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":230,"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":"Strategic Astrophysics Technology","manageGaps":false,"acronymOrTitle":"SAT"},"description":"A potential follow-on to the James Webb Space Telescope is a Large Ultraviolet-Optical Infrared (LUVOIR) space telescope with an aperture in the range of 10-12m or larger. LUVOIR would conduct a spectroscopic survey for evidence of life in potential habitable earth-like planets, and provide an observatory for ground-breaking astrophysical programs. A 10-12 m class UVOIR observatory has been recommended by AURA's Beyond JWST committee in presentations made to the AAS. In considering the key technology challenges of such a mission, it is important to point out that the survey of earth-like candidates requires high contrast (10^10) combined with small Inner Working Angle (IWA) coronagraphs (2 L/D) , and the ability to survey hundreds of G and K type stars during the mission lifetime (Stark et al. 2014). To achieve this level of contrast, the observatory will need to efficiently achieve stability levels across the primary mirror less than 10 picometers for up to 10 minutes (Redding et al, 2014). Our team has shown through modeling that meeting the stability requirement of lightweight mirror segments of 1.2m diameter lightweight hexagonal shape Ultra Low Expansion (ULE) mirrors is feasible using achievable thermal control approaches at room temperature with 1 milli-Kelvin level thermal control and work is ongoing to assess mirror level thermal stability. However, another key capability required to enable this level of system performance is achieving segment to segment stability (Feinberg, et al 2014), which is driven by the mirror support structures (if each segment is already stabilized with an appropriate thermal control system). Therefore, our team proposes an approach that combines improved composite materials and structures, innovative mirror mounting, active thermal strategies, and optical measurement methods to demonstrate a segment to segment thermal and dynamic stability of 10 picometers over up to 10 minutes on a subscale system. The composite material improvements are in reduced moisture absorption effects (CME) and CTE based on nanotechnology. To achieve this, we will leverage etalon based coupon level test methods developed by the LISA community, high speed interferometry dynamic and electronic speckle pattern interferometry for thermal stability metrology developed by the JWST community. This work will provide an alternative (and potentially more robust method) for building dimensionally stable systems for precision measurements such as detection gravitational waves.","releaseStatus":"Released","status":"Completed","viewCount":705,"destinationType":["Outside_the_Solar_System"],"trlBegin":3,"trlCurrent":3,"trlEnd":4,"lastUpdated":"09/03/19","favorited":false,"detailedFunding":false,"projectContacts":[{"contactId":37148,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Babak","lastName":"Saif","fullName":"Babak N Saif","fullNameInverted":"Saif, Babak N","middleInitial":"N","email":"babak.n.saif@nasa.gov","receiveEmail":"Subscribed_User","projectContactRole":"Principal_Investigator","projectContactId":28972,"projectId":88113,"programContactRolePretty":"","projectContactRolePretty":"Principal Investigator"},{"contactId":104877,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"David","lastName":"Chaney","fullName":"David M Chaney","fullNameInverted":"Chaney, David M","middleInitial":"M","receiveEmail":"Subscribed_User","projectContactRole":"Co_Investigator","projectContactId":24101,"projectId":88113,"programContactRolePretty":"","projectContactRolePretty":"Co-Investigator"},{"contactId":108695,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"David","lastName":"Leisawitz","fullName":"David T Leisawitz","fullNameInverted":"Leisawitz, David T","middleInitial":"T","email":"david.t.leisawitz@nasa.gov","receiveEmail":"Subscribed_User","projectContactRole":"Co_Investigator","projectContactId":4623,"projectId":88113,"programContactRolePretty":"","projectContactRolePretty":"Co-Investigator"},{"contactId":191296,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Jake","lastName":"Lewis","fullName":"Jake Lewis","fullNameInverted":"Lewis, Jake","receiveEmail":"Subscribed_User","projectContactRole":"Co_Investigator","projectContactId":36578,"projectId":88113,"programContactRolePretty":"","projectContactRolePretty":"Co-Investigator"},{"contactId":506047,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Jeffrey","lastName":"Livas","fullName":"Jeffrey C Livas","fullNameInverted":"Livas, Jeffrey C","middleInitial":"C","email":"jeffrey.livas-1@nasa.gov","receiveEmail":"Subscribed_User","projectContactRole":"Co_Investigator","projectContactId":18969,"projectId":88113,"programContactRolePretty":"","projectContactRolePretty":"Co-Investigator"},{"contactId":288799,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Lee","lastName":"Feinberg","fullName":"Lee D Feinberg","fullNameInverted":"Feinberg, Lee D","middleInitial":"D","email":"lee.d.feinberg@nasa.gov","receiveEmail":"Subscribed_User","projectContactRole":"Co_Investigator","projectContactId":39706,"projectId":88113,"programContactRolePretty":"","projectContactRolePretty":"Co-Investigator"},{"contactId":291595,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Lester","lastName":"Cohen","fullName":"Lester M Cohen","fullNameInverted":"Cohen, Lester M","middleInitial":"M","receiveEmail":"Subscribed_User","projectContactRole":"Co_Investigator","projectContactId":49385,"projectId":88113,"programContactRolePretty":"","projectContactRolePretty":"Co-Investigator"},{"contactId":304936,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Marcel","lastName":"Bluth","fullName":"Marcel Bluth","fullNameInverted":"Bluth, Marcel","receiveEmail":"Subscribed_User","projectContactRole":"Co_Investigator","projectContactId":4740,"projectId":88113,"programContactRolePretty":"","projectContactRolePretty":"Co-Investigator"},{"contactId":308688,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Marie","lastName":"Levine","fullName":"Marie