This project proposes to advance the state-of-the-art in microgravity containerless processing and research. the microgravity sonic pump furnace (mspf) concept is based upon the sonic pump levitator principle that provides rapid position control at modest accelerations for samples up to 4 cm in… More

This project proposes to develop a telerobotic control glove (tcg) for the control of robotic dextrous hands. the glove will be capable of controlling both the position of and the forces exerted by the fingers of the robotic hand. feedback of both tactile and force information will be provided to… More

Orbitec proposes to develop a means to produce and utilize solid oxidizers in a combustion chamber. condension gaseous oxygen directly to the solid state appears an intractable approach becouse of low density of the frost formation. rapid freezing from the liquid phase however, assures a dense,… More

ORBITEC proposes to develop a means to produce and utilize cyrogenic solid-based hydrogen fuels in a combustion chamber. Controlled freezing from the gaseous phase at or below the triple point assures uniform solid phase formation directly from gaseous phase. The vapor pressure of hydrogen is… More

ORBITEC proposes to develop an innovative Electromechanical Vibratory Tactile Stimulation (EVTS) system that will provide intuitive tactile, force, and torque feedback. The need for this type of feedback is growing, as manipulators become more dextrous, and more complex tasks are to be carried out… More

ORBITEC proposes to design and develop a small commercial thruster which combines innovative concepts to produce a scalable, high response, precisely controlled, low cost, highly reliable family of thrusters for altitude control, orbit change, and maneuvering applications in space. The key concepts… More

An innovative Earth-based aerodynamic levitator with closed-loop stability control to enhance high temperature materials processing techniques is proposed. In current approaches, turbulence-induced instability imposes limits in levitator effectiveness and limits the sample dimension capacity. With… More

A tri-axial accelerometer that capitalizes on advances in micromachined accelerometers and solid-state memory ICs such that

The Shared Multi-use Remote Robotics Facility (SMURRF) will provide a simple, Flexible, and functional manipulator to assist space operations in an unmanned mode. Shared Multi-use Robotics Facility: Shared - Combined Automated and human controlled modes of operation; Multi-use - the wide range of… More

This proposed effort will develop the Voice Activated Poor Visibility Emergency Response Systems (VAPERS) by combining hardware and software concepts in a manner that will significantly increase Crash-Fire-Rescue (CFR) vehicle effectiveness without a corresponding increase in operator workload. The… More

ORBITEC proposes a Miniature in-Situ Smart Fatigue Monitor (MISSFM) that will accurately assess and monitor fatigue damage in eal time of almost any structural component. Phase I will design and demonstrate technology to achieve a solid state device to measure and display component strain and… More

ORBITEC proposes to develop haptic interface software for virtual reality simulations and assisted telerobotic manipulation. A haptic interface is a device which allows a human 'observer' to explore and interact with a virtual environment or control a remote manipulator using the sense of touch. … More

Orbital Technologies Corporation (ORBITEC) proposes a miniature optical sensor that will be able to accurately measure angle of rotation. The Fiber Optic Rotation Mini-Sensor (FORMS) will also implement fiber optics in such a manner that the sensor will be EMI immune, and smaller than other… More

ORBITEC proposes to develop an Advanced Cryogenic Hybrid Rocket Engine (ACHRE) that can be used by the USAF/Phillips Laboratory to test the performance of high-energy propellants from the USAF-funded program. The innovative design is based upon the knowledge and experience gained in developing,… More

ORBITEC will develop an Environmental Stress Measurement Device (ESMD) for missile applications.previous technology efforts in time stress meausurement devices and microelectromechanical sensors (MEMS) will be leveraged to develop and design an ESMD capable of self-powered autonomous operation for 5… More

The Infrared Fire Detector and Alarm (IRFDA) is proposed to provide the United States Air Force with a system that is capable of detecting fire in large aircraft hangars, also in proximity of fuel, ammunition and other hazardous material storage areas. The IRFDA system will be a cost effective,… More

A Micro-Turbojet system is vastly reduced in size, on the order of 1.0-10cm diameter with thrust from .051b to 8lbs. Micro-electronics machining (MEM) techniques are used to produce augmentation unit that is fitted to an existing successful micro-turbojet(5.0 inch diameter, 35 lbs thrust),… More

The objective of this proposal is to develop and evaluate regenerable plant supports from inedible plant fiber for use in Advanced Life Support (ALS) System plant growing units. Plant supports of interest include seed plugs, seeding mats, root/shoot barriers, and plant fences. The innovation is to… More

