Charging at the Moon: Impact Assessment

We propose the formal onboarding and operational integration of the Stubbs et al. (2014) lunar surface charging model at CCMC. This initiative encompasses two tightly coupled objectives: Run-on-Request Research Tool: Deploy the model on CCMC's platform for community use — enabling scientists, mission designers, and commercial operators to simulate surface charging under user-specified conditions. Real-Time Operational Diagnostic: Drive the model with live solar wind inputs (DSCOVR/SOLAR-1/ACE) for continuous surface potential estimates at the Moon. When the Moon transits Earth's magnetotail (~4 days each month), direct solar wind measurements are unavailable; in this regime, high-resolution global MHD model outputs hosted at CCMC will serve as plasma environment inputs, ensuring uninterrupted operational coverage. Once validated, the tool integrates into M2M SWAO real-time toolboxes. This is a prime R2O2R investment: transitioning a peer-reviewed model into an operational crew and space hardware safety asset.

Operational lunar surface charging model integrated at CCMC for community use; real-time surface potential estimates driven by live solar wind inputs (DSCOVR/ACE); uninterrupted coverage during magnetotail transits; integration into M2M SWAO real-time toolboxes.

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.