B Levine","fullNameInverted":"Levine, Marie B","middleInitial":"B","email":"marie.levine@jpl.nasa.gov","receiveEmail":"Subscribed_User","projectContactRole":"Co_Investigator","projectContactId":34041,"projectId":88113,"programContactRolePretty":"","projectContactRolePretty":"Co-Investigator"},{"contactId":310958,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Mark","lastName":"Clampin","fullName":"Mark Clampin","fullNameInverted":"Clampin, Mark","email":"mark.clampin@nasa.gov","receiveEmail":"Subscribed_User","projectContactRole":"Co_Investigator","projectContactId":26563,"projectId":88113,"programContactRolePretty":"","projectContactRolePretty":"Co-Investigator"},{"contactId":369356,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Paul","lastName":"Lightsey","fullName":"Paul A Lightsey","fullNameInverted":"Lightsey, Paul A","middleInitial":"A","receiveEmail":"Subscribed_User","projectContactRole":"Co_Investigator","projectContactId":39734,"projectId":88113,"programContactRolePretty":"","projectContactRolePretty":"Co-Investigator"},{"contactId":498243,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Winfield","lastName":"Smith","fullName":"Winfield S Smith","fullNameInverted":"Smith, Winfield S","middleInitial":"S","email":"w.s.smith@nasa.gov","receiveEmail":"Subscribed_User","projectContactRole":"Co_Investigator","projectContactId":34687,"projectId":88113,"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":421,"programId":230,"programContactRolePretty":"Program Director","projectContactRolePretty":""},{"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_Manager","programContactId":423,"programId":230,"programContactRolePretty":"Program Manager","projectContactRolePretty":""}],"leadOrganization":{"organizationId":4947,"organizationName":"Goddard Space Flight Center","acronym":"GSFC","organizationType":"NASA_Center","city":"Greenbelt","stateTerritoryId":3,"stateTerritory":{"abbreviation":"MD","country":{"abbreviation":"US","countryId":236,"name":"United States"},"countryId":236,"name":"Maryland","stateTerritoryId":3,"isTerritory":false},"country":{"abbreviation":"US","countryId":236,"name":"United States"},"countryId":236,"zipCode":"20771","projectId":88113,"projectOrganizationId":2101,"organizationRole":"Lead_Organization","canUserEdit":false,"locationEdit":false,"organizationRolePretty":"Lead Organization","organizationTypePretty":"NASA Center"},"otherOrganizations":[{"organizationId":4947,"organizationName":"Goddard Space Flight Center","acronym":"GSFC","organizationType":"NASA_Center","city":"Greenbelt","stateTerritoryId":3,"stateTerritory":{"abbreviation":"MD","country":{"abbreviation":"US","countryId":236,"name":"United States"},"countryId":236,"name":"Maryland","stateTerritoryId":3,"isTerritory":false},"country":{"abbreviation":"US","countryId":236,"name":"United States"},"countryId":236,"zipCode":"20771","projectId":88113,"projectOrganizationId":2101,"organizationRole":"Lead_Organization","canUserEdit":false,"locationEdit":false,"organizationRolePretty":"Lead Organization","organizationTypePretty":"NASA Center"}],"primaryTx":{"taxonomyNodeId":11225,"taxonomyRootId":8817,"parentNodeId":11223,"code":"TX08.2.2","title":"Structures and Antennas","description":"Structure and antenna development aims to provide lightweight, space compatible metering structures that can be efficiently packaged for launch, precisely deployed or erected in orbit, and maintain stability for instrument operation by including adaptive control of the deployed shape, wavefront control, and materials. The systems include phased arrays and reflectors and may be either static or scanning.","exampleTechnologies":"James Webb Space telescope (JWST) deployment system and the JWST sunshade, Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) and NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) deployable mesh antenna and boom system, metering system for the Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NUSTAR) X-ray optics","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":11225,"taxonomyRootId":8817,"parentNodeId":11223,"code":"TX08.2.2","title":"Structures and Antennas","description":"Structure and antenna development aims to provide lightweight, space compatible metering structures that can be efficiently packaged for launch, precisely deployed or erected in orbit, and maintain stability for instrument operation by including adaptive control of the deployed shape, wavefront control, and materials. The systems include phased arrays and reflectors and may be either static or scanning.","exampleTechnologies":"James Webb Space telescope (JWST) deployment system and the JWST sunshade, Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) and NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) deployable mesh antenna and boom system, metering system for the Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NUSTAR) X-ray optics","level":3,"hasChildren":false,"selected":true,"hasInteriorContent":true}]],"technologyOutcomes":[],"libraryItems":[],"states":[{"abbreviation":"AL","country":{"abbreviation":"US","countryId":236,"name":"United States"},"countryId":236,"name":"Alabama","stateTerritoryId":18,"isTerritory":false},{"abbreviation":"CA","country":{"abbreviation":"US","countryId":236,"name":"United States"},"countryId":236,"name":"California","stateTerritoryId":59,"isTerritory":false},{"abbreviation":"CO","country":{"abbreviation":"US","countryId":236,"name":"United States"},"countryId":236,"name":"Colorado","stateTerritoryId":15,"isTerritory":false},{"abbreviation":"MD","country":{"abbreviation":"US","countryId":236,"name":"United States"},"countryId":236,"name":"Maryland","stateTerritoryId":3,"isTerritory":false},{"abbreviation":"MA","country":{"abbreviation":"US","countryId":236,"name":"United States"},"countryId":236,"name":"Massachusetts","stateTerritoryId":30,"isTerritory":false},{"abbreviation":"UT","country":{"abbreviation":"US","countryId":236,"name":"United States"},"countryId":236,"name":"Utah","stateTerritoryId":35,"isTerritory":false}],"endDateString":"Sep 2018","startDateString":"Oct 2014"}}