ORBITEC proposes to conduct innovative research and development that would culminate in an Aerodynamic Fluid Physics Research Facility (AFPRF) technology demonstration on the International Space Station serving one or more critical experimental needs of the NASA mg Program. The AFPRF would serve as… More

The proposed innovation is a total workstation for analytic and digital photogrammetry (also called softcopy) and for integrated mapping from ground, aerial and earth satellite data which is designed to optimize the interaction between human and artificial intelligence. The Universal Mapping System… More

With Space Station, opportunities for long duration plant experimentation in space, including seed-to-seed multi-generational studies become increasingly available. This will require not just transport of seed to orbit, but means to stow and handle seed. The innovation of the proposed seed… More

ORBITEC proposes to conduct an innovative research and development program that will result in a Aerodynamic Microgravity Containerless Processor (AMCP) technology demonstration on the International Space Station. This system will satisfy microgravity scientists that cannot currently be accommodated… More

ORBITEC proposes to use ultra-fine aluminum powder (UFAL) to develop a gelled LH2 fuel and LOX propellant system. This innovation will increase the performance and density of LH2/LOX and the combustion efficiency of LH2/Al/LOX for use in rockets and combined-cycle vehicles. Lighter,… More

The innovation is a unique Carbon-based Mars ISRU Rocket Technology (CMIRT) that can greatly reduce vehicle size, complexity, support systems, and Earth launch mass requirements for a variety of human and robotic Mars missions, where propulsion systems use propellants from indigenous materials on… More

ORBITEC proposes to develop an innovative, cool-wall rocket engine combustion chamber that confines propellant mixing and burning to the inner region of a coaxial vortex flow field. The outer region of the flow field prevents the hot combustion products from contacting the wall. Though the chamber… More

ORBITEC proposes to use ultra-fine aluminum powder (UFAL) to develop a gelled LH2 fuel and LOX propellant system. This innovation will increase the performance and density of LH2/LOX and the combustion efficiency of LH2/Al/LOX for use in rockets and combined-cycle vehicles. Lighter,… More

The objective of this proposal is to develop and evaluate regenerable plant supports from inedible plant fiber for use in Advanced Life Support (ALS) System plant growing units. Plant supports of interest include seed plugs, seeding mats, root/shoot barriers, and plant fences. The innovation is to… More

ORBITEC proposes to conduct innovative research and development that would culminate in an Aerodynamic Fluid Physics Research Facility (AFPRF) technology demonstration on the International Space Station serving one or more critical experimental needs of the NASA mg Program. The AFPRF would serve as… More

ORBITEC proposes to analytically model and empirically develop the mixing and combustion of thixotropic gel propellants in the combustion chamber flow field generated by innovative vortex injection schemes. The new mode of propellant injection uses acombination of approaches. One approach was… More

ORBITEC proposes to develop an innovative, cool-wall rocket engine combustion chamber that confines propellant mixing and burning to the inner region of a coaxial vortex flow field. The outer region of the flow field prevents the hot combustion products from contacting the wall. Though the chamber… More

ORBITEC proposes to continue to empirically develop and analytically model the mixing and combustion of gel propellants in the rocket combustion chamber flow field generated by innovative vortex injection schemes. The gels are injected circumferentiallytangent to the chamber wall. Streaming the… More

The goal of VCTOSS is to enable the creation and deployment of highly effective training and operations support materials by using new lightweight 3D simulation technology. This lightweight approach to 3D simulation makes it possible to: (1) electronically transmit materials to physically… More

The purpose of the Integrated Plant/Animal Habitat (IPAH) development is to provide an environmental ecosystem for plants and animals where atmospheric exchanges can be monitored and controlled among separate chambers. The Phase I effort will design, prototype, and test critical elements that will… More

"ORBITEC proposes to develop a hydrogen/oxygen rocket engine capable of repeated, sustained operation at stoichiometric conditions. This severe operating point is made possible by utilizing ORBITEC's unique vortex combustion cold-wall (VCCW) technique,which shields the wall of the combustion… More

ORBITEC proposes to develop an integrated lunar regolith processing system (LRPS) to produce oxygen and a variety of other useful materials to support future lunar exploration activities. The LRPS utilizes carbothermal reduction of regolith via a direct energy source to extract oxygen, silicon,… More

ORBITEC proposes to develop a new class of fuels consisting of solid hydrogen particles in a liquid helium carrier fluid. These particles would be ideal carriers for various High-Energy Density Materials (HEDM?s), including high-energy metals or atomic free radicals. To demonstrate and test the new… More

