Optimizing Electrodynamics Sensor Properties for High-AO Fluence Environment

This project will determine the optimal coating for electric field and Langmuir Probe sensors in an AO-rich environment. The best combination of work function uniformity, thermal characteristics, and AO robustness will result in improved sensor designs, with higher accuracies and sensitivities, to study the atmospheres of Earth and other planets.

We will develop coating samples. After coating, each sample will be sectioned into four coupons. One coupon from each batch will serve as a control, and the other three will be exposed to various AO levels. The NASA Glenn Atomic Oxygen exposure facility would then be used to expose these samples to fluence levels.

This project benefits missions that combine electrodynamic sensors with high-fluence atomic oxygen environments.

Space Weather missions developed by DOD or NOAA that employ electrodynamics sensors will also benefit from this technology.

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.