Water vapor Infrared Sunlight Sounder with Photonic integrated circuits (WISSP)

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Description

WISSP aims to develop a photonic integrated circuit (PIC)-based spectrometer/polarimeter for measurement of the 3D distribution of water vapor from orbit. WISSP will be smaller and more accurate than current IR sounders, while providing cross-track coverage to supplement high-resolution lidar.

Benefits

PIC technology enables CubeSat-sized instrument (3D maps + constellation). Develop, demonstrate, and characterize improved TRL 4 prototype suitable for brassboard implementation

Details

Technology area	Sensors and Instruments > Remote Sensing Instruments and Sensors
Program	Agency Independent Research and Development (A-IRAD)
Lead organization	Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA
Start date	2026-10-01
End date	2027-09-30

Project contacts

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

Nathan A Dostart — nathan.a.dostart@nasa.gov
Nathaniel C Wilson — nathaniel.c.wilson@nasa.gov
Randa H Elhertani — randa.h.elhertani@nasa.gov
Snorre A Stamnes — snorre.a.stamnes@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.