Astrophysics Projects Division

Technology Maturations Achieved

PCOS/COR TRL Advances (PI-Asserted Unless Marked as Vetted by Program Office)

"Demonstrating Large, Low-Noise Transition-Edge-Sensor Arrays for Future Far-IR Space Missions," PI: Johannes Staguhn (JHU), TRL 3 to 4 (2024)
"Microwave SQUID readout technology development for future X-ray astrophysics missions," PI: Douglas Bennett (NIST), TRL 3 to 4 (2024)

"LISA UV-LED-based Charge Management Device (CMD)," PI: John Conklin: (UF), TRL 4 to 5 (2023) Vetted
"Electron-Beam-Lithography Ruled Gratings for Future Ultraviolet/Optical Missions," PI: Brian Fleming (U Colorado), TRL 4 to 5 (2023)
"E-Beam-Generated Plasma Etching for Developing High-Reflectance Mirrors for Far-UV Astronomical Instrument Applications," PI: Manuel Quijada (GSFC), TRL 3 to 4 (2023) Vetted
"Single-Photon-Sensing and Photon-Number-Resolving Detector for NASA Missions," PI: Donald Figer (RIT), TRL 4 to 5 for detector layer (2023) Vetted
"Near-IR LmAPD Arrays for Ultra-Low-Background Space Observations," PI" Michael Bottom (UH Manoa), TRL 3 to 4 (2023) Vetted

"Advancing High-Density Readout Technology for Superconducting Sensor Arrays for Spaceflight," PI:Larry Ruckman (SLAC), TRL 3 to 4 (2022)
"Advanced X-ray Optics: Mirror Fabrication (Mandrel and Direct Polishing)," PI: Jeff Kolodziejczak (MSFC), TRL 2 to 3 (2022)
"Photon-Counting Sensors for UV-Vis Astrophysics Instruments," PI: Oswald Siegmund (UC Berkeley), TRL 4 to 5 (2022) Vetted

"Photon counting NIR LmAPD Arrays for Ultra-low Background Space Observations," PI: Michael Bottom (UH), TRL 3 to 4 (2021)
"A Single Photon Sensing and Photon Number Resolving Detector for NASA Missions," PI: Donald Figer (RIT), TRL 3 to 4 (2021)
"Electron Beam Lithography Ruled Gratings for Future Ultraviolet/Optical Missions: High-Efficiency and Low-Scatter in the Vacuum Ultraviolet," PI: Brian Fleming (CU Boulder), TRL 3 to 4 (2021)
"Advanced X-ray Microcalorimeters ISFM Sub-package #1:TES Microcalorimeters," PI: Caroline Kilbourne (GSFC), TRL 3 to 4 (2021)
"Development of RFSoC-Based Readout Electronics," PI: Philip Mauskopf (ASU), TRL 4 to 5 (2021)
"Electron-beam Generated Plasma to Enhance Performance of Protected Aluminum Mirrors for Large Space Telescopes," PI: Manuel Quijada (GSFC), TRL 3 to 4 (2021)
"High Performance Sealed Tube Cross Strip Photon Counting Sensors for UV-Vis Astrophysics Instruments," PI: Oswald Siegmund (UCB), TRL 4 to 5 (2021)
"Readying X-ray Gratings and Optics for Space Applications: Manufacturability & Alignment," PI: Randall Smith (SAO), MRL 4 to 6 (2021)
"Development of a Robust, Efficient Process to Produce Scalable, Superconducting kilopixel Far-IR Detector Arrays," PI: Johannes Staguhn (JHU), TRL 3 to 4 (2021)
"Space-based Gravitational Wave Laser Technology Development Project for the LISA Mission," PDL: Anthony Yu (GSFC), PI: Jordan Camp (GSFC), TRL 4 to 5 (2021)
"Next Generation X-ray Optics," PI: William Zhang (GSFC), TRL 4 to 5 (2021)

