Enabling a high-contrast imaging testbed for Habitable Worlds Observatory

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Description

Proposed Goals/Objectives: Enable a high-contrast imaging testbed for NASA’s Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO) by re-utilizing and upgrading the SOFIA vacuum chamber. HWO will be the first observatory to directly image Earth-like planets around sun-like stars and search for signs of life with a goal of finding 25 habitable planets.

Benefits

Deliverables: [1] Chamber modification final design. [2] Reports and subsequent design recommendations based on chamber functional and additional robustness tests.

Details

Technology area	Sensors and Instruments > Remote Sensing Instruments and Sensors > Optical Components
Program	Agency Independent Research and Development (A-IRAD)
Lead organization	Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
Start date	2025-11-01
End date	2026-09-30

Project contacts

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

Naseem Rangwala — naseem.rangwala@nasa.gov
Douglas I Hoffman — douglas.hoffman@nasa.gov
Richard L Rowan — richard.l.rowan@nasa.gov

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.