Windspeed Sensor for Planetary Science Applications

In-situ instrumentation is needed that can withstand the harsh environments imposed by planetary atmospheres in order to make advancements in solar system exploration. Technologies that can withstand the corrosive/caustic gases, radiation levels, stresses, and high temperatures and pressures, while still producing reliable, real-time data are a major facilitator for planetary missions. To address this need, Sporian is developing a harsh environment wind speed and direction sensor targeted toward future Venus probe spacecraft. The proposed technology will be beneficial to NASAs planetary science mission by facilitating environmental chamber testing validation, and wind speed and direction measurements in the Venus atmosphere and on the surface. The Phase I effort focused on heavily leveraging prior harsh environment, in-situ instrumentation development and, with input from current/prior NASA partners, to construct, test, and characterize prototype sensor suites, which was successfully completed demonstrating technology feasibility. Phase II efforts will include: continuing to work with stakeholders to guide technology development; developing processes and design required to realize next generation sensors; multiple generations of prototyping; and application environment relevant testing. There is a need within NASA and the planetary sciences community for compact wind speed and direction sensors that can withstand the extreme conditions in the atmospheres of planetary exploration applications, and specifically on the surface of Venus. These conditions include high temperatures, high pressures, and a corrosive atmosphere. Sporian Microsystems proposes to develop a flow sensor that can survive and operate reliably as part of a future Venus and other planetary exploration probes. This sensor will indicate both wind speed and direction, and it is intended to operate under the conditions both in the atmosphere and on the surface of Venus. In the near term, this sensor can also be used in commercial energy generation systems, and to support operations of the NASA Glenn Extreme Environments Rig (GEER), a test system that simulates conditions of the Venus atmosphere and surface. As part of the proposed effort, Sporian will work closely with, and support the efforts of, Dr. Maximilian Scardelletti of the NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC). Objective/Task 1: Continue to work with NASA and other stakeholders to guide the development and facilitate transition efforts. Objective/Task 2: Develop and implement designs and fabrication processes required to realize next generation total sensor designs. Objective/Task 3: Develop and reduce to practice high-temperature compatible electronics designs in support of future deployment applications. Objective/Task 4: Prototyping and rigorous lab-scale testing of the first-generation integrated system. Objective/Task 5: Revise hardware/electronics designs and fabrication processes and Implement NASA and commercial application designs. Objective/Task 6: Additional lab-scale testing of revised hardware and demonstrate the developed system in an application-relevant environment End of Phase II deliverable: A TRL 6 demonstrated working prototype of the proposed hardware, along with documentation of development, capabilities, and measurements.
Benefits: A harsh environment sensor that can provide real-time wind speed and direction information has the potential to provide major advancements in planetary science. The technology will target the Glenn Extreme Environment Rig and its capability to mimic planetary conditions such as those on Venus, but be directly applicable to both current and future NASA programs/directorates, and facilitate innovations in vehicle performance monitoring, environmental testing, and atmospheric characterization of planetary bodies. Land-based power generation systems, including nuclear and solar power plants, would benefit from a small flowmeter allowing for visibility of the conditions in supercritical CO2 Thermal Energy Storage (TES) and Heat Transfer Fluid (HTF) lines. Additional potential market areas include marine propulsion, rail locomotives, automotive, oil and gas refining, and government and academic laboratories.