← Back to NASA Technology Projects

Systems and Science Studies for Millimeter- and Submillimeter-wave Earth Venture Missions

Completed TRL 3 (started at 1, targeting 3)

Description

Investments in systems and science studies are required to advance in millimeter- and submillimeter-wave passive remote sensing. Over the next year, we will adapt the existing Cloud Ice Scanning Submillimeter Imaging Radiometer (CISSIR) instrument concept.

The plan to develop a cost-compliant EV-i instrument concept entails developing a science and instrument-performance trade space that considers channel selection, spatial resolution and swath, as well as auxiliary information obtained by potential co-manifested instruments. The trade-space is fairly complex, but by defining a small set of instrument/mission configurations, a cost matrix will indicate a point design of a CISSIR-like instrument that meets the EV-i cost constraint. Requirements for power dissipation cause the addition of mass and other complexities for the present design. We believe that we can successfully reduce the power consumption with compounded benefit in mass and cost.

Benefits

Will benefit formulation of NASA's ACE mission, and possibly benefit NASA's GPM GV Program.

Details

Technology areaSensors and Instruments > Remote Sensing Instruments and Sensors > Microwave, Millimeter Waves, and Submillimeter Waves
ProgramCenter Independent Research & Development: GSFC IRAD (GSFC IRAD)
Lead organizationGoddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD
Start date2012-10-01
End date2013-09-01

Project contacts

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

How to get involved

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 3) — 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.