Precision attitude determination and control for SatLight™ DISK satellites using fiber optic gyroscope IMUs for gimbal-less optical pointing.
The Navigation layer provides precision attitude determination and control for SatLight™ DISK satellites using NantNova's fiber optic gyroscope (FOG) IMU product line. The navigation-grade TG-3P three-axis FOG delivers 0.01°/hr bias instability for precision satellite pointing, while the compact GS-1X GNSS-INS provides position and velocity data for orbital maneuvering.
As the PWSA Navigation Layer develops alternative Position, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) capabilities for GPS-denied and GPS-degraded environments, NantNova's FOG IMU becomes mission-critical. When adversaries jam or spoof GPS signals, on-board inertial navigation using high-performance fiber optic gyroscopes provides the autonomous attitude and position reference needed to maintain optical link closure and satellite pointing accuracy.
By feeding real-time attitude data to the PAT (Pointing, Acquisition, and Tracking) subsystem, the Navigation layer enables the gimbal-less DISK platform to maintain ≤5 μrad residual pointing accuracy — closing optical links at 5,000 km without mechanical gimbals, using GPS/GNSS time synchronization for ephemeris-based acquisition.
IFOG-850-SP — 850nm Fiber Optic Gyroscope
IFOG-1550-SP — Specifications
IFOG-1550-SP — Mechanical Drawings
The PWSA Navigation Layer is developing alternative Position, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) capabilities to operate in GPS-denied and GPS-degraded environments. NantNova's FOG IMU technology provides the autonomous inertial reference critical for maintaining satellite pointing and optical link closure when GNSS signals are compromised.
| PWSA Requirement | Challenge | NantNova Solution |
|---|---|---|
| GPS-Denied PNT | Adversary jamming & spoofing of GNSS | FOG IMU autonomous attitude reference |
| Optical Link Closure | Maintaining μrad pointing without GPS | TG-3P 0.01°/hr bias INS propagation |
| Constellation PNT | LEO-based alternative to GPS timing | GS-1X GNSS-INS with crosslink sync |
| Resilient Navigation | Degraded signal environments | Inertial coasting + star tracker fusion |
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Primary IMU | TG-3P: 3-axis FOG, 0.01°/hr |
| GNSS-INS | GS-1X: Position and velocity |
| Pointing | ≤5 μrad residual (RMS) |
| Operation | Gimbal-less satellite pointing |
| Link Range | 5,000 km optical link closure |
| Time Sync | GPS/GNSS for ephemeris acquisition |
| GPS-Denied Mode | INS propagation with FOG drift <0.01°/hr |
| PAT Feed | Real-time attitude to PAT subsystem |
| Cost | 5× lower than incumbents |
From FOG IMUs to gimbal-less satellite pointing, NantNova's Navigation layer delivers precision attitude control at 5× lower cost than incumbent solutions.