Rugged Optical Atmospheric Humidity Sensor, Phase I

Trace species measurement on unmanned atmospheric research craft suitable for interplanetary travel is a demanding application for optical sensing techniques. Yet optical techniques offer many advantages including high-precision, fast response, and strong species selectivity. Balloonsonde, kite, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), or glider deployment demands that optical sensors meet stringent size, weight and power requirements. Vista Photonics proposes to develop rugged, compact, battery-powered optical sensor technology capable of selectively determining humidity to 10 parts-per-billion (-100 ^oC frost point). The enabling technology for meeting stringent NASA mission requirements is a new rugged, compact, and lightweight optical path length enhancement cell that recovers the theoretical sensitivity of established high-performance optical absorption detection techniques. The proposed spectrometer will be capable of detecting multiple species while incurring little additional weight or power penalties.

Potential NASA Commercial Applications: Detection of contaminants in microelectronics and chemical process/feedstock streams. Assurance of occupational safety, environmental monitoring. Noninvasive health monitoring by breath based diagnostics where a specific component indicates a particular pathology. Detection of toxic industrial chemicals in homeland security applications for high-value installations and mass transit.

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.