Thermal Mapping Airborne Simulator for Small Satellite Sensor

A high performance, inexpensive, airborne simulator that will serve as the prototype for a small satellite based imaging system capable of mapping thermal anomalies on the surface of the earth with a high revisit rate and high spatial resolution is proposed. The Thermal Mapping Airborne Simulator for Small Satellite Sensor (TMAS) will be developed to a TRL 8 in the Phase II and the space-qualified system will be developed and built in Phase III. The proposed system will deliver high spatial resolution (133 urad), high signal to noise performance, three spectral bands, and onboard processing to extract the information of greatest value, orthorectify the imagery, and reduce the size of the data for transmission. This sensor system is designed to fit within the size, weight, and power (SWaP) envelopes of typical remote sensing aircraft and small satellites. The proposed design incorporates a step stare scanning mirror, a two band (LWIR 8 to 9 um and MWIR 4 – 5 um) Quantum Well Infrared Photodetector (QWIP), a short wave IR sensor (1.6 um), and an FPGA based image processing and orthorectification processing module.

the TMAS prototype delivered in the Phase II will be the most advanced airborne system of it's type in both the civilian and defense worlds. In addition to the primary role as a prototype for the small satellite sensor, significant interest exists in wildfire mapping, volcanology, oil spill detection and mapping, and earth science in general.

In addition to the primary role as a prototype for the small satellite sensor, significant interest exists in wildfire mapping, border patrol, tunnel detection, volcanology, oil spill detection and mapping, and mapping of larger areas in high resolution for military surveillance.

This is a mature technology (TRL 8) — 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.