Multifunctional Glow Discharge Analyzer for Spacecraft Monitoring

Makel Engineering, Inc. (MEI) and Penn State University (PSU) propose to develop a highly sensitive spectrometer based on glow discharge emission for the detection/classification of gas and aerosol species in post-fire cleanup scenarios. This device would complement technology that is already under development for intelligent fire detection and would provide a robust system to simultaneously monitor the reduction of carbon monoxide and other toxic species by fire cleanup filtration systems. MEI and Dr. Randy Vander Wal of PSU are actively developing a glow-discharge based detection system for DoD (NAVAIR) that will be extremely compact (<1 lb.) and provide highly sensitive detection of explosives and the potential to detect a broad range of chemical and biological agents. This system is a microhollow glow discharge-based electronic sniffer (MHGD Sniffer) and provides the basis for the proposed NASA effort.

This work would be leveraged for applications in homeland security (e.g. explosives detection and drug interdiction), environmental analysis (e.g. atmospheric aerosols and their effect on global warming), and industrial safety markets.

The instrument concept is anticipated to be relevant to manned missions as well as unmanned missions. The proposed instrument would also be compatible with landers, rovers for soil, dust, and atmospheric analysis and in airplanes and balloons for atmospheric composition

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 4) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

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