The purpose of the Phase II SBIR is to develop, build and test methods and procedures to control water, oxygen, and temperature in the root zone of a particulate based microgravity nutrient delivery system using nubs, tubes or plates. Phase I demonstrated new concepts for nutrient flow and control… More

ORBITEC proposes to develop an innovative, cool-wall rocket engine combustion chamber that confines propellant mixing and burning to the inner region of a coaxial vortex flow field. The outer region of the flow field prevents the hot combustion products from contacting the wall. Though the chamber… More

The innovation is a unique non-intrusive system that offers highly accurate density, quality, velocity, and mass flow measurements of two-phase and densified cryogenic flows. The system is called the Cryometer, and can greatly enhance the reliability, safety, and autonomous operation of multiple… More

ORBITEC proposes a universal preburner as the gas generator on liquid rocket and combined cycle engine applications. The stoichiometric preburner, fitted with the appropriate downstream mixers, produces either or both fuel-rich or oxidizer-rich gas for turbine drive or tank pressurization. The… More

ORBITEC proposes to use ultra-fine aluminum powder (UFAL) to develop a gelled LH2 fuel and LOX propellant system. This innovation will increase the performance and density of LH2/LOX and the combustion efficiency of LH2/Al/LOX for use in rockets and combined-cycle vehicles. Lighter,… More

The purpose of the Phase II SBIR is to develop, build and test methods and procedures to control water, oxygen, and temperature in the root zone of a particulate based microgravity nutrient delivery system using nubs, tubes or plates. Phase I demonstrated new concepts for nutrient flow and control… More

ORBITEC proposes the development of a new approach to bi-directional humidity control with the potential for providing a low cost highly reliable miniature humidity control system with no moving parts: Highly Reliable Humidity Control for Small Volumes. (HUMSV) The main innovation of the system is… More

The goal of VCTOSS is to enable the creation and deployment of highly effective training and operations support materials by using new lightweight 3D simulation technology. This lightweight approach to 3D simulation makes it possible to: (1) electronically transmit materials to physically… More

ORBITEC proposes to develop a Stoichiometric Combustion Rocket Engine (SCORE) that would serve as the primary thruster for DARPA?s water rocket. The water rocket concept requires the development of a satellite power-and-propulsion architecture utilizingwater as a source of both chemical energy… More

ORBITEC proposes an innovative Modular Intelligent Hydrogen Transfer System (MIHTS) to meet USAF vehicle fleet needs for hydrogen-fueled transportation applications. It is widely anticipated that a hydrogen energy economy will evolve and become thestandard source of fuel for transportation, and… More

ORBITEC and the University of Wisconsin-Madison propose to develop a low-cost, non-intrusive, wavelength-agile optical rocket propulsion sensor (WORPS) to interrogate rocket exhaust plumes and cryogenic fluid properties. The innovative sensor system is based on a Chirped White Pulse Emitter (CWPE).… More

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project, Multimode Activated Network of Tactile Interfaces for Advanced Computing with Haptics (MANTIACH), is an innovative approach to provide a virtual tactile stimulation display to a human operator in three-dimensional space. This device conveys… More

ORBITEC proposes to develop a deployable facility called the Vegetable Production System (VEGGIE) to produce vegetable (salad) crops to supplement prepackaged foods during long stays in space. The innovation of the VEGGIE is in providing, within a single middeck locker, a plant growing facility with… More

ORBITEC proposes to develop an Advanced Vortex Hybrid Propulsion System (AVHPS) to meet the demands of highly-reliable, low-cost propulsion systems for small launch vehicles. The benefits of the AVHPS result from the combination of ORBITEC's patentedvortex injection technique and high-regression… More

ORBITEC, working in cooperation with The University of Texas at Dallas (UTD), and others, proposes to develop a low-cost, tethered artificial gravity spacecraft system that can be launched from the STS in a hitchhiker GAS Can or expendible launch vehicle. This variable-gravity platform would be used… More

ORBITEC proposes to develop an integrated carbothermal lunar regolith processing system (CLRPS) to produce oxygen and a variety of other useful materials to support future lunar exploration activities. The CLRPS utilizes carbothermal reduction of regolith via a direct energy source to extract… More

ORBITEC proposes an innovative Modular Intelligent Hydrogen Transfer System (MIHTS) to meet USAF vehicle fleet needs for hydrogen-fueled transportation applications. It is widely anticipated that a hydrogen energy economy will evolve and become the standard source of fuel for transportation, and… More

