Single Frequency Lasers for Space-Based Wind and Aerosol Lidar, Phase I

This SBIR will develop single frequency cw laser technology for 2um lidar and UV interferometer locking control critical to NASA missions that will measure atmospheric winds and aerosols. NASA recently completed the Earth Science Decadal Study that identified atmospheric global wind and aerosol measurement as high priority missions with recommended satellite deployments within the next decade. Our general approach to this SBIR is to perform proof of concept research that results in optical designs that can be readily integrated into existing flight ready hardware. After Phase 2 we anticipate the technology will readily transfer to NASA mission use. We expect successful completion of the proposed work to increase the TRL from 4 to 5. The innovation of this SBIR is the development of space-qualifiable CW single-frequency lasers at 2 µm and 355 nm, products that are not commercially available. Numerous pulsed 355 nm sources are available for commercial applications but they are not space-qualifiable. There are several scientific investigations of 355 nm CW lasers described in the literature but no effort has been made to create high vibration aircraft nor space qualified products available to NASA.

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.