Wideband Imaging Submillimeter Heterodyne Spectrometer (WISHeS)

Completed TRL 3 (started at 2, targeting 3)

Description

Submillimeter-Wave spectrometers have proven to be powerful remote sensing tool to explore the volatile contents (especially water and its isotopologues) and ice particles across a diverse range of solar system atmospheres such as the gas giants, Earth, terrestrial planets, comets, satellite plumes, and asteroid exospheres. There are two important ways to improve the SWAP of a submillimeter-wave spectrometer. Current receivers are single pixel systems and require additional time to perform a scan with large, heavy, and power hungry mechanisms. An imaging receiver system with multiple receiver elements will reduce its SWAP.

Benefits

Cross-disciplinary spinoff technologies, capabilities and benefits include:

highly integrated receiver array with integrated feedhorns
Reduced size and improved power efficiency of RF/IF spectral decimation
broadband spectrometers applicable across a broad range of electromagnetic spectra
artificial intelligence applied to automated detection and identification, system calibration, and data compression.

Details

Technology area	Sensors and Instruments > Remote Sensing Instruments and Sensors
Program	Center Independent Research & Development: GSFC IRAD (GSFC IRAD)
Lead organization	Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD
Start date	2018-10-01
End date	2022-09-30

Project contacts

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

Michael A Johnson — michael.a.johnson@nasa.gov
Terry A Hurford — terry.a.hurford@nasa.gov
Gordon Chin — gordon.chin@nasa.gov
Berhanu T Bulcha — berhanu.t.bulcha@nasa.gov
Carrie M Anderson — carrie.m.anderson@nasa.gov
Damon C Bradley
Mark A Stephen — mark.a.stephen@nasa.gov
Mark Shappirio — mark.d.shappirio@nasa.gov
Negar Ehsan — negar.ehsan@nasa.gov
Paul E Racette — paul.e.racette@nasa.gov
Timothy P Mcclanahan — timothy.p.mcclanahan@nasa.gov
Tracee L Jamison-hooks — tracee.l.jamison-hooks@nasa.gov

How to get involved

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.