A New HOPE for Ionospheric Outflow and Cold Magnetospheric Plasma Measurements

We will design, fabricate, and test a new “modified” Helium, Oxygen, Proton, and Electron (HOPE) ion mass spectrometer by incorporating a retarding potential analyzer (RPA) front-end to the sensor. This upgraded HOPE instrument will be ideal for obtaining high energy resolution observations of low-energy (0.5 eV to 100 eV) ion populations of ionospheric outflow and cold magnetospheric space plasma. These populations have known and suspected impacts on the structure and dynamics of the magnetosphere but to date have not yet been measured adequately. The lack of accurate measurements of cold ion and electron populations through the magnetosphere makes closure of these science questions extremely difficult if not impossible. Reaching closure requires innovations in sensor design and associated techniques to obtain high-fidelity measurements of the cold ion and electron populations in the magnetosphere. We will demonstrate the ability to make high energy resolution measurements of cold ion and cold electrons by refurbishing and upgrading a HOPE Engineering Model (EM) to include an RPA front-end. The combined RPA/ESA sensor will allow for exquisite energy resolution by providing measured energy passbands of 0.5 eV. The modified HOPE will be tested and characterized against photoelectrons and a low energy plasma source as a function of simulated spacecraft potential. The HOPE instrument is the only ion mass spectrometer to have successfully made observations through the heart of the radiation belts thus making the new HOPE an ideal candidate for future cold plasma missions destined to operate through the deep inner magnetosphere.

Support NASA's Heliophysics strategic science objectives to understand the Sun and its interactions with Earth and the solar system, including space weather. This will be achieved by developing/demonstrating instrumentation technology necessary to address the following science goals: Explore the physical processes in the space environment from the Sun to the Earth and throughout the solar system; Advance our understanding of the connections that link the Sun, the Earth, planetary space environments, and the outer reaches of our solar system; Develop the knowledge and capability to detect and predict extreme conditions in space to protect life and society and to safeguard human and robotic explorers beyond Earth.

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.