Harsh Environment Gas Sensor Array for Venus Atmospheric Measurements

Makel Engineering and the Ohio State University propose to develop a harsh environment tolerant gas sensor array for atmospheric analysis in future Venus missions. The proposed instrument will be very compact, require low power, and ruggedly packaged to be compatible with a drop sonde payload from a balloon for atmospheric composition analysis and/or for use on Venus surface lander or surface weather station. The goal is to provide information on local SOx CO, O2, NOx, H2, OCS, HF, HCl, and water vapor concentrations in order to complement other measurement systems that were targeted in the 2009 Venus Flagship Mission Study such as a GC-MS, nephelometer, or camera/optical detectors. Phase II will fabricate and test probe designs based on sensors tested in Phase I. Complete sensor array including high temperature capable electronics (250 to 300 C) will be tested at the NASA Glenn Extreme Environment Rig (GEER) to provide simulation of the Venus atmosphere at different conditions.

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.

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