CARBO: The Carbon Balance Observatory

Scientific consensus from a 2015 pre-Decadal Survey workshop highlighted the essential need for a wide-swath (mapping) low earth orbit (LEO) instrument delivering carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and carbon monoxide (CO) measurements with global coverage. OCO-2 pioneered space-based CO2 remote sensing, but lacks the CH4, CO and mapping capabilities required for an improved understanding of the global carbon cycle. The Carbon Balance Observatory (CARBO) advances key technologies to enable high-performance, cost-effective solutions for a space-based carbon-climate observing system. CARBO is a compact, modular, 15-30° field of view spectrometer that delivers high-precision CO2, CH4, CO and solar induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF) data with weekly global coverage from LEO. CARBO employs innovative immersion grating technologies to achieve diffraction-limited performance with OCO-like spatial (2x2 km2) and spectral (λ/Δλ ≈ 20,000) resolution in a package that is >50% smaller, lighter and more cost-effective. CARBO delivers a 25- to 50-fold increase in spatial coverage compared to OCO-2 with no loss of detection sensitivity. Individual CARBO modules weigh < 20 kg, opening diverse new platform opportunities. We will design CARBO modules covering 4 different spectral ranges then build and field test a 2-channel CO2/CH4 and SIF system. This will validate CARBO technology and deliver an instrument that can be adapted for airborne deployment and satellite validation (e.g. OCO-2, OCO-3, TropOMI). Our implementation develops and demonstrates CARBO measurement technologies: (1) Fabricate immersion gratings using e-beam lithography (2) Design and fabricate individual spectrometer/telescope modules in identical housings (3) Integrate two spectrometer/telescope modules into a single system (4) Field-test the integrated system on Mt Wilson, validating alignment, SNR and CO2, CH4 and SIF measurement precision. The CARBO system has entry TRL3. Tasks 1-2 advance CARBO's modular architecture to TRL4. Tasks 3-4 advance the system to exit TRL6. The period of performance is 3 years with a start in CY2017.

Enabling lower cost innovative remote sensing instrument development from concept through breadboard and demonstration

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.

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.