SBIR/STTR
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Diode Laser Sensor for Methane, Phase I
Project Introduction
A compact, lightweight, and low power diode laser sensor will be developed for atmospheric methane detection on small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The physical specifications of this sensor will be considerably smaller than current NASA laser sensors. The smaller sensor specifications will enable use of carrier UAVs that are similiar in size to a large model aircraft. Using smaller UAVs for measurements will result in large cost savings. The proposed sensor will use an open path optical system that will provide superior spatial resolution in the measurements.
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Anticipated Benefits
Potential NASA Commercial Applications: Methane is an important greenhouse gas, behind only water vapor and carbon dioxide in regard to green house impact. Understanding the sources and sinks of methane has become the subject of many climatic studies, particularly in the Arctic. The proposed sensor will make measurements of methane in remote areas more economical. Additionally, the platform developed in this project will be readily adapted to measurements of other gases such as water vapor or carbon dioxide.
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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 |
| Southwest Sciences, Inc. | Supporting Organization | Industry | Santa Fe, NM |
Primary U.S. Work Locations
-
Maryland
-
New Mexico
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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:
- Mark Paige
Project Duration
Start: Jun 2014
End: Dec 2014
Technology Maturity (TRL)
| Start: | 3 |
| Current: | 3 |
| Estimated End: | 5 |
Applied Research
Development
Demo & Test
Technology Areas
Primary:
- TA 8 Science Instruments, Observatories, and Sensor Systems
- TA 8.1 Remote Sensing Instruments and Sensors
- TA 8.1.5 Lasers
Other / Cross-cutting:
- TA 8 Science Instruments, Observatories, and Sensor Systems
- TA 8.1 Remote Sensing Instruments and Sensors
- TA 8.1.1 Detectors and Focal Planes