STarlight Acquisition and Reflection toward
Interferometry

Mission Overview

Updated October 2026 · See the 2026 mission overview and formation-flying study (PDF).

Objective

Objective

STARI is a NASA-funded mission developing two 8U CubeSats as a pathfinder for future space-based optical interferometers. It aims to transfer starlight between spacecraft and couple the received beam into a single-mode optical fiber, demonstrating technologies for future exoplanet-imaging missions.

STARI mission technologies

Core Technologies

The design combines optical payloads, fast-steering mirrors, beacon tracking, differential satellite navigation, and cold-gas propulsion. The 2026 guidance, navigation, and control study reports sub-millimeter optical-path knowledge and sub-centimeter control in simulations; in-orbit validation is a mission goal.

Operations & Timeline

Operations & Timeline

The team completed an internal Preliminary Design Review at RPI in May 2026. Launch remains planned for 2029, with a concept of operations that alternates between standby, transfer, and science configurations in a sun-synchronous low Earth orbit.

Publications

Mission papers, conference abstracts, and related space-interferometry research, including the latest 2026 work.

SPIE 2026 · Vol. 14145

STARI fiber-injection prototype testing and simulation

Flores et al.

Publisher record

ESA GNC & ICATT 2026

Precise Autonomous Formation Flying for a Distributed Space Interferometer

Rizza, Foss, Low, Monnier & D’Amico

Read preprint (PDF)

SmallSat 2026

NASA STARI Mission: A Formation-Flying Pathfinder for Space Interferometry

Dubey et al.

Paper & conference record

SPIE 2026 · Vol. 14145

Starlight acquisition and reflection toward interferometry (STARI) mission

Monnier et al.

Publisher record

AAS/AIAA Astrodynamics Specialist Conference 2026 · AAS 26-850

Stellar Observation Scheduling Optimization for Distributed Space Interferometry Missions

Foss, Rizza & D’Amico

Read preprint (arXiv)

IEEE Aerospace Conference 2026

Space Interferometry Formation Design using Relative Orbital Elements: the STARI Mission

Rizza, Foss, Monnier, Cutler & D’Amico

Read paper (PDF)Publisher record

IEEE Aerospace Conference 2026

Design of a Cold-Gas Propulsion System for the STARI Mission

Noonan, Lightsey, Monnier & Cutler

Read paper (PDF)Publisher record

AAS 247 · 2026 · Abstract 204.04 (poster)

Introducing the STARI Mission: STarlight Acquisition and Reflection toward Interferometry

John D. Monnier & the STARI collaboration

Meeting program

SmallSat 2025

STARI: STarlight Acquisition and Reflection toward Interferometry

Monnier et al.

Paper & presentation

SPIE 2024

STARI: STarlight Acquisition and Reflection toward Interferometry

Monnier et al.

Read preprint

News and Updates

STARI team members gathered at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute for the May 2026 internal Preliminary Design Review.
The STARI team at RPI, May 2026. Select the photo to view full size.

· Mission milestone

Internal Preliminary Design Review completed at RPI

The STARI team completed its internal Preliminary Design Review (PDR) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in May 2026.

This milestone marks progress in the development of the mission and its technologies for future space interferometry.

Research and outreach updates

–

Antonio Rizza’s STARI research at ESA GNC & ICATT in Seville

Antonio Rizza announced the team’s STARI formation-flying presentation at the ESA GNC & ICATT Conference in Seville, Spain.

Read the LinkedIn update

–

STARI joins NASA’s SmallSat mission showcase in Houston

John Monnier presented a STARI poster and joined the Mission Showcase panel at the NASA SmallSat LEARN Technical Interchange Meeting at Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.

View the meeting details

Akshat Dubey leads STARI’s SmallSat contribution in Salt Lake City

The Small Satellite Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah, featured a STARI contribution led by Akshat Dubey in its Flash Talks session at the Salt Palace Convention Center.

View the conference record

Sharing STARI with Ann Arbor astronomers

John Monnier presented STARI to the University Lowbrow Astronomers at U-M’s Detroit Observatory in Ann Arbor, Michigan, with attendees joining in person and online.

View the outreach listing

–

Introducing STARI at AAS in Phoenix

John Monnier presented the STARI collaboration’s mission poster at the 247th meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Phoenix, Arizona.

View the meeting details
Earlier mission coverage and kick-off
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U-M astronomy will lead its first satellite mission

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Turning to CubeSats in the Search for Life Thousands of Light-Years from Earth

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SatelliteUmich

UMich Department of Astronomy’s first satellite launch could pave the way for exoplanet discoveries

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Team

Meet STARI team

Contact / How You Can Help

Get in touch

Help advance STARI and space interferometry through funding, technical expertise, research collaboration, or student involvement. Tell us how you’d like to help, or ask us about the mission.

Email John Monnier Support STARI

Principal Investigator, University of Michigan
monnier@umich.edu