{"project":{"acronym":"","projectId":33544,"title":"Lunar Heat Flow Probe","primaryTaxonomyNodes":[{"taxonomyNodeId":10755,"taxonomyRootId":8816,"parentNodeId":10751,"level":3,"code":"TX08.3.4","title":"Environment Sensors","definition":"Environment sensors provide the local environmental measures such as vehicle health and habitation health and include sensors such as seismometers, weather sensors (temp, wind speed, atmospheric pressure, humidity), static electric field, chemical species, structural measures (pressure, strain, etc.), particle detectors","exampleTechnologies":"Temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, atmospheric pressure, seismic","hasChildren":false,"hasInteriorContent":true}],"startTrl":2,"currentTrl":3,"endTrl":3,"benefits":"The National Research Council's 2011 Decadal Survey on planetary sciences recommended performing heat flow measurements on network geophysical missions to the Moon. The heat flow probe therefore meets payload requirements for the International Lunar Networks. In addition to measuring heat flow on the Moon, the probe can be deployed on the future Discovery- and New Frontier-class robotic missions to Mars, and other planetary bodies. The instrument may be used by astronauts on Sortie human lunar missions. The percussive penetrometer can also be used to deploy other sensors, such as Neutron and Gamma spectrometer and Electrical Properties probe. Since the penetration rate relates to soil's bearing strength, the tool could also provide geotechnical measurements (incl. in situ density) of lunar subsurface to a depth of 3 m.
Non-NASA applications include measuring of heat flow in areas on earth, where optimal thermal isolation of heaters/temperature sensors is of paramount importance. These for example include areas with hydrocarbon potential. Therefore exploration companies, such as Shell or Chevron, would in particular be interested in this technology. Since these heat probes are small and can be made relatively cheaply, they can be left in earth forever. Thus, the heat flow data can be accumulated indefinitely. This in particular would be important for tracking global climate change and to understand the nature and causes of climate change. Thus, proposed heat flow deployment method, because of potential cost savings, may allow more heat flow probes being deployed around the earth. The possible 'customer' may for example be the International Heat Flow Commission of IASPEI, who initiated the project \"Global Database of Borehole Temperatures and Climate Reconstructions\". Prof Nagihara is working with Oil and Gas companies in the Gulf of Mexico in the area of heat flow measurements and he will be the best segue for identifying commercialization opportunities.","description":"To accurately determine endogenic heat flow, both thermal gradient and thermal conductivity measurements are needed. The thermal gradient measurement can be achieved by using several temperature sensors equally spaced along the length of the probe. Thermal conductivity can be measured by one of two methods: the 'steady state' method or the 'transient with a variant' or 'pulse heating' method. The steady state method was used by the Apollo 15-17 missions , whereas the pulse heating method was developed by Lister (1979) after the Apollo period In the steady state heating method, heat is applied to the regolith around the probe for a long period of time and thermal conductivity is derived from the rate at which temperature rises. This will affect the measurement associated with the diurnal and annual wave as it adds a significant amount of heat to the regolith, which will take a very long time to dissipate. In the pulse heating method, more heat is applied for a short duration of time. The temperature of the probe increases instantaneously and slowly falls off as the heat dissipates into the regolith after the heater is turned off. In this case, the thermal conductivity is derived from the cooling rate. In the pulse heating method, less heat is required and less time is required for a measurement. For the most accurate results, sensors must extend below the depth of the multi-year thermal fluctuation detected during the Apollo missions (>3 m). If the hole is deep enough to avoid the effects of the insolation, the geothermal gradient obtained in a lower portion of the hole should accurately reflect the endogenic heat flow. The spacing between sensors should be small (approximately 30 cm), because thermal conductivity of the regolith is heavily affected by its texture, which varies with depth. Determining the in situ heat flow, as