Robert V. Frampton

A new approach to designing electronic systems for operation in extreme environments: Part II - The SiGe remote electronics unit

We have presented the architecture, simulation, packaging, and over-temperature and radiation testing of a complex, 16-channel, extreme environment capable, SiGe Remote Electronics Unit containing the Remote Sensor Interface ASIC that can serve a wide variety of space-relevant needs as designed. These include future missions to the Moon and Mars, with the additional potential to operate in other hostile environments, including lunar craters and around the Jovian moon, Europa. We have expanded on the previous introduction of the RSI to show the validity of the chip design and performance over an almost 250 K temperature range, down to 100 K, under 100 krad TID radiation exposure, with SEL immunity and operability in a high-flux SET environment.

A new approach to designing electronic systems for operation in extreme environments: Part I - The SiGe Remote Sensor Interface

We have described the modeling, circuit design, system integration, and measurement of a Remote Sensor Interface (Figure 20) that took place over a span of 5 years and 8 fabrication cycles. It was conceived as part of the Multi-Chip Module (MCM) shown in Figure 21, which also includes a digital control chip for clocking, programming, and read-out. Further work beyond the scope of this was performed to validate the RSI for the extreme environmental conditions of a lunar mission, and individual blocks are presently.

The Hera Saturn entry probe mission

The Hera Saturn entry probe mission is proposed as an M-class mission led by ESA with a contribution from NASA. It consists of one atmospheric probe to be sent into the atmosphere of Saturn, and a Carrier-Relay spacecraft. In this concept, the Hera probe is composed of ESA and NASA elements, and the Carrier-Relay Spacecraft is delivered by ESA. The probe is powered by batteries, and the Carrier-Relay Spacecraft is powered by solar panels and batteries. We anticipate two major subsystems to be supplied by the United States, either by direct procurement by ESA or by contribution from NASA: the solar electric power system (including solar arrays and the power management and distribution system), and the probe entry system (including the thermal protection shield and aeroshell). Hera is designed to perform in situ measurements of the chemical and isotopic compositions as well as the dynamics of Saturns atmosphere using a single probe, with the goal of improving our understanding of the origin, formation, and evolution of Saturn, the giant planets and their satellite systems, with extrapolation to extrasolar planets. Heras aim is to probe well into the cloud-forming region of the troposphere, below the region accessible to remote sensing, to the locations where certain cosmogenically abundant species are expected to be well mixed. By leading to an improved understanding of the processes by which giant planets formed, including the composition and properties of the local solar nebula at the time and location of giant planet formation, Hera will extend the legacy of the Galileo and Cassini missions by further addressing the creation, formation, and chemical, dynamical, and thermal evolution of the giant planets, the entire solar system including Earth and the other terrestrial planets, and formation of other planetary systems.

Design of Lander Pods for Near Earth Asteroids

Boeing has been developing the concept and preliminary design for a set of small landing Pods that could be deployed from a spacecraft bus orbiting a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA) to address the set of “Strategic Knowledge Gaps” (SKG) that would address the specific goals for investigation prior to crewed missions to NEAs or the moons of Mars.

Ultra-high sensitivity photodetector arrays with integrated amplification and passivation nano-layers

Miniaturized field-deployable spectrometers used for the rapid analysis of chemical and biological substances require high-sensitivity photo detectors. For example, in a Raman spectroscopy system, the receiver must be capable of high-gain, low-noise detection performance due to the intrinsically weak signals produced by the Raman effects of most substances. We are developing a novel, high-gain hetero-junction phototransistor (HPT) detector which employs two nano-structures simultaneously to achieve 100 times higher sensitivity than InGaAs avalanche photodiodes, the most sensitive commercially available photo-detector in the near infrared (NIR) wavelength range, under their normal operation conditions. Integrated into a detector array, this technology has application for Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS), pollution monitoring, pharmaceutical manufacturing by reaction monitoring, chemical & biological transportation safety, and bio-chemical analysis in planetary exploration.

Integrated amplification and passivation nanolayers for ultra-high-sensitivity photodetector arrays: application for laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) and Raman spectroscopy

Miniaturized field-deployable spectrometers used for the rapid analysis of chemical and biological substances require high-sensitivity photo detectors. For example, in a Raman spectroscopy system, the receiver must be capable of high-gain, low-noise detection performance due to the intrinsically weak signals produced by the Raman effects of most substances. We are developing a novel, high-gain hetero-junction phototransistor (HPT) detector which employs two nano-structures simultaneously to achieve 100 times higher sensitivity than InGaAs avalanche photodiodes, the most sensitive commercially available photo-detector in the near infrared (NIR) wavelength range, under their normal operation conditions. Integrated into a detector array, this technology has application for Laser- Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS), pollution monitoring, pharmaceutical manufacturing by reaction monitoring, chemical & biological transportation safety, and bio-chemical analysis in planetary exploration.