Capillary Absorption Spectroscopy for Exploration and Science (CAS)

Our Capillary Absorption Spectrometer (CAS) is a mid-infrared tunable laser spectrometer that identifies molecular species and isotopologues through their unique absorption signatures in the 2–16 µm "molecular fingerprint" region. This technology has been developed under SBIR and DALI funding by Optoknowledge Systems, Inc. (OKSI) partnering with Dr. Jen Stern at GSFC. A prototype CAS instrument built under the Phase II SBIR will be delivered to Dr. Stern’s laboratory in Summer 2026. To infuse this into upcoming GSFC mission concepts, it is necessary to 1) evaluate CAS performance on relevant sample gas mixtures and 2) develop a GSFC sample handling system compatible with in situ measurements as well as returned samples.

CAS instrument performance evaluation on relevant sample gas mixtures; development of GSFC sample handling system compatible with in situ measurements and returned samples; mid-IR molecular fingerprint region (2–16 µm) species and isotopologue identification.

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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