← Back to NASA Technology Projects
Completed TRL 2 (started at 1, targeting 2)
Miniaturized spectrometers with no optics or moving parts offers an enabling technology for space missions. In particular, the tunability over a wide range of wavelength, from ultraviolet to infrared, and feasibility to make a hyperspectral imager will find applications in Earth Science, as well as Planetary Science. In Earth Science, it will find use in oceanography, meteorology, atmospheric chemistry, cloud studies, aerosol studies, vegetation recovery studies and characterizing volcanic ash and flood. In Planetary Science, it will find use in meteorology, oceanography and atmospheric chemistry of other planets and moons. Miniaturized quantum dot spectrometer (QDS) is a novel concept that uses an array of quantum dot pixels. Varying the size or composition of quantum dots allows one to precisely control the absorption spectrum of each of the pixels. The array of quantum dots acts like a set of filters, and when coupled with a detector array can perform spectral measurements in a snapshot fashion, without scanning or switching filters.
Potential application in ESTO to build a hyperspectral imaging instrument using quantum dot spectrometer.
Listed on TechPort itself — the most direct way to ask about this specific project.
This is early/mid-stage (TRL 2) — 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.