ORBITEC and the University of Wisconsin-Madison propose to continue the development of a low-cost, non-intrusive, wavelength-agile optical rocket propulsion sensor (WORPS) to interrogate rocket exhaust plumes and cryogenic fluid properties. The innovative sensor system uses an amplified Chirped… More

ORBITEC proposes to develop a deployable facility called the Vegetable Production System (VEGGIE) to produce vegetable (salad) crops to supplement prepackaged foods during long stays in space. The innovation of the VEGGIE is in providing, within a single middeck locker, a plant growing facility with… More

ORBITEC, working in cooperation with The University of Texas at Dallas (UTD), and others, proposes to develop TAGS II: Tether Electrodynamic Spinup and Survivability Experiment (TESSX). TESSX is a spinning tethered space system, consisting of two end masses separated by an electrodynamic tether.… More

A LOX/Hydrocarbon rocket engine using an array of self-sufficient independent propulsion units (IPU's) or modular combustors, clustered in an altitude-compensating nozzle offers a promising avenue for reliable low-cost access to space. Combustor redundancy provides high fault-tolerance, achieving… More

The purpose of the Generic ISIS Transport Module is to provide a means to bring living specimens to and from orbit. In addition to living specimens, the module can be used to carry subpayloads that require precise environmental control or continuous data recording. In order to maximize the amount of… More

The innovation is a Multi-Use Non-Intrusive Flow Characterization System (FCS) for densified, normal boiling point, and two-phase cryogenic flows, capable of accurately measuring several fluid parameters in real-time. Cryogenic fluids are ubiquitous in the aerospace industry. Their low temperatures… More

Aseptic plant culture plays a significant role in biotechnology and plant physiology research and in vegetative propagation of many plant species. The development of an Aseptic Plant Culture System would provide a mechanism for experimentation as well as for transporting and storing vegetatively… More

ORBITEC proposes to develop a Constant Mixture Expulsion Tank System (COMET) to meet the Army's need for advanced gel bipropulsion tank systems the guarantee a constant volumetric Oxidizer-to-Fuel ratio. The benefits of the COMET result from the innovative mechanical linkage mechanisms developed by… More

ORBITEC and SRI propose to develop an advanced gel propellant fuel based on monomethyl hydrazine (MMH) that provides higher volumetric specific impulse, incorporates a combustible particulate gellant, and has desirable stability and aging characteristics. To improve volumetric Isp, a… More

ORBITEC and SRI propose to continue the development of an advanced gel propellant fuel based on monomethyl hydrazine (MMH) that provides higher volumetric specific impulse, incorporates a combustible particulate gellant, and has desirable stability and aging characteristics. To improve volumetric… More

The goal of this proposal is to investigate the applicability of recent advances in plasma manufacturing and material treatment to NASA advanced life support systems. In particular we wish to examine surface treatment, material deposition, and the use of low pressure and atmospheric pressure plasma… More

The objective of this proposal is to develop a gravity-independent pasteurization and hot air drying process suitable for stabilization of ALS wet cabin waste, drying of crew laundry, and water recovery from water-reprocessing brines. This dryer will use an energy-efficient closed air-loop Heat Pump… More

The product of the Phase II effort will be a Multi-Use Non-Intrusive Flow Characterization System (FCS) for densified, normal boiling point, and two-phase cryogenic flows, capable of accurately measuring several fluid parameters in real-time. Cryogenic fluids are ubiquitous in the aerospace… More

ORBITEC will investigate new nanocoating and other engineered surfaces and apply them to passive control of humidity within confined spaces while minimizing power, size and mass requirements. The innovations include: (1) the ability to scale the devices for early Exploration applications including… More

Aseptic plant culture plays a significant role in biotechnology and plant physiology research, and in vegetative propagation of many plant species. The development of an Aseptic Plant Culture System would provide a mechanism for experimentation as well as for transporting and storing vegetatively… More

The objective of this proposal is to develop a gravity-independent pasteurization and hot air drying process suitable for stabilization of ALS wet cabin waste, drying of crew laundry, water recovery from water-reprocessing brines and drying of food and biomass. This process uses an energy-efficient… More

The innovation of the proposed project is the development of High Efficiency Lighting with Integrated Adaptive Control (HELIAC) systems to drive plant growth. Solar radiation is not a viable option for growing plants on the moon or on Mars for multiple reasons. On the other hand, lighting plants… More

NASA's new exploration initiative created immediate need for materials science and technology research to enable safe human travel and work on future lunar or Martian long-duration missions. To conduct this research, NASA must have lunar and Martian regolith simulant for materials experiments and… More

