Radiation Mitigation Methods for Advanced Readout Array

NASA is interested in the development of advanced instruments and instrument components for planetary science missions. Specifically, an area of importance in relation to in situ sensors and sensor systems is instrument deployment on a variety of space platforms, which include orbiters, flyby spacecraft, landers, rovers, balloon, other aerial vehicles, subsurface penetrators, and impactors. These instrumentation and space platforms are to be used in the exploration of inner and outer planets and their moons, comets, asteroids, etc. As a direct consequence, the instrumentation systems are subjected to space and planetary environmental extremes including temperature, pressure, radiation, and impact stresses during operation. In particular, NASA is soliciting instrument development that provides advancements in several specific areas. One of these areas is "Radiation mitigation strategies, radiation tolerant detectors, and readout electronics components for candidate instruments for the Europa-Jupiter System Mission (EJSM)". We intend to answer NASA's need for a suitable radiation resistant ROIC technology for future planetary science missions through the integration of advanced radiation hardening technologies incorporating radiation hardening by design (RHBD) technologies, as well as the use of an advanced multi-gate integrated circuit technologies. Additional focus will be on the reduction of cost, size, weight, and power.

Other potential markets include the DoD, DoE, and Homeland Security, as well as Prime Contractors that are involved in building spaceborne sensors that require rad-hard ROICs.

The ROIC architecture that will be developed under this SBIR will demonstrate the protection offered by the combination of our innovative radiation hardened by design (RHBD) methods and an advanced foundry process in terms of "greatly enhanced" TID, SEL, and SEU mitigation capabilities that are required for NASA's future exploration missions including Jupiter and its moons (EJSM Flagship mission). None of the currently available ROICs can meet the rad-hard requirements of EJSM, therefore development of this technology is essential.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 3) — 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.

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.