This Government Contract opportunity from National Aeronautics And Space Administration was posted on August 27, 2025. The submission period has ended. Browse the details below for market research, or find similar active opportunities.
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER LICENSING OPPORTUNITY: Portable Microscope (MSC-TOPS-131)
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NASA’s Technology Transfer Program is inviting companies to apply for license rights to commercialize, manufacture, and market a portable handheld digital microscope developed by the Johnson Space Center. This opportunity allows for exclusive or nonexclusive licenses and may include specific fields of use, but does not come with any funding from NASA. The technology, currently flight qualified and used aboard the International Space Station (ISS), is designed to provide in situ hematological diagnostics and health monitoring for astronauts in microgravity environments. The device is self-contained with integrated optics, high-resolution imaging, wireless capabilities, a rechargeable battery, and can connect to smart devices via Bluetooth. Its portable design, durability, and capabilities rival those of much larger benchtop microscopes, while 3D-printed components and commercial hardware keep manufacturing costs relatively low. The microscope has potential applications on Earth in various fields requiring portable, high-quality microscopy. The licensing process is managed through NASA’s Automated Technology Licensing Application System (ATLAS), and NASA does not itself engage in the commercial manufacturing or sale of products. Interested parties are encouraged to express their interest by the specified deadline. All inquiries and submitted responses are intended for preliminary market research and to promote public awareness of this technology; no procurement contract will follow as a result of participation. For more details or to initiate an application, companies can access the technology portal or contact NASA’s Technology Transfer Program directly via the provided email address.
General Info
Place of Performance
ALSet-Aside
Documents
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Timeline
Submission Closed
Organization & Contact Information
Full Description
NASA’s Technology Transfer Program solicits inquiries from companies interested in obtaining license rights to commercialize, manufacture and market the following technology. License rights may be issued on an exclusive or nonexclusive basis and may include specific fields of use. NASA provides no funding in conjunction with these potential licenses.
THE TECHNOLOGY:
Innovators at NASA Johnson Space Center have developed a handheld digital microscope to fill the critical microscopy needs of human space exploration by providing flight crews in situ hematological diagnostic and tracking ability to assess and monitor crew health in the absence of gravity. Although currently in use aboard the International Space Station (ISS) to work in conjunction with NASA’s handheld slide staining system, the microscope may have numerous applications here on Earth. The microscope is entirely self-contained, and includes optics, illumination, high-resolution imaging hardware, wireless enabled single board computer with scalable power and memory, and rechargeable battery. The microscope also acts as an internet access point and connects via Bluetooth to smart devices for wireless image transfer and remote control. The microscope is durable enough to support field use while providing submicron imaging that would typically necessitate the use of larger more expensive benchtop microscopes. Cost of manufacturing the microscope may be relatively inexpensive through the utilization of 3D-printed components, and COTS hardware such as interchangeable microscope objectives. The handheld digital microscope is at technology readiness level (TRL) 8 (actual system completed and "flight qualified" through test and demonstration), and is now available to license. NASA does not manufacture products for commercial sale.
To express interest in this licensing opportunity, please submit a license application through NASA’s Automated Technology Licensing Application System (ATLAS) by visiting https://technology.nasa.gov/patent/MSC-TOPS-131
If you have any questions, please e-mail NASA’s Technology Transfer Program at contact@example.gov with the title of this Technology Transfer Opportunity as listed in this SAM.gov notice and your preferred contact information. For more information about licensing other NASA-developed technologies, please visit the NASA Technology Transfer Portal at https://technology.nasa.gov/.
These responses are provided to members of NASA’s Technology Transfer Program for the purpose of promoting public awareness of NASA-developed technology products, and conducting preliminary market research to determine public interest in and potential for future licensing opportunities. No follow-on procurement is expected to result from responses to this Notice.
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