Advanced Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometer (TOF-MS)

Active TRL 2 (started at 2, targeting 3)

Description

This project will advance our technologies for developing miniature, lightweight time-of-flight mass spectrometers (TOF-MS) using novel ion optical assembly and electronics methods. TOF-MS instruments are used on planetary missions to analyze unknown materials to determine their atomic, isotopic, and molecular composition.

Benefits

Reducing the number of individual parts and employing self-centering ion steering and focusing components and designs will allow scalability to smaller size while maintaining mechanical precision over temperature. This should permit such instruments to be used on a wider variety of resource-constrained missions.

Details

Technology area	Sensors and Instruments > In Situ Instruments and Sensors
Program	Center Independent Research & Development: GSFC IRAD (GSFC IRAD)
Lead organization	Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD
Start date	2024-10-01
End date	2026-09-30

Project contacts

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

David H Richardson — david.h.richardson@nasa.gov
Michael J Amato — michael.j.amato@nasa.gov
Terry A Hurford — terry.a.hurford@nasa.gov
William B Brinckerhoff — william.b.brinckerhoff@nasa.gov
Andrej Grubisic — andrej.grubisic@nasa.gov
Jacob D Graham — jacob.graham@nasa.gov
Xiang Li — xiang.li@nasa.gov

How to get involved

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 2) — 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.