First Flight for a prototype non high voltage electron spectrometer for lower atmosphere studies

Completed TRL 5 (started at 4, targeting 5)

Description

Our objective is to utilize an upcoming sounding rocket flight opportunity for a technology demonstration of a prototype electron spectrometer. It does not use any high voltage and utilizes a CCD as the detector element, combined with a magnetic deflection system

Benefits

If successful, this instrument would be capable of high-resolution particle measurements in the low altitude mesospheric region, where traditional high-voltage instruments cannot operate. It would therefore open up our precipitating particle measurement capabilities for an unexplored region of space.

Details

Technology area	Sensors and Instruments > In Situ Instruments and Sensors > Field and Particle Detectors
Program	Center Independent Research & Development: GSFC IRAD (GSFC IRAD)
Lead organization	Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD
Start date	2023-10-01
End date	2024-09-30

Project contacts

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

Nikolaos Paschalidis — nikolaos.paschalidis@nasa.gov
Maria Samara — marilia.samara@nasa.gov
Adam J Schoenwald — adam.schoenwald@nasa.gov
Robert G Michell — robert.g.michell@nasa.gov

How to get involved

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 5) — 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.