SBIR/STTR
Miniature Ka-band Automated Swath Mapper (KASM), Phase I
Project Introduction
This proposal discusses the development and demonstration of a swath-based airborne instrument suite intended as a calibration and validation with relevance to the ICESat II, SWOT and CryoSAT II missions. In particular our innovation will leverage prior NASA developments to focus on system miniaturization and increased performance. It will also support NASA's airborne science missions by utilizing long-endurance unmanned aircraft such as the Ikhana or the Global Hawk. These platforms become directly relevant due to the often remote nature of regions of interest, particularly as one considers the cryosphere. The Phase I will result in a system design that can be realized in a Phase II effort. During the Phase I, measurement requirements will be revisited and key technologies will be identified and incorporated where advantageous into a revised design. Data volume and system automation will be specifically evaluated and a plan for on-board data storage and compression/processing will be proposed. An accommodation feasibility study for the Ikhana will be evaluated. The Phase II effort will realize a prototype of this sensor. At the end of the Phase I, a technology readiness level of 3 will be achieved.
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Anticipated Benefits
Potential NASA Commercial Applications: For radar interferometry, the high frequency (Ka‐band) of operation enables improved accuracy with a constrained antenna and baseline size and as such has been proposed as a potential solution for interplanetary ice mapping missions (e.g. Europa) and planetary topography mapping missions. mini-KASM componentry, integrated subsystems and techniques including the compact, low-power implementation and calibration methodologies could readily be integrated, or adapted for the specific system requirements. This innovation will also support NASA's airborne science missions by utilizing long-endurance unmanned aircraft such as the Ikhana or alternately the Global Hawk. These platforms become directly relevant and even enabling due to the often remote nature of regions of interest, particularly as one considers the cryosphere. It is also aligned with NASA's initiative to expand the utility of Ikhana to Arctic missions, as the Marginal Ice Zone Observations and Processes Experiment exemplifies.
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Primary U.S. Work Locations and Key Partners
| Organizations Performing Work | Role | Type | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
Goddard Space Flight Center
(GSFC)
|
Lead Organization | NASA Center | Greenbelt, MD |
| Remote Sensing Solutions, Inc. | Supporting Organization | Industry | Barnstable, MA |
Primary U.S. Work Locations
-
Massachusetts
-
Maryland
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Organizational Responsibility
Responsible Mission Directorate:
- Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD)
Lead Center / Facility:
- Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC)
Responsible Program:
- SBIR/STTR
Project Management
Program Director:
Program Manager:
Project Manager:
Principal Investigator:
- Delwyn K Moller
Project Duration
Start: Jun 2014
End: Dec 2014
Technology Maturity (TRL)
| Start: | 1 |
| Current: | 1 |
| Estimated End: | 3 |
Applied Research
Development
Demo & Test
Technology Areas
Primary:
- TA 5 Communications, Navigation, and Orbital Debris Tracking and Characterization Systems
- TA 5.2 Radio Frequency Communications
- TA 5.2.3 Propagation
Other / Cross-cutting:
- TA 8 Science Instruments, Observatories, and Sensor Systems
- TA 8.1 Remote Sensing Instruments and Sensors
- TA 8.1.4 Microwave, Millimeter-, and Submillimeter-Waves
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