A Compact Coronagraph Design for Heliophysics Missions
Project Introduction
A compact coronagraph design will greatly reduce the mass, volume, and cost of coronagraphs. This project will develop a compact coronagraph design for Heliophysics missions and test and evaluate the design.
Coronagraphs need to block the photospheric light of the Sun, so the corona (about a million times dimmer than the photosphere) can be imaged. Blocking the photospheric light is possible by an external occulting disk (occulter) in front of the objective lens of the solar telescope. An internal occulter, after the objective elements and other stops are positioned and sized, is used to reject light from the solar disk. One of the constant problems in coronagraphs is the photospheric light diffracted by the external occulter that enters into the coronagraph system due to scattering by the optical elements. Thus a successful rejection of the diffracted light is one of the key aspects of any coronagraph system. By suitably designing the occulters and stops the intensity of diffracted and scattered light needs to be reduced.
More »Primary U.S. Work Locations and Key Partners
| Organizations Performing Work | Role | Type | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
Goddard Space Flight Center
(GSFC)
|
Lead Organization | NASA Center | Greenbelt, Maryland |
| Orbital Sciences Corporation | Supporting Organization | Industry | |
| The Catholic University of America | Supporting Organization | Academia | Washington, District of Columbia |
| Co-Funding Partners | Type | Location |
|---|---|---|
| National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) | Industry | Boulder, Colorado |
Project Closeout
The purpose of the Goddard Space Flight Center’s Internal Research and Development (IRAD) program is to support new technology development and to address scientific challenges. Each year, Principal Investigators (PIs) submit IRAD proposals and compete for funding for their development projects. Goddard’s IRAD program supports eight Lines of Business: Astrophysics; Communications and Navigation; Cross-Cutting Technology and Capabilities; Earth Science; Heliophysics; Planetary Science; Science Small Satellites Technology; and Suborbital Platforms and Range Services.
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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Organizational Responsibility
Responsible Mission Directorate:
- Mission Support Directorate (MSD)
Lead Center / Facility:
- Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC)
Responsible Program:
- Center Independent Research & Development: GSFC IRAD
Project Management
Program Manager:
Project Manager:
Principal Investigator:
Project Duration
Technology Maturity (TRL)
| Start: | 2 |
| Current: | 3 |
| Estimated End: | 4 |
Technology Areas
Primary:
- TX08 Sensors and Instruments
- TX08.1 Remote Sensing Instruments/Sensors
- TX08.1.1 Detectors and Focal Planes
