Proposal Number:          21-1- Z10.03-1310

          

          

   

Subtopic Title:
      Space Nuclear Propulsion

          

          

   

Proposal Title:
      Distributed High-Temperature Fiber-Optic Temperature Sensing System for Nuclear Thermal Propulsion

          

          

   

Firm:

          

Intelligent Fiber Optic Systems Corporation

          

   

Address:

          

4425 Fortran Drive, San Jose, CA 95134

          

   

Phone:

          

(408) 565-9004                                                                                                                                                                                

          

   

Name:

          

Dr. Bijan Moslehi

          

   

E-mail:

          

bijan@ifos.com

          

   

Address:

          

4425 Fortran Drive, CA 95134 - 2300

          

   

Phone:

          

(408) 565-9000                                                                                                                                                                                

          

   

Name:

          

Behzad Moslehi

          

   

E-mail:

          

bm@ifos.com

          

   

Address:

          

4425 Fortran Drive, CA 95134 - 2300

          

   

Phone:

          

(408) 565-9004                                                                                                                                                                                

          

   

Estimated Technology Readiness Level (TRL) :                                                                                                                                                          
Begin: 3
End: 4

          

          

     

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

To meet NASA’s NTP objectives for spaceflight missions, IFOS proposes Reactor*Sense™ as a rugged, miniaturized, multi-function, and multiplexable high-temperature sapphire optical fibers (SOF)-based Distributed Temperature Sensing (DTS) system. The system will be designed for the extreme operating environments with Phase I design for 1,800°C and Phase II design for ~ 2,800°C. The use of Raman sensing also enables growth provisions to add spectroscopic measurements of species. Reactor*Sense™ has a miniaturized photonic integrated interrogator that will be placed remotely in cooler regions (< 200°C). The Reactor*Sense™ photonic, ultra-high-speed signal processing uses IFOS' massively-parallel Photonic Spectral Processing (PSP) in Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC) architecture, eliminating conventional speed bottlenecks and providing breakthrough system miniaturization for spaceflight missions.

          

          

     

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

Rocket*Sense™ will enable accelerated NTP development to support NASA’s human exploration missions, including reduced time to Mars. The Rocket*Sense™ technology will also be applicable to NASA’s propulsion and flight research programs, offering enhanced awareness of key parameters often out of reliable reach of conventional sensors due to the harsh environments involved.

          

          

     

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

The IFOS technology will benefit both military and commercial engine applications by providing the sensing scalability required to keep pace with next-generation propulsion systems. It is also applicable to DOE's power generation/management, renewable energy, and fossil fuel programs. 

          

          

     

Duration:     6