Goddard Engineering and Technology Directorate

Micro-Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) Capability 

Photo of an engineer working in a microelectronics fabrication facility dedicated to the development of micro-electrical-mechanical-systems (MEMS)for NASA’s missions
Photo of an engineer working in a Goddard microelectronics fabrication facility dedicated to the development of micro-electrical-mechanical-systems (MEMS) for NASA’s missions

Next-Gen Micro-Shutter Array (NGMSA) Enhances Multi-Object Spectroscopy for Advanced Astrophysics Missions

The NexGen Micro-Shutter Array (NGMSA, 736 x 384, ~282K pixels), an improvement over the magnetically actuated microshutter arrays (MSA) used in the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), is an electrically actuated field object selector designed for ultraviolet, visible, and infrared multi-object spectroscopy (MOS). This technology enables MOS functionality for various astrophysics missions, including the Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO) flagship mission, the Far-UV Off Rowland-circle Telescope for Imaging and Spectroscopy (FORTIS) sounding rocket mission, and other applications. The latest advancements aim to achieve a contrast ratio exceeding 1e5, reliable electrostatic actuation with high pixel operability, a time constant over 100 times smaller compared to the JWST MSA, and two-side-buttable packaging, making it suitable for large field-of-view MOS applications.

The Micro-Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) capability is managed by ETD’s Instrument System and Technology Division (Code 550). Contact ETD for more information.