well as the site-specific thermal wave depths, requires that measurements be taken over long durations (6-8 years).","startYear":2015,"startMonth":6,"endYear":2015,"endMonth":12,"statusDescription":"Completed","principalInvestigators":[{"contactId":278534,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Kris","lastName":"Zacny","fullName":"Kris Zacny","fullNameInverted":"Zacny, Kris","primaryEmail":"zacny@honeybeerobotics.com","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"programDirectors":[{"contactId":206378,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Jason","lastName":"Kessler","fullName":"Jason L Kessler","fullNameInverted":"Kessler, Jason L","middleInitial":"L","primaryEmail":"jason.l.kessler@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"programExecutives":[{"contactId":215154,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Jennifer","lastName":"Gustetic","fullName":"Jennifer L Gustetic","fullNameInverted":"Gustetic, Jennifer L","middleInitial":"L","primaryEmail":"jennifer.l.gustetic@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"programManagers":[{"contactId":62051,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Carlos","lastName":"Torrez","fullName":"Carlos Torrez","fullNameInverted":"Torrez, Carlos","primaryEmail":"carlos.torrez@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"projectManagers":[{"contactId":220583,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Jessica","lastName":"Gaskin","fullName":"Jessica Gaskin","fullNameInverted":"Gaskin, Jessica","primaryEmail":"Jessica.A.Gaskin@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false},{"contactId":461333,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Theresa","lastName":"Stanley","fullName":"Theresa M Stanley","fullNameInverted":"Stanley, Theresa M","middleInitial":"M","primaryEmail":"theresa.m.stanley@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"website":"","libraryItems":[{"file":{"fileExtension":"pdf","fileId":297197,"fileName":"SBIR_2015_1_BC_S1.06-9575","fileSize":467344,"objectId":293728,"objectType":{"lkuCodeId":889,"code":"LIBRARY_ITEMS","description":"Library Items","lkuCodeTypeId":182,"lkuCodeType":{"codeType":"OBJECT_TYPE","description":"Object Type"}},"objectTypeId":889,"fileSizeString":"456.4 KB"},"files":[{"fileExtension":"pdf","fileId":297197,"fileName":"SBIR_2015_1_BC_S1.06-9575","fileSize":467344,"objectId":293728,"objectType":{"lkuCodeId":889,"code":"LIBRARY_ITEMS","description":"Library Items","lkuCodeTypeId":182,"lkuCodeType":{"codeType":"OBJECT_TYPE","description":"Object Type"}},"objectTypeId":889,"fileSizeString":"456.4 KB"}],"id":293728,"title":"Briefing Chart","description":"Lunar Heat Flow Probe Briefing 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The NASA SBIR and STTR programs fund the research, development, and demonstration of innovative technologies that fulfill NASA needs as described in the annual Solicitations and have significant potential for successful commercialization. If you are a small business concern (SBC) with 500 or fewer employees or a non-profit RI such as a university or a research laboratory with ties to an SBC, then NASA encourages you to learn more about the SBIR and STTR programs as a potential source of seed funding for the development of your innovations.
The SBIR and STTR programs have 3 phases:
The SBIR and STTR Phase I contracts last for 6 months with a maximum funding of $125,000, and Phase II contracts last for 24 months with a maximum funding of $750,000 - $1.5 million.
Opportunity for Continued Technology Development Post-Phase II:
The NASA SBIR/STTR Program currently has in place two initiatives for supporting its small business partners past the basic Phase I and Phase II elements of the program that emphasize opportunities for commercialization. Specifically, the NASA SBIR/STTR Program has the Phase II Enhancement (Phase II-E) and Phase II eXpanded (Phase II-X) contract options.
Please review the links below to obtain more information on the SBIR/STTR programs.
Provides an overview of the SBIR and STTR programs as implemented by NASA
Provides access to the annual SBIR/STTR Solicitations containing detailed information on the program eligibility requirements, proposal instructions and research topics and subtopics
Schedule and links for the SBIR/STTR solicitations and selection announcements
Federal and non-Federal sources of assistance for small business
Search our complete archive of awarded project abstracts to learn about what NASA has funded
Still have questions? Visit the program FAQs
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