"Scalable Micro-Shutter Systems for UV, Visible, and Infrared Spectroscopy," PI: Matthew Greenhouse (GSFC), TRL 3 to 4 (2020)
"Phase Measurement System Development for Interferometric Gravitational Wave Detectors," PI: William Klipstein (JPL), TRL 4 to 5 (2020)
"Advancing the Focal Plane TRL for LiteBIRD and Other Next Generation CMB Space Missions," PI: Adrian Lee (UCB), TRL 3 to 5 (2020)
"Advanced FUVUV/Visible Photon Counting and Ultralow Noise Detectors," PI: Shouleh Nikzad (JPL), TRL 3 to 4 (2020)
"Predictive Thermal Control (PTC) Performance Tests," PI: H. Philip Stahl (MSFC), TRL 3 to 5 (2020)

Planar Antenna-Coupled Superconducting Detectors for CMB Polarimetry," PI: James Bock (JPL), TRL 3 to 4 (2019)
"LISA UV-LED-Based Charge Management System," PI: John Conklin (UF), TRL 3 to 4 (2019) Vetted
"Providing Enabling & Enhancing Technologies for a Demonstration Model of the Athena X-IFU," PI: Caroline Kilbourne (GSFC), TRL 3 to 4 (2019)
"Space-based Gravitational Wave Laser Technology Development Project for the LISA Mission," PDL: Anthony Yu (GSFC), PI: Jordan Camp (GSFC), TRL 3 to 4 (2019)

"Advanced X-ray Optics ISFM Sub-package #2: Direct Fabrication of Full Shells," PI: Stephen Bongiorno (MSFC), TRL 2 to 3 (2018)
"Advanced X-ray Optics ISFM Sub-package #4: Low Stress Mirror Coatings," PI: David Broadway, TRL 2 to 3 (2018)
"Development of Digital Micro-Mirror Device Arrays for Use in Future Space Missions," PI: Zoran Ninkov (RIT), TRL 4 to 5 (2018)
"Advanced UVOIR Mirror Technology Development for Very Large Space Telescopes," PI: H. Philip Stahl (MSFC), TRL 3 to 4 (2018) Vetted

"Ultraviolet Coatings, Materials and Processes for Advanced Telescope Optics," PI: Kunjithapatham Balasubramanian (JPL), TRL 2 to 3 (2017)
"Fast Event Recognition for the Athena Wide-Field Imager," PI: David Burrows (PSU), TRL 3 to 5 (2017) Vetted
"Raising the TRL of 4.7-THz Local Oscillators," PI: Qing Hu (MIT), TRL 3 to 4 (2017)
"High-Resolution and Lightweight X-ray Optics for the X-Ray Surveyor," PI: William Zhang (GSFC), TRL 3 to 4 (2017)

"X-ray Reflection Grating Module Development," PI: Randall McEntaffer (UI), TRL 3 to 4 (2016) Vetted
"Advanced Packaging for Critical-Angle X-ray Transmission Gratings," PI: Mark Schattenburg (MIT), TRL 3 to 4 (2016) Vetted

"Colloid Microthruster Propellant Feed System for Gravity Wave Astrophysics Missions," PI: John Ziemer (JPL), TRL 4 to 5 (2015)

"Development of Digital Micromirror Device (DMD) Arrays for Use in Future Space Missions," PI: Zoran Ninkov (RIT), TRL 3 to 4 (2014)
"TRL Advancement for Al+MgF2 Mirrors for FUV Space Astronomy," PI: Manuel Quijada (GSFC), TRL 3 to 4 (2014)
"Next Generation X-ray Optics: High Resolution, Light Weight, and Low Cost," PI: William Zhang (GSFC), TRL 4 to 5 (2014)
"Colloid Microthruster Propellant Feed System for Gravity Wave Astrophysics Missions," PI: John Ziemer (JPL), TRL 3 to 4 (2014)

"Heterodyne Technology For SOFIA," PI: Paul Goldsmith (JPL), TRL 3 to 4 (2013)
"Adjustable X-ray optics with Sub-Arcsecond Imaging," Paul Reid (SAO), TRL 2 to 3 (2013)
"Next Generation X-ray Optics: High Angular Resolution, High Throughput, and Low Cost," PI: William Zhang (GSFC), TRL 3 to 4 (2013)

"Telescopes for Space-Based Gravitational-Wave Observatories," PI: Jeffrey Livas (GSFC), TRL 2 to 3 (2012)