A prototype flight for the GRAMS project

The GRAMS (Gamma-Ray and AntiMatter Survey) program aims to deliver unprecedented sensitivities to astrophysical observations with MeV gamma rays and indirect dark matter searches with antimatter. The GRAMS collaboration has been successfully testing small-scale liquid argon time projection chamber (LArTPC) detectors at Northeastern University and Waseda University. This proposal aims to optimize the prototype detector and demonstrate its performance in a prototype balloon flight. The ultimate goal is to build a team to deliver a viable, affordable, low-risk large-scale design for science balloon flights as a precursor to a future LArTPC satellite mission. The LArTPC technology offers a low-cost, scalable, full-sky-reach solution for a next-generation Compton telescope detector concept, capable of providing more than an order of magnitude improved sensitivity to MeV gamma rays with a single long-duration balloon flight compared to current experiments. In addition, this technology can provide a significantly improved detection efficiency for low-energy antimatter, particularly for antideuterons and antiheliums that can provide essentially background-free dark matter signatures while exploring a new dark matter parameter space.

The Astrophysics Research and Analysis program (APRA) supports suborbital and suborbital-class investigations, development of detectors and supporting technology, laboratory astrophysics, and limited ground-based observing. Basic research proposals in these areas are solicited for investigations that are relevant to NASA's programs in astronomy and astrophysics, including the entire range of photons, gravitational waves, and particle astrophysics. The emphasis of this solicitation is on technologies and investigations that advance NASA astrophysics missions and goals.

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.