The AMEGO-X Tracker Design

Completed TRL 4 (started at 4, targeting 4)

Description

The All-sky Medium Energy Gamma-ray Observatory eXplorer (AMEGO-X) was submitted in the recent 2021 NASA MIDEX Announcement of Opportunity. The mission will deliver breakthrough discoveries for a MIDEX class in areas highlighted as the highest scientific priority for Explorer-scale missions in the Astro2020 Decadal Survey Report: multimessenger astrophysics and time-domain astronomy. Since the submission, the silicon pixel detectors have advanced greatly, this allows us to work toward a more advanced structural design.

Benefits

This IRAD supports the redesign of the structural frames and front end electronics of this subsystem which allows us to greatly enhance the science output of the instrument.

Details

Technology area	Sensors and Instruments > Other Sensors and Instruments
Program	Center Independent Research & Development: GSFC IRAD (GSFC IRAD)
Lead organization	Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD
Start date	2022-10-01
End date	2023-09-30

Project contacts

Listed on TechPort itself — the most direct way to ask about this specific project.

David H Richardson — david.h.richardson@nasa.gov
Keith M Jahoda — keith.m.jahoda@nasa.gov
Regina M Caputo — regina.caputo@nasa.gov
Carolyn A Kierans — carolyn.a.kierans@nasa.gov
David R Durachka — david.durachka@nasa.gov
Henrike Fleischhack — henrike.fleischhack@nasa.gov
Hume L Peabody — hume.l.peabody@nasa.gov
Jeffrey A Bolognese — jeffrey.a.bolognese@nasa.gov
Jeremy S Perkins — jeremy.s.perkins@nasa.gov
Kenneth N Segal — kenneth.n.segal@nasa.gov

How to get involved

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 4) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

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.