack: - UCLA [106828]: laser inertial navigation (Matsko Co-I) - Caltech [155361]: microphotonic clock (Matsko Co-I)
Both technologies feed the same LunaNet cislunar PNT architecture.
Upstream Lineage¶
| Source | Program | Connection | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wong lab optomechanical research | — | Pre-SST academic work on chip-scale optomechanical oscillators and accelerometers | confirmed |
| Matsko JPL photonics program | JPL IRAD/SAT | Matsko's broader photonic timing work at JPL feeds into this collaboration | suggestive |
Downstream Impact¶
SST→FO Pipeline (Confirmed)¶
FO 145005: "High-Precision Continuous-Time PNT Compact Module for Cislunar/Lunar Missions" - Flight Opportunities project, 2022–2025, TRL 4→6 - Assesses optomechanical accelerometer performance under real flight conditions (suborbital) - Direct continuation of SST-developed technology - Flight status: period ends Aug 2025, flight test status unconfirmed
This is a confirmed SST→FO pipeline, though the FO flight outcome is pending.
LunaNet Architecture Stack¶
UCLA's PNT module is part of a broader SST-funded LunaNet technology stack:
| Layer | SST Project | Lead | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inertial sensing | UCLA [106828] | Wong | SST→FO transitioned |
| Timing (clocks) | Caltech [155361] | Vahala | TRL 3, no transition |
| Comm relay | SDSU [106823] | Sharma | SST→FO transitioned, flew Sep 2024 |
| Positioning | UT Austin [106826] | Jones | Active, SCOPE-1 pending |
Matsko (JPL) is co-I on both UCLA and Caltech projects — the human thread connecting the stack.
Publications¶
No NTRS citations found for this specific project. Wong publishes extensively in Nature/Science venues.
Assessment¶
Outcome category: transitioned (SST→FO pipeline)
Reclassification: Previously "no-visible-outcome" (session 14). Upgraded to "transitioned" after discovering the FO [145005] follow-on project (TRL 4→6).
Pattern: "SST→FO Pipeline" — same as Purdue (FEMTA), Montana State (RadSat), and SDSU (FIGARO).
Distinctive: Part of a 4-project LunaNet technology stack in SST, connected by Matsko (JPL). The SST investments in cislunar PNT are building multiple layers of the same architecture through different universities, all bridged by JPL personnel.
Cross-reference: Caltech (Matsko bridge), SDSU (LunaNet comms), UT Austin (LunaNet positioning), GN&C topic
Last updated: 2026-04-14 (session 20)