Volume 4, Number 2 May/June 1996
The Millitech Corporation's success in developing high frequency (submillimeter) receivers and transmitters suitable for space science and atmospheric studies is proving to be an excellent example of how the NASA Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program is creating strong industrial participants in the small business community.
Millitech, located in South Dearfield, Mass. participated in the first SBIR Program Solicitation in 1983 and since has won several awards to develop new submillimeter technology for NASA. Millitech's achievement in meeting the exacting requirements of space qualified components has allowed them to compete effectively for NASA contracts and deliver products that have significantly contributed to NASA missions. At the same time, Millitech has been able to apply its developmental research in this technology to new commercial markets. In addition, Millitech has won contracts with the European Space Agency, the U.S. Air Force, the Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute and other research organizations for high frequency components.
Submillimeter receivers and transmitters allow scientists to study the presence of molecules such as ozone, water, carbon monoxide, and the like in the Earth's atmosphere and in space. At very high temperatures molecules radiate light energy, at high temperatures they radiate infrared or heat energy, and at lower temperatures they radiate in the submillimeter range of the energy spectrum. With sensitive submillimeter instruments, scientists are able to determine the concentration of various molecules in the atmosphere from a remote location such as an orbiting satellite.
In 1991, NASA launched its Upper Atmospheric Research Satellite (UARS). Millitech built key elements of the UARS Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) instrument which is studying the chemistry of the Earth's upper atmosphere. Information collected by this mission will help scientists understand how the upper atmosphere responds to natural and man-made factors including the release of freon into the atmosphere.
Millitech also built the submillimeter wave receiver on the NASA Submillimeter Wave Astronomy Satellite (SWAS), which is planned for launch in October 1996. SWAS will study the chemical composition of interstellar galactic clouds to help determine the process of star formation.
Millitech has been selected to provide several key components of a follow-on UARS mission as part of NASA's Earth Observing System (EOS). The EOS mission will provide information needed by the national and international science community to study global climate changes, the greenhouse effect, and global warming.
In the private sector, Millitech is using the knowledge it gained under the SBIR program to develop collision avoidance systems for automobiles. Submillimeter technology will be used in the construction of small radar systems that will keep a computer informed of the location of objects in the path of the vehicles.
The Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS), which is composed of key elements built by Millitech, is one of ten instruments aboard the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS).
For more information, contact Patricia McGuire at Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Phone: 818/354-1258, E-mail: Patricia.A.McGuire@jpl.nasa.gov Please mention that you read about it in Innovation.
