Ultra Long-Lived, Self-Surveying Autonomous Air Quality Sensing, Year 3

We will evolve ultra-low power air quality sensing technologies developed at JSC to add a sub-centimeter accuracy positioning sensor based on SBIR technology to give a self-surveying air quality monitoring platform with years-long lifetime on a small, disposable coin cell battery. Using Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology for data transport, the system can take advantage of RFID-based inventory management systems in place on lunar exploration assets to provide this capability with extremely small SWAP impacts. Years-long operational lifetimes enable flexible, autonomous environmental monitoring during lengthy intervals between and unprecedented situational awareness during crewed missions.

Long-lived environmental sensors directly enable untended vehicle autonomy as well as crew health monitoring and response to airborne contaminants. Bluetooth Personal CO2 Monitors (PCO2Ms) flying on ISS provide an initial capability, but need for frequent recharge (~4 days) allows limited scaling and no long-duration autonomy. We will finalize a self-surveying, wearable or peel/stick platform that can operate for years at a time without battery recharge/replacement. This will provide a capability un-matched by any SoA wireless sensor package and can easily extend to other sensing modalities (ammonia, radiation, etc.), addressing the JSC technology priority area of Automation and ECLSS. Dr. Steve Horan (STMD Avionics PT) agrees that this infusion path is reasonable and this work is in alignment with the PT for Avionics quantifiable capabilities.

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.