NASA Langley Research Center, Industry Assistance Office, MS 144 Hampton, Va. 23681-0001

A -- GEOSTATIONARY EARTH RADIATION BUDGET (GERB) EXPERIMENT POC Linda Fitzgerald, Industry Assistance Office, (804) 864-2461. A--Geostationary Earth Radiation Budget (GERB) Experiment. In order that potential sources may learn of interest in a specific requirement, an advanced notice is published here. The NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) is investigating thermal detector array devices for detecting visible and infrared radiation emitted and reflected from the Earth system from a platform in geostationary orbit. The array will also view radiation from an in- flight blackbody and from a solar monitor for calibration purposes. The detector array is to be integrated into the Geostationary Earth Radiation Budget (GERB) Experiment Instrument currently under development in Europe. The GERB instrument is in mid-development and is currently near the end of its phase-B activities. The phase B1 GERB program in Europe baselined a pyroelectric array of 128 x 256 pixels each of 58 micron size. This avenue is no longer being pursued. Launch of the GERB instrument into geostationary orbit is scheduled in July, 2000 on the Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) Spacecraft. The MSG Spacecraft is spin stabilized at 100 rpm (600 msec per revolution). The GERB instrument has a de-spin mirror mechanism allowing earth view for the 33 msec per revolution of the spacecraft. Due to the programmatic considerations associated with the project, the electronics and optics baselines have been defined prior to the start of the C/D phases, which occurs in April, 1996. Therefore, the spatial sampling of the earth and the readout modes are pre-defined. As viewed from geostationary orbit, the GERB detector array will image half of the earth during a viewing period, with full earth coverage to be obtained over time. The delivered system will function as the flight detector array on the GERB experiment. LaRC intends to conduct the formal space qualification of the device. The purpose of this notice is to solicit qualified firms from which proposals for development and fabrication of the focal plane sensor may be requested. Companies determined to be qualified by NASA Langley Research Center may be invited to submit formal proposals for development and fabrication of a detector array. The device must nominally be a two dimensional thermal imaging detector array with pixel size less than 60 microns but larger than 40 microns. The spectral response must cover the range from 0.32 microns to 40 microns (visible to far-infrared). The spectral response must be flat to 1.5% over the range from 0.32 to 10 microns, to 5% over the range from 10 to 20 microns, and to 10% from 20 to 40 microns. Because the GERB experiment requires sensitivity across a large spectral range detector blackening techniques to achieve uniform spectral response across the spectral range are required. Given the advanced stage of development of the GERB instrument, the ability to provide the detector array on an accelerated schedule is important. The array to be used in the GERB engineering (i.e., non-flight) model is to be delivered to the GERB project in Europe by 1 March 1997 with flight model delivery to occur no later than 1 December 1997. A strong desire also exists for additional non-flight detectors to be available to LaRC much earlier in the program for verifying spectral properties and electrical interfaces. Up to 30 detector arrays may be procured for qualification with ultimate selection of 2 flight units and 2 flight spares. Interested parties are invited to submit a five page white paper detailing their background and experience in development and fabrication of space qualifiable detector arrays sensitive over the entire spectral range from 0.32 micron to 40 micron, including descriptions of past experience in fabricating similar arrays, experience in blacking techniques, experience in radiation hardening, as well as a description of the nominal design of the array and interface characteristics. Responses must be received at LaRC by 4:30 p.m., EST, March 8, 1996. A more detailed table of requirements and specifications can be obtained from the Industry Assistance Office, NASA LaRC, Linda P. Fitzgerald (804) 864-2461, e- mail l.p. fitzgerald@larc.nasa.gov. All company proprietary rights will be maintained. Please submit company profiles meeting the guidelines provided above to NASA Langley Research Center, Industry Assistance Office, Mail Stop 144, Hampton, VA 23681- 0001. Technical questions regarding this requirement can be directed to Mr. Edward H. Kist at 804-864-1891. This synopsis is for information and planning purposes and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government nor will the Government pay for any information solicited. Respondents will not be notified of the results of the evaluation. Respondents deemed fully qualified will be considered in any resulting solicitation for the requirement. Firms responding should indicate whether they are a socially or economically disadvantaged business firm, an 8(a) firm, a small business, and/or a woman- owned business. The Government reserves the right to consider a small business set-aside or 8(a) set-aside based on responses hereto. In responding reference SS253. (0053)

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