High-Performance Optical Contaminant Monitor for Spacecraft and Habitats

Sensors are needed to directly detect spacecraft contaminants including the molecular products of combustion. Vista Photonics is developing prototype optical sensors for NASA Glenn Research Center that are capable of selectively detecting HF-HCL-HCN-CO and ammonia at levels relevant to each target 180-day spacecraft maximum allowable concentration (SMAC). The prototypes, which operate at ambient cabin pressure, are compact, weigh under 2 kilograms and draw about 5 Watts electrical power.