First International Symposium on Space Terahertz Technology Page 5 OVERVIEW OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN SPACE TERAHERTZ TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM

In June 1988, NASA established nine university-based Space Engineering Research Centers for the purpose of enhancing and broadening the nation's engineering capabilities to meet the growing demands of the space program. The newly formed centers—which cover a wide range of specialties extending from robotics and propulsion to solid-state electronics--will perform research and develop technologies relevant to the establishment of operational bases on the moon, to manned and unmanned operations on Mars, to space flight missions to other parts of the solar system, and to observations of the Earth's environment from space platforms. The University of Michigan's NASA Center for Space Terahertz Technology (NASA/CSTT) will focus on the development of terahertz devices, circuits, antenna arrays and heterodyne receiver systems in support of molecular line spectroscopy with particular emphasis on planetary atmospheres, including the Earth's upper atmospheric layer. During Phase I of the program (1988-93), most of the activities will be conducted at frequencies in the 0.1 to 1 THz range, corresponding to the 3 mm to 300 wavelength range. The research activities of the Center are divided into three areas: (1) terahertz device modeling fabrication and performance evaluation, (2) terahertz receiver development, including antenna fabrication and integration with the mixer/local oscillator components, and (3) the use of terahertz technology for the study of the Earth's upper atmosphere, astrophysical investigations, and industrial applications