An Ultrafine Airborne Particle Counter

Under NASA SBIR sponsorship, we built a space-qualified airborne particle monitor that is now deployed on the International Space Station (ISS). This instrument is being used to ascertain the levels of particulate air contaminants to which the astronauts are exposed, and further to identify the sources of those contaminants. Its key component is a motion-tolerant, sustained-operation, micro-gravity operable, water-based condensation particle counter capable of detecting airborne particles as small as 5 nm in size. While essential in space, its micro-gravity capability is advantageous for non-space applications due to the ruggedness and tipping tolerance not found in other condensation particle counters. The objectives of this CCRPP proposal are to bring this technology to the general research and monitoring market through commercialization, and to further refine the instrument through cost and size reduction to provide a COTS instrument that could be more readily space-qualified if needed on future NASA missions.

This COTS version of the unit currently deployed on the International Space Station fits smoothly NASA’s Particulate Monitoring Roadmap. It should be readily space-qualified for deployment for the Artemis launches at the end of the decade. On the human landing systems or the Artemis base camp it would provide a real-time reading of airborne particle concentrations to which the astronauts and equipment are exposed.

The micro-gravity, self-sustained capability of this CCRPP technology is a unique competitive edge of benefit to atmospheric and aerosol research scientists, and to more general applications including indoor air quality monitoring, fence-line measurements near industrial sources, and assuring a particle-free environment for semiconductor chip fabrication.

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.