Award Data

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Many hazardous gases that NASA needs to monitor on and around space vehicles during launch could be detected using mass spectrometers that need operate over only a limited mass range. But, stringent requirements of low weight and low power operation, plus the ability to tolerate high G-forces and excessive vibration prevent the ready adaptation of existing, commercial mass spectrometers to these a ...

The prediction, identification and notification of spacecraft fires is critical in assuring the safety of manned space missions. Absent the effects of buoyancy in space, the chemical and fluid dynamic phenomena that govern the ignition, spread and extinction of fires are far different than those on Earth. Our understanding and predictive capabilities depend on detailed models that must be versatil ...

We propose to design a state-of-the-art active radar calibrator which will be used for absolute calibration of the TRMM Rain Radar. During Phase I, we investigate several architectures and perform design evaluations with the ultimate objective of designing an improved radar calibrator with unprecedented accuracy and stability, yet optimized for cost and complexity. The active calibrator will be op ...

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Several significant potential infrared applications of tunable Fabry-Perot interferometers are not presently possible because of the unavailability of a Fabry-Perot that can be tuned at cryogenic temperatures. For operation in the far infrared (8-12 micron) region of the electromagnetic spectrum, optics must be kept at cryogenic temperature. At present, such devices are not commercially available ...

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Southwest Sciences proposes the development of a diode-laser-based hygrometer for atmospheric studies. The instrument dynamic range will span dew (frost) points of +40¿ C down to -90¿ C and will be suitable for in situ measurements throughout the troposphere and tropopause. Response times will be 1 second, or less. The planned instrument detects absolute water vapor concentrations using opti ...

The proposed work investigates the feasibility of designing and building a high resolution spectroradiometer and integrating it with the NASA-owned Thermal Infrared Multispectral Scanner (TIMS). A limiting factor in the analysis of airborne multispectral thermal infrared imagery, such as from TIMS, is the effects of the atmosphere (between the sensor and scene) on the data. Through a combination o ...

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