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Improved Combustion Products Monitor for the ISS

Award Information
Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Branch: N/A
Contract: NNX13CC08C
Agency Tracking Number: 114245
Amount: $825,000.00
Phase: Phase II
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: X3.03
Solicitation Number: N/A
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2011
Award Year: 2013
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2012-12-21
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2016-07-06
Small Business Information
1570 Pacheco Street, Suite E-11
Santa Fe, NM 87505-3993
United States
DUNS: 153579891
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Joel Silver
 Principal Investigator
 (505) 984-1322
 jsilver@swsciences.com
Business Contact
 Alan Stanton
Title: President
Phone: (505) 984-1322
Email: astanton@swsciences.com
Research Institution
 Stub
Abstract

The Compound Specific Analyzer – Combustion Products, used on the International Space Station as a warning monitor of smoldering or combustion events, is being phased out of service. Southwest Sciences Inc. proposes to develop a replacement laser-based analyzer using wavelength modulation spectroscopic absorption. This device would be capable of real-time measurements of the four most important gases of interest (carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrogen cyanide, and hydrogen fluoride) at concentration levels relevant to pre-combustion events and with a 1 second response time. This battery-operated device would be hand-held, use very little electrical power, and have a multi-year lifetime without the need for consumables, re-calibration, or maintenance, in contrast to the currently-used analyzer.

The Phase I research focused on what we believe are the most critical risks to using our approach. All of these objectives were successfully accomplished, laying a strong foundation for continuation of the research in Phase II. In Phase II, a fully functional prototype analyzer, meeting all of the requirements for operation in the International Space Station, will be built and tested. Issues relating to space-qualification will be identified so as to ease the transition to Phase III and subsequent development.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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