← Back to NASA Technology Projects

Development of a Novel Magnetic Susceptibility Instrument

Completed TRL 1 (started at 1, targeting 3)

Description

Develop an instrument suitable for the measurement of magnetic susceptibility on the lunar surface.

Benefits

Magnetic susceptibly is a useful physical property for understanding the history, evolution and shallow subsurface of a rocky planetary body. It is also a fast, in-situ, non-destructive evaluation of the magnetic composition of a material, such as a lunar rock or surface. Improved speed and accuracy of measurements, coupled with multi-frequency stimulus, will provide lunar geophysicists with mineralogy information over a large area of the shallow subsurface tomography.

Details

Technology areaSensors and Instruments
ProgramCenter Independent Research & Development: GSFC IRAD (GSFC IRAD)
Lead organizationGoddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD
Start date2024-10-01
End date2025-09-30

Project contacts

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

How to get involved

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 1) — 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.