TOMEX Plus: Turbulent Oxygen Mixing Experiment Plus

Completed TRL 4 (started at 4, targeting 5)

Description

The Turbulent Oxygen Mixing Experiment Plus (TOMEX+) is a sounding-rocket investigation proposed to the Low-Cost Access to Space portion of the Heliophysics Technology and Instrument Development for Science segment of the ROSES-2016 Research Announcement (appendix B.3). The specific science questions that will be addressed by the investigation include understanding the role of turbulence and other atmospheric disturbances in the dynamics and mixing of the upper atmosphere, and the characterization of these disturbances in three dimensions. TOMEX+ investigates atmospheric mixing in the mesosphere-lower thermosphere (MLT) using newly-developed ultraviolet lidar technology. The new technology, based on the ideas of McIlrath et al. [1979], directly resolves atomic oxygen density at fine scales. The investigation deploys the new lidar on a spinning sounding rocket to probe atomic oxygen density within a three-dimensional volume of the MLT. The investigation builds on the successful TOMEX sounding-rocket investigation of 2000 [Hecht et al., 2002] by augmenting its in-situ and ground-based measurements with the rocket-borne lidar measurements and state-of-the-art modeling capabilities. This work is motivated by the Heliophysics Division's goal to understand how geospace responds to a variable Sun. Specifically, this investigation will explore the physical processes in the space environment that work to mix the upper atmosphere, and will advance our understanding of the connections that link the Sun and the Earth’s atmosphere.

Benefits

Support NASA's Heliophysics strategic science objectives to understand the Sun and its interactions with Earth and the solar system, including space weather. This will be achieved by developing/demonstrating instrumentation technology necessary to address the following science goals: Explore the physical processes in the space environment from the Sun to the Earth and throughout the solar system; Advance our understanding of the connections that link the Sun, the Earth, planetary space environments, and the outer reaches of our solar system; Develop the knowledge and capability to detect and predict extreme conditions in space to protect life and society and to safeguard human and robotic explorers beyond Earth.

Details

Technology area	Sensors and Instruments > Remote Sensing Instruments and Sensors > Optical Components
Program	Heliophysics Technology and Instrument Development for Science (H-TIDeS)
Lead organization	The Aerospace Corporation, El Segundo, CA
Start date	2017-04-01
End date	2020-03-01

Project contacts

Listed on TechPort itself — the most direct way to ask about this specific project.

James H Clemmons
David C Fritts
James H Hecht
Miguel F Larsen
Paul Steinvurzel
Richard Walterscheid
Steve D Rhee
Steven M Beck
Todd S Rose
William T Lotshaw
Xiaodong Mu
Xinzhao Chu

How to get involved

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.