Design of Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometers for Measurements within the Space Radiation Environments (SRAD)

Completed TRL 5 (started at 4, targeting 5)

Description

This project is to develop a Tandem Ion mass Spectrometer that is capable of operating on the moon in anticipation of future lunar lander mission. This work includes using GEANT3 radiation codes to simulate the response of microchannel plates (MCPs) and ultra-thin carbon foils (CFs) to energetic electrons from 0.7 MeV to 27 MeV. As well as using the electron accelerators at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Gaithersburg, MD to directly subject the detector to energetic electrons.

Benefits

This project is to develop a Tandem Ion mass Spectrometer that is capable of operating on the moon and, potentially, other bodies in the solar system in anticipation of future missions.

Details

Technology area	Sensors and Instruments > In Situ Instruments and Sensors > Field and Particle Detectors
Program	Center Independent Research & Development: GSFC IRAD (GSFC IRAD)
Lead organization	Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD
Start date	2019-10-01
End date	2021-09-30

Project contacts

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

Nikolaos Paschalidis — nikolaos.paschalidis@nasa.gov
Steven D Christe — steven.d.christe@nasa.gov
Edward C Sittler — edward.c.sittler@nasa.gov
John F Cooper — john.f.cooper@nasa.gov
Stephen A Brown — stephen.a.brown@nasa.gov
Steven J Sturner — steven.j.sturner@nasa.gov

How to get involved

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 5) — 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.

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