Incom helps NASA, scientists see into space

Charlton-based Incom is helping NASA and scientists see their way through the galaxy with technology allowing them to gather more clear images deeper into space. The company was chosen to help develop imaging technology as part of a Small Business Innovation Research program with NASA. In an interview, Incom researcher and principle investigator Till Cremer spoke about the company’s new technology. 

Can you describe your technology?

Think about the Hubble Telescope. They’re planning next generations telescopes that can look at far away stars. The detector technology we’re developing is pretty much a better camera compared to current technology.

That means they can bet better images and look further away into space. 

How much work has the company done with NASA?

We have two programs with NASA. One is for a curved microchannel plate, which is part of a sensor where you can amplify a single particle and amplify it to a signal you can detect with electronics. 

The program just funded in NASA’s recent series is basically to improve those microchannel plates to allow them to make image-quality sensors and increase the resolution of those sensors. 

What are some potential applications for this technology being developed?

Most things detected in space are particles. This particular one is for UV radiation around potentially habitable planets around other stars. 

It’s a technological challenge we think we can solve, but we have not yet tackled it. We have ideas on how to do it. That’s when you apply for SBIR funds. 

Why do you think Incom was chosen for this project?

These microchannel plates we’re making – we do one big thing nobody else can do. We can make them bigger than anyone else and allow other people to build completely new instruments. 

Are any of these devices in space now?

We have on detector on the Space Station now. We’ve flown others aboard rockets not quite going into space and following a trajectory just outside the Earth’s atmosphere. That’s usually step to qualify the technology to eventually go on to large scale space programs. 

Is this technology new to Incom?

Incom itself was founded around 1970, but the first NASA grant we worked on was in 2015. Income itself is traditionally a fiber optic manufacturer. These detectors were developed in our R&D department, which is about 10 people in a company of about 220. 

This interview was conducted and edited by WBJ Staff Writer Zachary Comeau.