The Astrophysics Research Program competitively solicits low TRL (1-3) technology development activities of a more general nature through the Astrophysics Research and Analysis (APRA) Program element of ROSES. APRA is intended to support basic research of new technologies and feasibility demonstrations that may enable future science missions. For example, APRA seeks technology development of advanced detectors that may be proposed as instruments for future space flight experiments. APRA also supports suborbital science investigations that typically involve a significant level of technology development.
","parentProgram":{"ableToSelect":false,"acronym":"APD","isActive":true,"description":"There are four Program elements within the Astrophysics Division that execute technology development activities: Cosmic Origins (COR), Physics of the Cosmos (PCOS), Exoplanet Exploration (EXEP), and the Astrophysics Research Program. Technology efforts in the Division are procured through both directed and competed processes.
The PCOS, COR, and EXEP programs develop and operate the Division’s strategic science missions. Thus, each of these programs conduct strategic technology development activities to enable future missions and to support early phase mission development. Each has a formal Technology Development Plan to guide its technology development activities, and maintains an annual report that documents the status of currently funded activities. Annual assessments identify future technology development needs based on the science goals of each program.
The PCOS, COR, and EXEP Programs conduct competed technology development efforts through a Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Science (ROSES) element known as Strategic Astrophysics Technology (SAT) that specifically targets technology developments that bridge the technology readiness level (TRL) 3-6 gap. SAT developed technologies are essential to enable strategic missions that specifically address the key science goals of the Astrophysics Decadal Survey recommendations. The three SAT elements for PCOS, COR, and EXEP are named Technology Development for Physics of the Cosmos (TPCOS), Technology Development for Cosmic Origins Program (TCOP), and Technology Development for Exo-Planet Missions (TDEM) respectively. In contrast to these competed efforts, each program also conducts directed technology development activities that are carried out as elements of specific strategic science missions during early development phases.
The Astrophysics Research Program competitively solicits low TRL (1-3) technology development activities of a more general nature through the Astrophysics Research and Analysis (APRA) Program element of ROSES. APRA is intended to support basic research of new technologies and feasibility demonstrations that may enable future science missions. For example, APRA seeks technology development of advanced detectors that may be proposed as instruments for future space flight experiments. APRA also supports suborbital science investigations that typically involve a significant level of technology development.
","programId":34626,"responsibleMd":{"canUserEdit":false,"locationEdit":false,"organizationRolePretty":"","organizationTypePretty":""},"title":"Astrophysics","manageGaps":false,"acronymOrTitle":"APD"},"parentProgramId":34626,"programId":93,"responsibleMd":{"organizationId":4909,"organizationName":"Science Mission Directorate","acronym":"SMD","organizationType":"NASA_Mission_Directorate","canUserEdit":false,"locationEdit":false,"organizationRolePretty":"","organizationTypePretty":"NASA Mission Directorate"},"responsibleMdOffice":4909,"title":"Astrophysics Research and Analysis","manageGaps":false,"acronymOrTitle":"APRA"},"description":"The goal of the proposed program is to enable increased angular resolution and collection areas for future major X-ray observatories by incorporating control of the mirror surfaces after fab-rication and mounting. We propose to develop and implement a method for preparing adjustable optics with integrated control elements on curved mirror segments for future X-ray space telescopes. Development of such mirror elements will provide a major advance to the field of X-ray astronomy, by enabling mirrors with half an arcsecond angular resolution using thin, lightweight glass to significantly increase the collection area. This is an enabling technology for mission concepts such as the X-ray Surveyor. The heart of the proposed program is the integration of PbZr0.52Ti0.48O3 (PZT) piezoelectric cells to serve as adjusters for thin glass mirrors. The voltage on each cell is optimized to correct for figure errors that may be present due to mirror fabrication, mounting, gravitational or thermal effects. Previous work demonstrates that the piezoelectric thin films enable correction of the mirror surfaces using control voltages under 10 V. Control of a large array of piezoelectric cells requires an approach to reduce the complexity of the wiring