SmallSat Technology Accelerated Maturation Platform-1: a proposal to advance ultraviolet science, workforce, and technology for the Habitable Worlds Observatory

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Great Observatories Maturation Program (GOMAP) will advance the science definition, technology, and workforce needed for the Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO) with the goal of a phase A start by the end of the current decade. GOMAP offers long-term cost and schedule savings compared with the “technology readiness level (TRL) 6 by preliminary design review” paradigm historically adopted by large NASA missions. Many of the key technologies in the development queue for HWO require the combined activities of (1) facility and process development for validation of technologies at the scale required for HWO and (2) deployment in the “real-world” environment of mission integration and test prior to on-orbit operations. We present a concept for the SmallSat Technology Accelerated Maturation Platform (STAMP), an integrated facility, laboratory, and instrument prototype development program that could be supported through the GOMAP framework and applied to any of NASA’s future Great Observatories (FGOs). This brief describes the recommendation for the first entrant into this program, “SmallSat Technology Accelerated Maturation Platform-1 (STAMP-1),” an ESPA Grande-class mission advancing key technologies to enable the ultraviolet capabilities of HWO. STAMP-1 would advance new broadband optical coatings, high-sensitivity ultraviolet detector systems, and multi-object target selection technology to TRL 6 with a flight demonstration. STAMP-1 advances HWO technology on an accelerated timescale, building on current research opportunities in space and earth sciences (ROSES) strategic astrophysics technology (SAT) + astrophysics research and analysis (APRA) programs, reducing cost and schedule risk for HWO while conducting a compelling program of preparatory science and workforce development with direct benefits for HWO mission implementation in the 2030s.