A decade of NASA strategic astrophysics technology investments: technology maturation, infusion, and other benefits

Thai Pham; Opher Ganel; Azita Valinia; Nicholas Siegler; Brendan Crill; Mario R. Perez

doi:10.1117/12.2562705

13 December 2020 A decade of NASA strategic astrophysics technology investments: technology maturation, infusion, and other benefits

Thai Pham, Opher Ganel, Azita Valinia, Nicholas Siegler, Brendan Crill, Mario R. Perez

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 11451, Advances in Optical and Mechanical Technologies for Telescopes and Instrumentation IV; 1145107 (2020) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2562705
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2020, Online Only

Abstract

NASA’s Astrophysics Division (APD) funds development of cutting-edge technology to enable its missions to achieve ambitious and groundbreaking science goals. These technology development efforts are managed by the Physics of the Cosmos (PCOS), Cosmic Origins (COR), and Exoplanet Exploration (ExE) Programs. The NASA Strategic Astrophysics Technology (SAT) Program was established in 2009 as a new technology maturation program to fill the gap in the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) range from 3 to 6. Since program inception, 100 SAT grants have been openly competed and awarded, along with dozens of direct-funded projects, leading to a host of technologies advancing their TRLs and/or being infused into space and suborbital missions and ground-based projects. We present the portfolio distribution in terms of specific technology areas addressed, including optics, detectors, coatings, coronagraphs, starshades, lasers, electronics, cooling systems, and micro-thruster subsystems. We show an analysis of the rate of TRL advances, infusion success stories, and other benefits such as training the future astrophysics workforce, including students and postdoctoral fellows hired by projects. Finally, we present APD’s current strategic technology maturation priorities for investment, enabling a range of future strategic astrophysics missions.

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Thai Pham, Opher Ganel, Azita Valinia, Nicholas Siegler, Brendan Crill, and Mario R. Perez "A decade of NASA strategic astrophysics technology investments: technology maturation, infusion, and other benefits", Proc. SPIE 11451, Advances in Optical and Mechanical Technologies for Telescopes and Instrumentation IV, 1145107 (13 December 2020); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2562705

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KEYWORDS

Astrophysics

Avalanche photodetectors

Laser applications

Laser optics

Sensors

Exoplanets

New and emerging technologies

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