PASADENA, Calif. - Researchers are surveying industry for light detection and ranging (lidar) electro-optical sensor technology that could enable a future unmanned spacecraft to land safely on the rugged terrain of Europa, a large moon orbiting Jupiter that may be able to support life.
Officials of the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, Calif., issued a solicitation (RFP_MD-2673-949208) for the Technology Development for Europa Lander Lidar project. NASA JPL researchers are looking for a lidar system that is robust enough for the extreme Jovian and Europan environments, and that is compatible with the future lander's deorbit, descent and landing. NASA JPL is conducting trade studies for components and architectures, analyses of environmental impacts on the sensor, and evaluation and progressive refinement of various sensor design options leading to an eventual point design.
Those interested should e-mail JPL Subcontracts Manager Mai Drummond at [email protected] to receive the solicitation documents.
Responses to this Europa lander lidar solicitation are due to NASA JPL BY 31 Aug. 2017. FOR MORE INFORMATION contact NASA's Mary Helen Ruiz by email at [email protected], or by phone at 818-354-7532. Also contact NASA JPL's Mai Drummond by email at [email protected], or by phone at 818-354-0295.
More information is online at http://bit.ly/2veSMxp.
John Keller | Editor
John Keller is editor-in-chief of Military & Aerospace Electronics magazine, which provides extensive coverage and analysis of enabling electronic and optoelectronic technologies in military, space, and commercial aviation applications. A member of the Military & Aerospace Electronics staff since the magazine's founding in 1989, Mr. Keller took over as chief editor in 1995.
