The Sky's Not the Limit for NASA's Next-Gen Landing Navigation Tech

The Sky's Not the Limit for NASA's Next-Gen Landing Navigation Tech
by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Mar 30, 2025

A cutting-edge navigation system developed by Psionic, Inc. took to the skies over California recently, riding aboard an F/A-18 Hornet aircraft to undergo rigorous testing at speeds approaching Mach 1. The trials marked a major milestone in NASA's efforts to advance technologies crucial for safe and precise landings on the Moon and Mars.

The Psionic Space Navigation Doppler Lidar (PSNDL) system, an innovation derived from NASA's original technology and enhanced by Psionic, was the focus of the test campaign. The Hampton, Virginia-based company miniaturized and ruggedized the system for space applications, integrating added features like cameras and an inertial measurement unit. This fusion creates a fully functional navigation platform capable of determining a spacecraft's exact speed and location in real time.

In February 2025, NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, served as the launch point for the F/A-18 carrying the PSNDL system. During multiple flights, the aircraft traced figure-eight loops and executed aggressive maneuvers over Death Valley. These tests gathered critical data across a range of altitudes, velocities, and orientations, mimicking conditions spacecraft would encounter during atmospheric entry and descent on extraterrestrial bodies.

Doppler Lidar technology measures velocity by detecting shifts in the frequency of laser light reflected off terrain. It excels in environments where light and shadow create extreme contrast, such as the Moon's South Pole. When paired with imaging systems, PSNDL can compare real-time visuals to topographic maps, aiding navigation through rugged Martian terrain. Onboard computing then processes this influx of data to make split-second landing decisions.

The modified F/A-18 pod used in these missions was originally built for other research purposes but has been retrofitted to support affordable and efficient data collection for advanced navigation technologies. This capability enables NASA and its partners to refine systems like PSNDL under real-world flight conditions.

Psionic's journey with NASA began in 2016 when it licensed the original Navigation Doppler Lidar (NDL) system. Since then, the company has benefited from NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate through programs such as Small Business Innovative Research and Tipping Point. Prototypes of PSNDL have also flown aboard suborbital platforms through the Flight Opportunities program. In 2024, an earlier version of NDL achieved a successful demonstration on a commercial lunar lander, a key precursor to this latest advancement.