Suborbital Flight Experiment Monitor-2 (SFEM-2) (SFEM-2)

This project is to complete early instrumentation flights of the SFEM-2 on (a) suborbital vehicle(s). The primary objective is to characterize the test environment on these new flight vehicles in support of the NASA Flight Opportunities program and other programs/projects that develop payloads. This work also supports Environmental Control and Life Support Systems (ECLSS) and multiphase flow systems (e.g., cryogenic liquids) by evaluating test platforms for variable-g sensitive components (e.g., separators) and systems (e.g., water processing) [also see T0020]. Currently, ground-based testing is largely limited to parabolic aircraft providing very short duration conditions. Suborbital flight testing will allow longer duration, continuous operational testing with variable gravity over a wider range. Problem Statement The SFEM-2 is an augmented version of current instrumentation being flown to characterize the test environment in suborbital vehicles. This new integrated package provides not only acceleration data, etc., but cabin temperature, pressure, CO2 and acoustic measurements. Technology Maturation The SFEM-2 will employ a Modular Integrated Stackable Layers (MISL) instrument already designated for suborbital testing, and a COTS acoustic sensor already being developed for Orion and/or ISS. An additional benefit is early testing of the acoustic sensor that is a candidate for Orion and ISS. No one has yet fully characterized the test environment for suborbital vehicles.

Characterization of various vehicle flight environments such as parabolic flight or suborbital rocket will benefit future payload development by NASA program/projects due to having a better understanding the flight conditions the payload will be exposed to.

This is a mature technology (TRL 7) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.

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.