Space Exploration Extreme Environment Communication Transceiver

The purpose of this project is to develop and demonstrate an S-band communication radio capable of operation at extreme high temperatures and pressures in hostile and corrosive environments. This directly addresses NASA’s interest in expanding the ability to explore the deep atmospheres and surfaces of the Moon, planets, asteroids, and comets through the use of long-lived (days or weeks) balloons and landers. This will be based on the transmitter that InnoSys has developed based on its proprietary SSVDTM technology, which has been proven to operate at S band and survive a 500 oC environment. Although it could possibly be applied to other missions, we believe Venus mission is a good target for us as it has a dense CO2 atmosphere completely covered by clouds with sulfuric acid aerosols, a surface temperature of 460 to 486ºC, and a surface pressure of 90 atmospheres. As a result, we will call our S band radio a Venus radio to signify our plan to meet Venus’ surface working condition. We expect the proposed S-band radio will support space systems that can operate without additional environmental protection housings in the extreme environments of these NASA missions. InnoSys will also ensure the radio that will be developed to be capable of high reliability, ease of maintenance, small form factor, low mass, and low out-gassing characteristics. For the Phase I study, InnoSys proposes to develop a highly integrated SSVD™-based transmitter design for the Venus radio to be built in the Phase II of this proposed SBIR project. We will perform studies to determine whether SSVDTM or other proven technologies such as the impressive progress made through wide band semiconductor materials by NASA Glenn Center should be used for the receiver design. We will then focus in proper integration to enable essential and critical communications for, for example, between vehicles and probes located on Venus’ surface and systems in orbit around Venus.

The anticipated results of this proposed development is RF radio for extreme high temperature communications needs of NASA. SSVDTM has also been demonstrated for surviving very high radiation. This will open up the possibility of SSVD™ communications systems for use also in atmospheric probes for giant planets missions and other applications. Extreme environment RF transceivers will have applications in radars, remote monitoring, remote control, wireless communication and data transmission for NASA's other space and terrestrial applications.

This will support “uncooled” communications and electronics capable of operating in warm environments of 50 to 300oC untreated air ambient. It will benefit not only high temperature equipment but also high radiation and EMP, thus, broad applications in harsh and extreme environments including satellite communications, nuclear facility monitor, automotive, avionics, aeronautics, geothermal, etc.

This is a mature technology (TRL 7) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.