A Space-Qualified Fabry-Perot Filter

Michigan Aerospace Corporation

Ann Arbor, MI

Manufactured spaceflight qualified tunable Fabry-Perot etalons for Doppler wind measurement, as well as for solar and other remote sensing space applications.

• Developed mounting techniques for positioning the components of a Fabry-Perot etalon to allow them to survive the launch vehicle environment
• Optimized the design of the etalon mounting scheme using extensive iterations of solid modeling finite element analysis software, in order to minimize its thermal expansion coefficient as well as the distortion experienced as a result of temperature changes

• Michigan Aerospace has filed for patent on the piezoelectric actuator that gives these Fabry-Perot Interferometers the necessary robustness and stability for aircraft and spacecraft deployment

• Michigan Aerospace has produced, deployed and continues to propose remote sensing and atmospheric science instruments that utilize Fabry-Perot Interferometer technologies
  
• Applications include space borne, airborne, and ground instruments for measurement of tropospheric winds, ranging Doppler wind LIDAR, Optical Air Data Systems and spectroscopic instruments for solar and terrestrial observation
  
• Recent SBIR phase II award through NASA Goddard for development of a lightweight, tunable Fabry-Perot IR filter incorporating Silicon Carbide structures, which will survive spaceflight, launch conditions
  
• Recent IIP teaming contract with NASA Goddard for development of a tunable Fabry-Perot etalon with three discrete, stepped apertures and suitable for operation aboard an aircraft
  

Return to NASA SBIR Success Listings

Sensors, Space Systems


Curator: SBIR Support          05/15/06