Proposal Number:          21-1- T6.06-2093

          

          

   

Subtopic Title:
      Enabling Spacecraft Water Monitoring through Nanotechnology

          

          

   

Proposal Title:
      Monitoring Systems for Inorganic and Organic Analytes in Spacecraft Water Streams

          

          

   

Firm:

          

TDA Research, Inc.

          

   

Address:

          

12345 West 52nd Avenue, Wheat Ridge, CO 80033 - 1916

          

   

Phone:

          

(303) 422-7819                                                                                                                                                                                

          

   

Name:

          

University of Puerto Rico

          

   

Address:

          

P.O. Box 9046, PR 00681 - 9046

          

   

Phone:

          

(787) 832-4040                                                                                                                                                                                

          

   

Name:

          

Dr. Ambalavanan Jayaraman Ph.D.

          

   

E-mail:

          

ajayaraman@tda.com

          

   

Address:

          

12345 West 52nd Avenue, CO 80033 - 1916

          

   

Phone:

          

(303) 940-5391                                                                                                                                                                                

          

   

Name:

          

Mr. John Wright

          

   

E-mail:

          

krhodus@tda.com

          

   

Address:

          

12345 West 52nd Avenue, CO 80033 - 1916

          

   

Phone:

          

(303) 940-2300                                                                                                                                                                                

          

   

Estimated Technology Readiness Level (TRL) :                                                                                                                                                          
Begin: 2
End: 4

          

          

     

Technical Abstract (Limit 2000 characters, approximately 200 words):

Water recovery from wastewater is considered required for long-duration human exploration missions away from Earth. Without substantial water recovery, life support systems launch weights are prohibitively large.  To insure the quality of this water, NASA is seeking miniature analytical systems i.e., sensor suites capable of simultaneous measurement of inorganic or organic species in potable and waste water.

 

In this proposed STTR project TDA Research, in collaboration with the University of Puerto Rico Mayaguez (UPRM), will develop a miniature device that can quickly analyze mineral and organic species in water. The device will provide near-real-time analysis with increased sensitivity and signal to noise ratio for metal cations and organic species such as the dimethanesilanediol, chloroform, dichloromethane, benzene etc. in water at low concentrations.

 

In Phase I we will carry out a proof-of-concept demonstration in a breadboard device and complete the design for a high fidelity device to minimize the monitor’s footprint and overall dimensions, elevating the TRL to 4. In Phase II we will build a high-fidelity prototype with reduced dimensions, and demonstrate the analysis of various mineral and organic constituents, elevating the TRL to 6.

          

          

     

Potential NASA Applications (Limit 1500 characters, approximately 150 words):

Potential NASA applications would be technologies that fill specific gaps in capabilities needed for spacecraft water management in the area of environmental monitoring. NASA is looking for technologies that identify and quantify inorganic and organic species in water for use during long-duration human missions away from Earth

          

          

     

Potential Non-NASA Applications (Limit 1500 characters, approximately 150 words):

The water monitoring market is very large, and is projected to reach USD $7.54 Billion by 2027.  There is a need to have one portable device that can quantity both mineral and organic species with minimal sample preparation and ease of use.

          

          

     

Duration:     13