TECHNOLOGY LICENSING OPPORTUNITY: NanoSatellite Atmospheric Chemistry Hyperspectral Observation System (NACHOS)

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Summary from the notice

NACHOS is a compact CubeSat instrument that detects and maps trace gases in Earth’s atmosphere with unprecedented detail, enabling low-cost, high-resolution environmental monitoring from space. The Challenge Detecting tiny amounts of gases in Earth’s atmosphere—like pollutants, volcanic emissions, or wildfire smoke—is vital for conducting atmospheric research and response to regional disasters. However, the instruments capable of such high-sensitivity, high-resolution measurements have traditionally been large, expensive, and mounted on big satellites with powerful communications systems. This creates two main barriers: the cost and complexity of launching such instruments, and the difficulty of transmitting the enormous amounts of raw hyperspectral data they produce. Miniaturizing this capability without sacrificing performance has been an extremely difficult engineering challenge, especially while ensuring ruggedness for spaceflight and maintaining precise optical performance in the harsh conditions of orbit. Problems Solved: Miniaturization without performance loss – Packs the capability of a large, high-sensitivity hyperspectral imager into a compact CubeSat form factor. Rugged, thermally stable design – Maintains precise optical alignment from launch through on-orbit operations. Onboard calibration – Uses a no-moving-parts LED system to keep measurements accurate in a compact, reliable package. Onboard data processing – Reduces hundreds of megabytes of raw hyperspectral …

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