Formation acquisition sensor for the Terrestrial Planet Finder (TPF) mission

The Terrestrial Planet Finder (TPF) pre-project, an element of NASA´s Origins program, is currently investigating multiple implementation architectures for finding Earth-like planets around other stars. One of the technologies being developed is the Formation Flying Interferometer (FFI). The FFI is envisioned to consist of up to seven spacecraft, each with an infrared telescope, flying in precise formation within ±1 cm of pre-determined trajectories for synchronized observations. The spacecraft-to-spacecraft separations are variable between 16 m and 100 m during observations to support various interferometer configurations in the planet-finding mode. The challenges involved with TPF autonomous operations, ranging from formation acquisition and formation maneuvering, to high precision formation flying during science observations are unprecedented for deep space missions. To meet these challenges, the Formation Sensor Testbed (FST) under the TPF technology program develops and demonstrates the key technology of the formation acquisition sensor. Key performance targets for the acquisition sensor are an instantaneous 4π-steradian field of view and simultaneous range and bearing-angle measurements for multiple spacecraft with accuracy better than 50 cm and 1 degree, respectively. This paper describes the TPF FFI mission concept, the requirements for the acquisition sensor, design trades, the resulting sensor, and the technology to be demonstrated by the testbeds.