Orbital Technologies Corporation (ORBITEC) proposes to develop a unique Advanced Vortex Hybrid Rocket Engine (AVHRE) to achieve a highly-reliable, low-cost and extremely versatile propulsion technology. The benefits of AVHRE result from the combination of ORBITEC's patented vortex injection… More

ORBITEC proposes to analyze, design, and develop a device for autonomous lunar surface/subsurface sampling and processing applications. The Sample Acquisition for Materials in Planetary Exploration (SAMPLE) allows a sample to be quickly and completely encapsulated, minimizing vibrational effects… More

ORBITEC proposes to develop an innovative Low-energy Planetary Excavator (LPE) to excavate in situ regolith, ice-regolith mixes, and a variety of other geologic materials to support future activities on the Moon and Mars. The LPE utilizes an innovative cutterhead to efficiently excavate a wide… More

ORBITEC proposes to continue to develop a Constant Mixture Expulsion Tank System (COMET) to meet the Army's need for advanced gel bi-propellant tank systems that inherently expel a constant volumetric Oxidizer-to-Fuel ratio. The benefits of the COMET system result from innovative mechanical linkage… More

The technical objective of the Phase II project is to provide a more complete investigation of the long-term needs of the simulant community based on the updated NASA outline for exploration, including potential landing site designations, the types of technologies currently funded for research, and… More

The proposed project is the continued development of the High Efficiency Lighting with Integrated Adaptive Control (HELIAC) system. Solar radiation is not a viable option for growing plants on the Moon or on Mars for multiple reasons. On the other hand, lighting plants with electric lamps and… More

ORBITEC proposes to develop a High-Performance Methane Thrust Chamber (HPMRE) to meet the demands of advanced chemical propulsion systems for deep-space mission applications. The HPMTC utilizes a unique propellant injector to generate a coaxial vortex flow field in the combustion chamber. … More

ORBITEC and SRI propose to develop a high-performance fuel to replace monomethyl hydrazine (MMH) and hydrocarbon based fuels. The new fuel will have higher energy-density, increased storability, be non-toxic and non-carcinogenic, and provide better compatibility and sensitivity than current MMH and… More

ORBITEC and ITT/Aerotherm propose to develop an advanced model to describe the chemical reactions and ignition delay of hypergolic gelled propellants. The model consists of two primary modules: a recently developed fluid dynamic spray model, and a new chemistry module that considers the reaction… More

ORBITEC proposes a parallel computational and experimental effort to understand the phenomena underlying hypergolic ignition of gelled propellants. Gelled hypergolic propellants offer many benefits to modern propulsion systems. They offer good insensitive munitions characteristics and versatile… More

The high strength to weight and elasticity properties of spider silk make it of significant interest for the production of advanced fibers for military and civilian applications. Plants may offer the only feasible mechanism to produce quantities of spider silk proteins sufficient to sustain large… More

ORBITEC proposes to develop MAELSTROM, an advanced hybrid rocket motor, to meet the demands of highly flexible boost propulsion for Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense applications. Key MAELSTROM features include: versatile energy management, high propulsive performance, inherent safety of a hybrid,… More

The Dense Medium Plasma Water Purification Reactor offers significant improvements over existing water purification technologies used in Advanced Life Support systems such as bioreactors, catalysts, and membrane based systems. Evaluation of water contaminated with bacteria and plasma-treated… More

ORBITEC proposes to develop a unique Advanced Vortex Hybrid Rocket Engine (AVHRE) to achieve a safe, highly-reliable, low-cost and uniquely versatile propulsion system. The benefits of AVHRE result from the combination of four innovations: (1) the patented vortex injection technique which generates… More

The economic potential of photosynthetic species as sources of pigments, gelling agents, medicinal compounds, specialty foods, and biofilters will be more fully exploited in the next few decades through the use of bioreactors. However, a major bottleneck in photobioreactor productivity has been the… More

ORBITEC is developing an innovative Low-energy Planetary Excavator (LPE) to excavate in situ regolith, ice-regolith mixes, and a variety of other geologic materials to support future activities on the Moon and Mars. The LPE utilizes an innovative cutterhead to efficiently excavate a wide range of… More

ORBITEC and SRI propose to develop high-energy binders to replace conventional binders commonly used in solid propellants. The proposed binders will enjoy higher enthalpy, higher density, greater tolerance for impurities while curing, and greater range of compatibility with other propellant… More

ORBITEC proposes to develop high-performance, aluminum castings (HPAC) for use in Air Force landing gear structures. The HPAC structures will achieve material properties similar to those of forged structures. The casting process is well suited to the fabrication of components from existing… More

