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Completed TRL 3 (started at 3, targeting 4)
This IRAD will develop a compact IR instrument that will enable future instrument and mission proposals. SmallSat, CubeSat, and UAV platforms provide opportunities to fly focused payloads to answer high priority science questions cost efficiently. The proposed effort will provide a lower cost alternative to improve competitiveness of future proposals.
An IR spectrometer has broad mission applications and the proposed development will provide ample opportunities for future mission proposals. For example, this instrument could be used on CubeSat missions through a SIMPLEx call, payload constrained opportunities such as the recent Korean Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter mission (SALMON) and the Asteroid Retrieval Mission, and Earth science opportunities to fly on a UAV and/or LEO CubeSat.
Listed on TechPort itself — the most direct way to ask about this specific project.
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.