Advanced Electric Field/Langmuir Probe System for Measuring DC/AC Electric Fields, Dust and Debris Impacts, Lightning Sferics and Transmitters, and Sheaths and Spacecraft Potential in Very Low Earth Orbit environments (VLEO)

This IRAD develops advanced electric field detectors for very low earth orbit (VLEO) missions, in particular the IARPA VLEO mission in which Goddard expects to provide a combined electric field/Langmuir probe/magnetometer suite in addition to other instrumentation. The detector will measure DC/AC electric fields, spacecraft charging, dust and debris impacts, lightning sferics, VLF and HF transmitters, solitons and lower hybrid waves from the wake of charged sub-cm debris, as well as the effects of electric propulsion on the spacecraft sheath and spacecraft potential at low altitudes. The instruments will be optimized for low earth orbit (below 350 km) including mitigating effects of atomic oxygen and include a Langmuir probe to measure plasma density, temperature, and spacecraft potential.

Develops electric field and Langmuir probe package for vLEO satellite missions; Enables high-resolution measurements of electric fields, plasma density, and spacecraft potential; Provides critical space weather and ionospheric monitoring capabilities for very low Earth orbit

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.

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