As Project Elara's technology is fundamentally based in space, a high degree of reliability and automation is required for all of its hardware. As detailed in [[A realistic space-based prototype]], our proposed spacecraft will require most or all of the below technologies: - Automatic mirror deployment (unfolding) - Automatic alignment and orbital correction - Automatic altitude control with: - [Electrodynamic tethers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrodynamic_tether) - [Magnetorquers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrodynamic_tether) - [Zero-drag monitoring](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zero-drag_satellite) - Constellation control and management - Remote monitoring and analytics - (Possibly) nuclear batteries/RTGs Development of the robotic spacecraft is conceptual-only for now, as space launches are unlikely to happen until the funds for doing so are made available. However, creating a detailed design that can _eventually_ be built is an achievable (though still ambitious) goal, and is the primary objective for now. ## Resources - [NASA's space mission design tools](https://www.nasa.gov/smallsat-institute/space-mission-design-tools/) - [Copernicus](https://www.nasa.gov/general/copernicus/) spacecraft trajectory design software - [`poliastro`](https://docs.poliastro.space/en/stable/) library for Python-based orbital planning - [NASA's `fprime` libraries](https://fprime.jpl.nasa.gov/) which are an open-source SDK for spacecraft robotics development - [NASA's GMAT](https://etd.gsfc.nasa.gov/capabilities/capabilities-listing/general-mission-analysis-tool-gmat/) for planning spacecraft missions - [NASA's SSRI knowledge base](https://s3vi.ndc.nasa.gov/ssri-kb/topics/10/)