Heterodyne Spectrometer

Completed TRL 2 (started at 2, targeting 4)

Description

The objective of this IRAD is to develop a compact, high spectral sensitivity and tunable heterodyne spectrometer front-end receiver with a optimal system noise temperature.

Benefits

Potential use of a compact and room temperature THz receiver/spectrometer is to detect OH for the Moon and to understand the formation of cometary coma, where an accounting of all volatile components, OH and H2O, is required to understand its volatile exosphere. This instrument will also allow us to retrieve the surface abundance of these compounds on active icy moons, and it can be used to quantify the D/H ratio for objects throughout the solar system to use as a diagnostic to map out the evolution of our solar system.

Details

Technology area	Sensors and Instruments > Remote Sensing Instruments and Sensors > Microwave, Millimeter Waves, and Submillimeter Waves
Program	Center Independent Research & Development: GSFC IRAD (GSFC IRAD)
Lead organization	Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD
Start date	2017-10-01
End date	2018-09-01

Project contacts

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

Brook Lakew — brook.lakew@nasa.gov
Michael J Amato — michael.j.amato@nasa.gov
Terry Doiron — Terence.Doiron@nasa.gov
Berhanu T Bulcha — berhanu.t.bulcha@nasa.gov
Jeffrey L Hesler

How to get involved

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 2) — 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.