PACMAN: a Plasma Analyzer for Composition with Miniaturization and Asynchronous Novelty

Completed TRL 3 (started at 3, targeting 4)

Description

This effort is technology development related to plasma spectrometers for measuring the lowest energy ambient plasma in the Earth's ionosphere and magnetosphere.

Benefits

This effort can result in more mature, capable, instrumentation for future unfunded NASA missions.

Details

Technology area	Materials, Structures, Mechanical Systems, and Manufacturing > Mechanical Systems > Docking and Berthing Mechanisms and Fixtures
Program	Center Independent Research & Development: GSFC IRAD (GSFC IRAD)
Lead organization	Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD
Start date	2014-10-01
End date	2015-09-01

Project contacts

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

Nikolaos Paschalidis — nikolaos.paschalidis@nasa.gov
Elizabeth A Macdonald — elizabeth.a.macdonald@nasa.gov

How to get involved

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 3) — 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.