array. We propose to address this challenge by integrating ZnO thin film transistors for row-column addressing, along with ancil-lary electrostatic discharge protection directly on the back of the mirrors. This will radically reduce the number of required electrical connections, while relying on a robust technology widely in used for display applications. The PSU team has demonstrated via previous NASA funding that ZnO transistors can be integrated on PZT piezoelectrics on flat mirrors while retaining the full functionality of both. The extension we will make through this program is demonstration of an integration scheme appropriate for ZnO transistors on conical adjustable optics. We plan to achieve this through preparation of ZnO electronics on thin polyimide films (~5 micron in thickness) which can be lam-inated to the adjustable optics mirrors. This will allow conventional high-resolution lithography processes to be utilized for the transistors. A second key component will develop PZT films with excellent uniformity of thickness, breakdown strength, phase purity, and piezoelectric response over the curved mirror segments. A process for insuring improved stability of the piezoelectric response will be identified by carefully controlling the alignment of the domain structure. A third engineering challenge is associated with making the electrical connections between the adjustable optics and the control system. We will investigate anisotropic conductive film bonding, gold diffusion bonding, and conductive epoxy bonding for this step with particular at-tention to minimizing any effects on mirror figure from the bonding process. An electronics box will be built to enable control of a 22 by 22 cell actuator array. We propose, by the end of a 3 – year program to fabricate a high yield conical mirror segment of an adjustable optic with ZnO transistor-based row-column addressing. The mirror will be mounted in a “flight-like” configuration, electrically connected, and functionally tested with optical metrology. This test will duplicate the optical pre- and post-X-ray testing planned for Dec. ’15 as part of our current adjustable X-ray optics APRA program. The part will be available for subsequent X-ray testing to demonstrate functionality. Close collaboration between teams at Penn State and the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory will enable quantification of the influence functions resulting from PZT actuation and a measurement of the angular resolution of the resulting curved mirror segments. This proposal supports NASA's goals of technical advancement of technologies suitable for future missions, and training of graduate students.","benefits":"The Astrophysics Research and Analysis program (APRA) supports suborbital and suborbital-class investigations, development of detectors and supporting technology, laboratory astrophysics, and limited ground-based observing. Basic research proposals in these areas are solicited for investigations that are relevant to NASA's programs in astronomy and astrophysics, including the entire range of photons, gravitational waves, and particle astrophysics. The emphasis of this solicitation is on technologies and investigations that advance NASA astrophysics missions and goals.","releaseStatus":"Released","status":"Completed","viewCount":842,"destinationType":["Outside_the_Solar_System"],"trlBegin":3,"trlCurrent":4,"trlEnd":5,"lastUpdated":"08/22/25","favorited":false,"detailedFunding":false,"projectContacts":[{"contactId":452867,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Susan","lastName":"Trolier-McKinstry","fullName":"Susan Trolier-mckinstry","fullNameInverted":"Trolier-McKinstry, Susan","receiveEmail":"Subscribed_User","projectContactRole":"Principal_Investigator","projectContactId":15494,"projectId":71958,"programContactRolePretty":"","projectContactRolePretty":"Principal Investigator"},{"contactId":104584,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"David","lastName":"Burrows","fullName":"David N Burrows","fullNameInverted":"Burrows, David N","middleInitial":"N","receiveEmail":"Subscribed_User","projectContactRole":"Co_Investigator","projectContactId":15907,"projectId":71958,"programContactRolePretty":"","projectContactRolePretty":"Co-Investigator"},{"contactId":357243,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Niki","lastName":"Page","fullName":"Niki L Page","fullNameInverted":"Page, Niki L","middleInitial":"L","receiveEmail":"Subscribed_User","projectContactRole":"Co_Investigator","projectContactId":25719,"projectId":71958,"programContactRolePretty":"","projectContactRolePretty":"Co-Investigator"},{"contactId":370024,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Paul","lastName":"Reid","fullName":"Paul Reid","fullNameInverted":"Reid, Paul","receiveEmail":"Subscribed_User","projectContactRole":"Co_Investigator","projectContactId":37018,"projectId":71958,"programContactRolePretty":"","projectContactRolePretty":"Co-Investigator"},{"contactId":463931,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Thomas","lastName":"Jackson","fullName":"Thomas