Goddard's IRAD program is managed under Goddard's Office of Chief Technologist. Activities are coordinated in collaboration with the Sciences and Exploration Directorate; Applied Engineering and Technology Directorate; Flight Projects Directorate; Wallops Flight Facility; New Opportunites Office; SBIR/STTR program; Goddard Strategic Partnerships Office; and the Export Compliance Office.
IRAD provides"seed funding" to develop concepts, reduce technology risk, and advance human capital and technological capabilities. The program is highly competitive, opportunity-driven, and 100% strategically aligned with NASA's and GSFC's strategic priorities. A significant portion of the program is focused on Early Stage Innovations for high-risk, strategically aligned, potential high-payoff technologies that are longer-term or lower TRL.
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The four primary objectives are to develop new freeform optical alignment methods for the mechanical structure. Next, utilize/manufacture a sensor electronics board with a slim volume and develop mature signal processing algorithms specifically for attitude determination software. Last, perform a trade study on emerging detector technology, that promises ~20% (or greater) noise reduction for Goddard Cubesat sensor and instruments.
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A spin stabilized Cubesat platform based on Goddard Spaceflight Center (GSFC) current cubesat designs can benefit from this Ultra-compact technology investment. In the current space limited design for current GSFC CubeSats, there is more than enough volume for slim sensor to enhance the Guidance Navigation and Control (GN&C) knowledge. The combination of this radical optical design and front-end optical design research can revolutionize the way instruments/sensors in science and engineering are applied to GSFC long-term science goals.
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A spin stabilized Cubesat platform based on Goddard Spaceflight Center (GSFC) current cubesat designs can benefit from this Ultra-compact technology investment. In the current space limited design for current GSFC CubeSats, there is more than enough volume for slim sensor to enhance the Guidance Navigation and Control (GN&C) knowledge. The combination of this radical optical design and front-end optical design research can revolutionize the way instruments/sensors in science and engineering are applied to GSFC long-term science goals.
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Task progress is evaluated twice a year at the Mid-term IRAD review and the end of the year. When the funding period has ended, the PIs compete again for IRAD funding or seek new sources of development and research funding or agree to external partnerships and collaborations. In some cases, when the development work has reached the appropriate Technology Readiness Level (TRL) level, the product is integrated into an actual NASA mission or used to support other government agencies. The technology may also be licensed out to the industry.
The completion of a project does not necessarily indicate that the development work has stopped. The work could potentially continue in the future as a follow-on IRAD; or used in collaboration or partnership with Academia, Industry and other Government Agencies.
If you are interested in partnering with NASA, see the TechPort Partnerships documentation available on the TechPort Help tab. http://techport.nasa.gov/help
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