Space mission applications of chemical microsensors

The trace detection of chemicals has become increasingly important to the successful production, launch and operation of spacecraft. Chemical microsensors are inexpensive, lightweight, miniature transducers for the direct detection of trace chemicals. These devices can be integrated with microprocessors and communication to form intelligent systems for autonomous health and safety monitoring. We have been developing chemical microsensor technologies for the detection of chemicals found in propellant and rocket exhaust plumes, as contaminants for spacecraft electronic and optical components and important for life support functions. We have developed a hydrogen sensor for the detection of H₂ contamination in electronic device packages and a sensor for the detection of HCl that looks promising for exhaust plume detection. Most recently we have developed a sensor for the detection of O atoms and ozone. Data are presented on the performance of these devices and potential system applications