LLNL and Starris sign agreement, schedule conference talk for Aug. 13

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) and Starris: Optimax Space Systems have signed a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA), expanding production of LLNL’s next-generation space domain awareness technology. Starris will serve as the manufacturing partner that can scale production of monolithic telescope technology to meet the needs for proliferated constellations.

The first collaborative effort of the CRADA is an ultraviolet (UV)-infrared space-domain awareness system, based on LLNL’s monolithic telescope technology, which will be the focus of a panel talk featuring LLNL and Starris leadership at the Small Satellite conference in Salt Lake City on Aug. 13.

The talk, “Ultraviolet Small Sat Opportunities for Space Domain Awareness and Monitoring,” will explore how a UV wavelength band reveals phenomena that can be monitored for science and defense, plus share mission results from NASA’s Deep Purple PTD-R, a 100-millimeter aperture satellite developed by LLNL to observe ultraviolet and short-wave infrared light. Also on the panel will be experts from Teledyne Space Imaging, Eoptic and Optimax.

“Starris brings to the partnership the ability to scale production in support of an array of evolving small-satellite mission needs, with three decades of space-proven heritage,” said Kevin Kearney, Starris Space Strategy Lead. “Optimax has been privileged to work with LLNL to develop and refine the monolithic telescope technology and is excited to extend the collaboration to encompass scalable payload solutions for responsive space.”

The Starris and LLNL CRADA, facilitated by the Laboratory’s Innovation and Partnerships Office (IPO), comes on the heels of a commercial licensing agreement announced in December 2024 for LLNL’s patented monolithic telescope technology — which accelerates rapid deployment of modular optical designs for high-resolution or high-sensitivity space imagery.

Starris has collaborated over the last decade with LLNL’s Space Program to develop monolithic telescope technology and is manufacturing the precision-fabricated optical lens that forms the image in the telescope.

“We are excited to broaden our work with long-time manufacturing partner Optimax to transition our space telescope technology to industrial production,” said Ben Bahney, LLNL Space Program leader. “This collaboration will take proven technologies and apply them at production scale to meet new mission needs and new markets. This will help us realize our long-term vision to commercialize space telescopes the way the rest of the space industry has commercialized off-the-shelf satellites.”

Through this CRADA, Starris is commercializing the production of LLNL’s proven flight technologies for space domain awareness to detect, track and identify artificial objects. The monolithic telescopes have been proven in several space missions and were chosen to fly on the upcoming U.S. Space Force’s Victus Haze mission in early 2026, which will test military capabilities to rapidly deploy satellites in response to threats in orbit.

Collaborations such as this one illustrate the impact of technology transfer through public-private partnerships utilizing LLNL intellectual property. IPO is the Laboratory’s focal point for industry engagement and facilities partnerships to deliver mission-driven solutions that support national security and grow the U.S. economy.