Propellant gels offer a promising way to simultaneously increase safety of operations and enhance performance. Gel viscoelastic properties minimize leaking and slosh during storage yet allow flow on demand. Use of energetic gellants can increase density specific impulse performance. Clever… More

The purpose of the Enhanced Brine Dewatering System (EBDS) is to provide an easily scalable means of completely recovering usable water from byproducts created by reverse osmosis water purification systems without the use of consumable wicks. Extended duration Lunar and Mars missions will require… More

The proposed Plasma Air Decontamination System (PADS) is a trace contaminant control device based on non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma technology that operates at ambient pressure and temperature and has the potential to replace the existing Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) used on the… More

ORBITEC proposes to continue the development of MAELSTROM, an advanced hybrid rocket motor, to meet the demands of highly flexible boost propulsion for Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense applications. Key MAELSTROM features include: versatile energy management, high propulsive performance, inherent… More

The high strength to weight and elasticity properties of spider silk make it of significant interest for the production of advanced fibers for military and civilian applications. Plants may offer the only feasible mechanism to produce quantities of spider silk proteins sufficient to sustain large… More

Hypergolic propellant gels offer improved safety and performance flexibility. However, their longer ignition delays endanger engine health and preclude widespread use. Understanding the physical and chemical paths to ignition can enable improving ignition and realizing favorable IM characteristics… More

Orbital Technologies Corporation (ORBITEC), with the assistance of SRI International under subcontract, propose to develop new and innovative environmentally-benign oxidizers to replace ammonium perchlorate (AP) in solid propellant formulations. These innovative oxidizers will not contain halogens… More

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Groundwater is one of the most important freshwater resources on this planet. However, contaminated groundwater has become an ever-increasing problem in the United State. Among the many types of contaminants, Volatile O rganic Chemicals (VOCs) are a major concern… More

To meet the performance goals of the next generation of liquid hydrocarbon boost and upper stage rocket engines, the Air Force will require a new family of reliable and reusable igniters. ORBITEC proposes to develop and demonstrate a highly-reliable, non-toxic ignition system designed for use with… More

ORBITEC proposes to develop a high-performance, non-toxic, storable oxidizer to replace current storable oxidizers for hybrid rocket motor propulsion systems. The proposed candidate oxidizers have higher energy and oxygen content, greater density, lower volatility, and less corrosivity than the… More

Orbital Technologies Corporation proposes to develop a model of both slow and fast cook-off events to help advance efforts to produce solid propellants that can meet insensitive munitions requirements. A standard test to predict the results of full scale SCO and FCO experiments will be developed.… More

The purpose of the Enhanced Brine Dewatering System (EBDS) is to provide a scalable means of completely recovering usable water from byproducts created by reverse osmosis water purification systems without the use of consumable wicks. Extended duration Lunar and Mars missions will require the… More

The severity of the lunar dust problems encountered during the Apollo missions were consistently underestimated by ground tests, illustrating the need to develop significantly better lunar dust simulants and simulation facilities. ORBITEC proposes to develop a family of High-Fidelity Lunar Dust… More

Cavitation in liquid rocket engine turbopumps can degrade performance, damage hardware, and generate vibration that impacts the entire vehicle. Many types of cavitation can occur within the operating envelope, and their presence complicates the design process. Cavitation models remain invalidated… More

ORBITEC proposes to develop a family of liquid/gel propellant, variable thrust propulsion systems to provide increased mission flexibility to battle planners to enhance warfighting strategies and enemy engagement capabilities. Variable thrust capability with non-toxic, space-storable propellants is… More

The proposed Plasma Air Decontamination System (PADS) is a trace contaminant control device based on non-thermal atmospheric-pressure plasma technology. Compared to the Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) and the Vapor Phase Catalytic Ammonia Removal system (VPCAR), this novel technology… More

Orbital Technologies Corporation and Penn State University propose to examine and characterize novel energetic formulations in solid fuels to replace conventional, low-energy, binders such as HTPB. The proposed solid fuels will provide higher enthalpy, higher density, and improved rocket engine… More

Orbital Technologies Corporation (ORBITEC) and the University of Alabama at Huntsville (UAH) propose to develop the Advanced Microwave Electrothermal Thruster (AMET), a high-efficiency thruster which will use water propellant to enable various Lunar and Mars missions. The proposed AMET will… More

The severity of the lunar dust problems encountered during the Apollo missions were consistently underestimated by ground tests, illustrating the need to develop significantly better lunar dust simulants and simulation facilities. ORBITEC is proposing to continue developing high-fidelity lunar dust… More

