Automated Radiation Measurements for Aerospace Safety - High-altitude (ARMAS-Hi) (ARMAS-Hi)

This project will be the first demonstration of a real-time Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS)-based technology for ionizing-radiation dose assessment at high altitudes with a global operational application. Radiation monitoring capabilities at high altitudes are important for human space exploration by helping specify the radiation environment consistency from the surface to Low Earth Orbit (LEO), i.e., a space tourism safety concern. This work will result in a better understanding of the radiation environment due to Galactic Cosmic Rays (GCRs) and solar proton events (SPEs) for altitudes transitioning into space.
SWW Panel Space Weather and Aviation April 18, 2018 presentation: Real-time radiation weather for commercial aviation on the horizon.

SBIR Phase II (2012)
SBIR Phase I (2011) Problem Statement This project is part of a larger technology advancement plan to develop and validate an operational radiation monitoring capability. There are four altitude domains (LEO, suborbital, high-altitude, and aviation altitude) in which radiation affects human activity and they need to be monitored as a whole system (deep space missions excluded). As human activity in space becomes more common, there is a recognized need to operationally and self-consistently specify and forecast the radiation environment from the ground to LEO in real-time.

This work will result in a better understanding of the radiation environment due to Galactic Cosmic Rays (GCRs) and solar proton events (SPEs) for altitudes transitioning into space. Future Customers ARMAS-Hi intends to demonstrate a technology that can identify high cancer-risk radiation dose rates from career-limiting Galactic Cosmic Rays (GCR) that are experienced by astronauts, high-altitude pilots, frequent commercial aviation flyers, pregnant mothers, and commercial space travelers. This system is intended to be integrated into global air (and space) traffic management (ATM) as envisioned by other U.S. Government agencies, including FAA’s NextGen air transportation system.

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.