USA flag logo/image

An Official Website of the United States Government

A Real-time Sensor for Hydrogen Cyanide in Spacecraft Atmospheres

Award Information

Agency:
National Aeronautics and Space Administration 		Branch:
N/A 		Award ID:
56799 		Program Year/Program:
2002 / SBIR
Agency Tracking Number:
000891 		Solicitation Year:
N/A 		Solicitation Topic Code:
N/A 		Solicitation Number:
N/A
Small Business Information
Southwest Sciences, Inc.
1570 Pacheco Street, Suite E-11 Santa Fe, NM -
View profile »
Woman-Owned: No
Minority-Owned: No
HUBZone-Owned: No
 
Phase 2
Fiscal Year: 2002
Title: A Real-time Sensor for Hydrogen Cyanide in Spacecraft Atmospheres
Agency: NASA
Contract: NAS9-02020
Award Amount: $599,998.00
 

Abstract:

A need exists for continuous monitoring of hydrogen cyanide (HCN) in spacecraft/habitat air. HCN, a highly toxic gas generated by burning or smoldering plastics, can provide early warning of spacecraft fires. NASA has established a Spacecraft Maximum Allowable Concentration (SMAC) of 1 ppm for manned missions exceeding one week. Useful space-borne instruments must satisfy stringent requirements unique to manned missions in space: low power draw, low weight, fully automated operation, self-calibrating, self-checking, and long term, maintenance free operation. The sensors also require an exceptional combination of sensitivity and selectivity: a 1 ppm alarm point requires a detection sensitivity of 100 parts per billion, yet the system must be free of false alarms despite by large concentrations of other species. Southwest Sciences proposes the development of a sensor for hydrogen cyanide based on optical absorption spectroscopy using diode lasers. This approach will meet all of the requirements identified above for space-borne sensors. Two types of diode lasers could be used. Each has a different set of advantages and disadvantages, and the Phase I effort will determine which of the two is best suited to NASA's needs.

Principal Investigator:

David Bomse
Principal Research Scientist
5059841322
dbomse@swsciences.com

Business Contact:

Dr. Stanton
President
5059841322
astanton@swsciences.com
Small Business Information at Submission:

Southwest Sciences, Inc.
1570 Pacheco Street, Suite E-11 Santa Fe, NM 87505

EIN/Tax ID: 850340320
DUNS: N/A
Number of Employees:
Woman-Owned: No
Minority-Owned: No
HUBZone-Owned: No