ORBITEC and Duke University have teamed on this STTR to develop the ALERT (Advanced Lunar Exhaust-Regolith Transport) code which will include new developments in modeling of regolith erosion and entrainment as well as plume transport with full mass and momentum conservation. The Plume is handled in… More

Future BMDS interceptor systems require innovative propellants that provide significantly increased performance and, simultaneously, improved safety, insensitivity, and economy. ORBITEC and partner University of Wisconsin-Madison propose to develop a family of ionic liquid propellants to meet these… More

The dynamics of turbulent combustion processes necessitate the measurement of multiple quantities simultaneously, but measuring multiple variables generally requires multiple laser-based diagnostics. Combining temperature and velocity measurements in a single diagnostic offers the opportunity for… More

Orbital Technologies Corporation (ORBITEC) proposes to develop a monopropellant Self-Pressurizing Gas Generator (SPGG) warm gas pressurization system for satellite propulsion system applications. The SPGG system will utilize a novel method to pressurize the propellant. The proposed system offers… More

ORBITEC proposes to develop novel energetic polymers based on the 1,2,3-triazole linkage to replace conventional binders commonly used in solid propellants. The proposed polymers will enjoy higher enthalpy, higher density, greater tolerance for impurities while curing, desirable mechanical and… More

ORBITEC and the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) propose to develop functionally graded metallic lattice components for use in advanced rocket propulsion systems. The FGMLC material will utilize an internal intertwined lattice structure to join different constituents of the composite material.… More

ORBITEC proposes to develop the Advanced Microwave Electrothermal Thruster (AMET) for use as one of the primary thrusters in the Dual-Mode Water Rocket Propulsion system. The AMET uses an electrodeless microwave discharge to produce thrust from water vapor propellant, delivering specific impulse in… More

ORBITEC proposes to develop a heat transfer model to predict heat transfer coefficient in bubbly flows in small tubes. This model is intended for application to thermal management systems in a variety of propulsion systems, including both air-breathing and rocket engines. The Phase I work will… More

ORBITEC proposes to demonstrate and validate a laboratory scale experimental injector stability screening technique which will quantify injector element stability characteristics. The experimental approach promises to dramatically reduce development cost by utilizing a gaseous single element test… More

ORBITEC proposes to develop the Magnetically Coupled Helium Recirculation Fan (MCHRF), a fan for the recirculation of cryogenic helium gas for shipboard High-Temperature Superconductor Deguassing (HTSDG) systems. The MCHRF will eliminate the mechanical penetration required for the recirculation… More

ORBITEC proposes to continue the development of high-performance fuels to replace monomethyl hydrazine (MMH) and other storable fuels for in-space propulsion applications. Compounds from various chemical families were proposed in Phase I to address these needs. These families of compounds have… More

ORBITEC proposes to develop processes and waste heat recovery techniques to be incorporated into the existing Plastic Melt Waste Compactor (PMWC) to increase efficiency and throughput. The end goal will be to incorporate these processes and techniques into the PMWC system developed by Ames Research… More

ORBITEC proposes to develop the Advanced Carbothermal Electric (ACE) reactor to efficiently extract oxygen from lunar regolith. Unlike state-of-the-art carbothermal reactors that use concentrated solar energy or laser energy to heat the regolith, the ACE reactor uses new innovative electric… More

Challenges arise in the propulsion systems for the new exploration architecture. The currently operational and proven storable hypergolic systems raise toxicity concerns. Because MMH is a carcinogen, measures must be taken to prevent exposure of personnel to the fuel from the time of its synthesis… More

As both security requirements and the computing demands of 3D simulation grow, new solutions that take advantage of the shift to cloud computing and broadband availability will be needed. With new services for online gaming set to hit the marketplace, similar capabilities in interactive simulation… More

ORBITEC proposes to develop functionally graded metallic lattice components for use in advanced rocket propulsion systems. The FGMLC material will utilize an internal intertwined lattice structure to join different constituents of the composite material. This lattice structure will allow a designed… More

ORBITEC proposes to continue the development of the SYREN Igniter to meet the performance goals of the next generation of liquid hydrocarbon boost and upper stage rocket engines. This effort will advance the technical readiness level of an innovative family of igniters for rocket combustion… More

Plant-eating insect pests cause significant economic loss in commercial greenhouse growing operations, sometimes amounting to tens of thousands of dollars per hectare. Insects as a vector of plant pathogens also rank very high on the problem list for greenhouse/hothouse growers. Integrated Pest… More