N Jackson","fullNameInverted":"Jackson, Thomas N","middleInitial":"N","receiveEmail":"Subscribed_User","projectContactRole":"Co_Investigator","projectContactId":39439,"projectId":71958,"programContactRolePretty":"","projectContactRolePretty":"Co-Investigator"},{"contactId":503898,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Zachary","lastName":"Prieskorn","fullName":"Zachary R Prieskorn","fullNameInverted":"Prieskorn, Zachary R","middleInitial":"R","receiveEmail":"Subscribed_User","projectContactRole":"Co_Investigator","projectContactId":32087,"projectId":71958,"programContactRolePretty":"","projectContactRolePretty":"Co-Investigator"}],"programContacts":[{"contactId":123302,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Dominic","lastName":"Benford","fullName":"Dominic J Benford","fullNameInverted":"Benford, Dominic J","middleInitial":"J","email":"dominic.j.benford@nasa.gov","receiveEmail":"Subscribed_User","programContactRole":"Program_Director","programContactId":586,"programId":93,"programContactRolePretty":"Program Director","projectContactRolePretty":""},{"contactId":109764,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"David","lastName":"Morris","fullName":"David C Morris","fullNameInverted":"Morris, David C","middleInitial":"C","email":"david.c.morris@nasa.gov","receiveEmail":"Subscribed_User","programContactRole":"Program_Manager","programContactId":569,"programId":93,"programContactRolePretty":"Program Manager","projectContactRolePretty":""}],"primaryTx":{"taxonomyNodeId":11224,"taxonomyRootId":8817,"parentNodeId":11223,"code":"TX08.2.1","title":"Mirror Systems","description":"Mirror systems development aims to increase sensitivity and resolution, such as improved resolution of X-ray grazing incidence optics and reduced areal costs for aperture systems >10 m in diameter.","exampleTechnologies":"Ground metrology and systems; integrated electronic, integrated photonic, sensor readouts that enable significant data compression; low-noise, low-power, high-performance analog and mixed signal electronic components, and electronics packaging technology capable of operating in and surviving extreme temperatures. Sensor electronics designs to accommodate reduced size, weight, and power (SWaP), including wireless networking techniques. Analog and Mixed-Signal Instrument front end electronics ASICs, FPGAs and discrete components, space cube, onboard SAR processor, MUSTANG, supporting nanoelectronic elements, and supporting high-voltage power supplies.","level":3,"hasChildren":false,"selected":false,"isPrimary":true,"hasInteriorContent":true},"primaryTxTree":[[{"taxonomyNodeId":11215,"taxonomyRootId":8817,"code":"TX08","title":"Sensors and Instruments","level":1,"hasChildren":true,"selected":false,"hasInteriorContent":true},{"taxonomyNodeId":11223,"taxonomyRootId":8817,"parentNodeId":11215,"code":"TX08.2","title":"Observatories","description":"Observatory technologies are necessary to design, manufacture, test, and operate space telescopes and antennas that collect, concentrate, or transmit photons. Observatory technologies enable or enhance large-aperture monolithic and segmented single apertures as well as structurally connected or free-flying sparse and interferometric apertures. Applications span the electromagnetic spectrum.","level":2,"hasChildren":true,"selected":false,"hasInteriorContent":true},{"taxonomyNodeId":11224,"taxonomyRootId":8817,"parentNodeId":11223,"code":"TX08.2.1","title":"Mirror Systems","description":"Mirror systems development aims to increase sensitivity and resolution, such as improved resolution of X-ray grazing incidence optics and reduced areal costs for aperture systems >10 m in diameter.","exampleTechnologies":"Ground metrology and systems; integrated electronic, integrated photonic, sensor readouts that enable significant data compression; low-noise, low-power, high-performance analog and mixed signal electronic components, and electronics packaging technology capable of operating in and surviving extreme temperatures. Sensor electronics designs to accommodate reduced size, weight, and power (SWaP), including wireless networking techniques. Analog and Mixed-Signal Instrument front end electronics ASICs, FPGAs and discrete components, space cube, onboard SAR processor, MUSTANG, supporting nanoelectronic elements, and supporting high-voltage power supplies.","level":3,"hasChildren":false,"selected":true,"hasInteriorContent":true}]],"technologyOutcomes":[],"libraryItems":[],"states":[{"abbreviation":"MA","country":{"abbreviation":"US","countryId":236,"name":"United States"},"countryId":236,"name":"Massachusetts","stateTerritoryId":30,"isTerritory":false},{"abbreviation":"PA","country":{"abbreviation":"US","countryId":236,"name":"United States"},"countryId":236,"name":"Pennsylvania","stateTerritoryId":47,"isTerritory":false}],"endDateString":"Feb 2019","startDateString":"Mar 2016"}}