Water Properties Sensor

In this Phase II project, Kaitech proposes to develop and demonstrate a Water Properties Sensor (WPS) sensing system to synchronously measure the spectral inherent and apparent optical properties and the physical properties of oceanic, coastal, and fresh water. This single instrument will provide oceanographers with a small, easy to deploy, affordable, and adaptable integrated sensing system to collect and measure geospatial information of the in situ water's fundamental marine processes.

Non-NASA applications include supporting marine field studies for coastal research by Federal, state, and local resource managers.

The WPS's applications have capabilities to support NASA's earth science programs to gather the in situ measurements of environmental conditions impacting the marine processes. Basic programs this instrument can support include: NASA's Ocean Biology and Biogeochemistry and Applied Sciences programs, its Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) program, its regional coastal research, and NASA's satellite measurement calibration and validation programs.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 6) — 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.