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Microbial Event Monitor for Long-Duration Spaceflight and Lunar/Martian Habitats (MEM)
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Description
Develop a Microbial Event Monitor (MEM) leveraging the PI's previously developed Endospore Viability Assay (EVA) technology to enable automated, continuous monitoring of microbial bioburden in spacecraft cabin environments.
Benefits
The MEM will monitor microbial bioburden in crewed habitats and spacecraft that could harbor pathogens, thereby mitigating the risk of astronaut sickness and biodegradation of spacecraft/habitat components.
Details
| Technology area | Human Health, Life Support, and Habitation Systems > Environmental Monitoring, Safety, and Emergency Response > Air, Water, Microbial, and Acoustic Sensors |
| Program | Center Innovation Fund: JPL CIF (JPL CIF) |
| Lead organization | Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA |
| Start date | 2025-10-01 |
| End date | 2026-09-30 |
Project contacts
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How to get involved
This is a mature technology (TRL 7+) — 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.