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Completed TRL 2 (started at 1, targeting 2)
Current coronagraph designs are still far from theoretical physics limits and can be substantially improved. These improvements can increase yield on NASA’s IR/O/UV flagship mission by a factor of 2-4 and enable significant reductions in risk and mission cost. This project will Improve yield on IR/O/UV flagship by 50% (stretch goal: 100%, or 2x), and provide a realistic path to TRL5 by end of decade.
This project will leverage and synergize, for the first time for NASA, non-astronomical applications, ground-based astronomy, space-based astronomy, and theoretical models predict substantial performance improvements with photonics.
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.