Astronaut-Deployed Electrical Power System with Active Lunar Dust Mitigation

Completed TRL 6 (started at 3, targeting 6)

Description

This IRAD's primary objective is to develop an astronaut safe Solar Array Peak Power Tracker (PPT) and Battery Management System (BMS) for Artemis Instrumentation. The secondary objective is working on developing an electrical schematic to implement high voltage active lunar dust mitigation technology for solar panels.

Benefits

This primarily benefits users in industry and academia who are interested in developing instrumentation for the Artemis program. It provides risk reduction in going through the Artemis safety reviews by developing a preliminary design.

Details

Technology area	Aerospace Power and Energy Storage > Power Management and Distribution > Electrical Power Conversion and Regulation
Program	Center Independent Research & Development: GSFC IRAD (GSFC IRAD)
Lead organization	Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD
Start date	2024-10-01
End date	2025-09-30

Project contacts

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

Michael J Amato — michael.j.amato@nasa.gov
Terry A Hurford — terry.a.hurford@nasa.gov
Ryan M Flora — ryan.m.flora@nasa.gov
Amri I Hernandez-pellerano — amri.i.hernandez-pelle@nasa.gov
Robert T Lebair — robert.t.lebair@nasa.gov
William J Halaburda — william.j.halaburda@nasa.gov

How to get involved

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 6) — 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.