Next-generation space telescopes require two spacecraft to fly in a coordinated fashion in space forming a virtual telescope. Achieving and maintaining this precise formation alignment is achieved with guidance, navigation, and control (GN[HTML_REMOVED]C). The Virtual Telescope Alignment System (VTAS) is a prototype GN[HTML_REMOVED]C system to sense and maintain on-target formation alignment. This project is a multi-year effort focused on the development, integration, and testing of the VTAS using commercial CubeSat-class hardware and in-house developed software. This multi-year effort is to develop a prototype GN[HTML_REMOVED]C system (sensors, actuators, and algorithms), VTAS, and test it on the ground as a means for maturing the[HTML_REMOVED]TRL of this systems-level technology. Raising the[HTML_REMOVED]maturity of a prototype system reduces the risk for missions requiring dual spacecraft precise[HTML_REMOVED]inertial alignment. Heliophysics and Astrophysics missions such as a solar coronagraph, exo-planet finder, black hole x-ray and gamma-ray imager, solar flare x-ray and extreme ultraviolet imager, etc benefit from this advancement.Next-generation space telescopes require large separation distances between two elements of a science payload such as an occulting disk and a camera, or a lens and detector, making them too large to launch into space. A solution to this problem is to replace the structure of a traditional large monolithic space telescope with the science payload and GN[HTML_REMOVED]C distributed amongst the two spacecraft. For example, a solar coronagraph requires an occulting disk on one spacecraft and a camera on the other spacecraft with the two spacecraft separated by a large distance (hundreds of meters) with precise inertial alignment on the order of sub-arc-seconds. The two spacecraft use GN[HTML_REMOVED]C to fly in[HTML_REMOVED]coordination and align themselves to an inertial target of interest. Formation flying offers the ability to increase the separation distance, which leads to decreased errors from vignetting and diffracted light.[HTML_REMOVED]