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that foodborne diseases cause 76 million illnesses and 5,000 deaths in the United States each year. Among outbreaks for which the cause was determined, bacterial pathogens caused the largest percentage of outbreaks (55%) and the largest percentage of… More

This project addresses the potential to move power requirements for ornamental crop lighting systems off the grid and to alternative energy sources such as solar photovoltaic. Photoperiod lighting is currently used in an estimated 25% of greenhouse ornamental production operations and floriculture… More

The innovative High Efficiency, High Output Plastic Melt Waste Compactor (HEHO-PMWC) is a trash dewatering and volume reduction system that uses heat melt compaction to remove nearly 100% of water from trash and reduce the volume by up to 11 times. The HEHO-PMWC system incorporates novel methods to… More

ORBITEC proposes to develop and test new, non-toxic ionic liquid fuels for propulsion applications. Vintage propulsion systems frequently use highly toxic propellants such as MMH. The toxicity of these propellants increases not only the risk of the missions but also the expense, due to special… More

The overall objective of the Phase 1 effort was to demonstrate the technical feasibility of the Advanced Carbothermal Electric (ACE) Reactor concept. Unlike state-of-the-art carbothermal reactors that use concentrated solar energy and/or laser energy to heat the regolith, the ACE Reactor uses an… More

ORBITEC proposes to develop a non-thermal technology based on atmospheric-pressure (AP) cold plasma to sanitize foods, food packaging materials, and other hardware and working surfaces that are encountered during food processing in space vehicles or habitats. AP plasma is well known to be highly… More

ORBITEC proposes to develop, fabricate, and test a system to provide 99.999% hydrogen by efficiently performing methane pyrolysis. The system has three unique features: (1) the methane pyrolysis reactor that does not rely on high single-pass efficiencies (which will make the system robust), (2) it… More

Orbital Technologies Corporation (ORBITEC) and the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW-Madison) propose to develop the Renewable Fuel Production System (RFPS), a system which will produce liquid alkene-based transportation fuels from lignocellulosic biomass. Specifically, we propose to investigate… More

Advanced ordnance and propulsion systems of the modern era still utilize vintage energetic materials. These old generation materials, such as RDX and HMX, cannot meet today"s more stringent safety and environmental requirements. Unfortunately, in newer compounds created to replace them, the… More

In this Phase I STTR program, ORBITEC and University of Wisconsin-Madison teamed to develop a simultaneous particle image velocimetry and thermometry (PIV+T) diagnostic for reacting flows. In applications such as gas turbine engines, internal combustion engines, and rocket engines, the dynamics of… More

Plant-eating insect pests cause significant economic loss in commercial greenhouse growing operations, sometimes amounting to tens of thousands of dollars per hectare. Insects as a vector of plant pathogens also rank very high on the problem list for greenhouse/hothouse growers. Efficiently managing… More

ABSTRACT: Study of non-stationary phenomena in turbulent combusting flows requires spatial measurements of a set of parameters at kHz rates. Ideally these parameters would include the velocity , temperature, and a relevant species concentration. In response to this need, ORBITEC and the… More

ORBITEC's Non-Thermal Sanitation by Atmospheric Pressure Plasma technology sanitizes fresh fruits and vegetables without the use of consumable chemicals and without significantly raising the temperature of the food, so food taste and quality are not affected. Atmospheric pressure plasma is well… More

ORBITEC proposes to develop and demonstrate a novel cooling concept called Lattice Regenerative Cooling Methods (LRCM) for future high thrust in-space propulsion systems. Incorporation of ORBITEC's innovative lattice structures in the fabrication of thrust chambers for expander cycle engine… More

ORBITEC, in collaboration with Lucigen, proposes a rapid genetic detector for spaceflight water systems to enable real-time detection of E. coli with minimal consumables and crew time. The Rapid Coliform Detector (RCD) amplifies the genetic material in a liquid sample to allow near real-time… More

ORBITEC proposes to develop non-toxic propulsion systems to replace hyradzine-derivative systems in interceptor applications. In ongoing work, ORBITEC has been developing high-performance ionic liquid fuels. These inherently non-volatile fuels promise safer, less sensitive systems while providing… More

ABSTRACT: ORBITEC proposes to develop the Cooling Channel Diagnostic System (CCDS), a diagnostic tool for assessing the condition of rocket engine cooling channels. This system will be used to detect and locate any deposits which inhibit heat transfer between cooling channels and the hot-gas wall… More

ABSTRACT: ORBITEC proposes to develop a hybrid cycle to improve the overall performance and reduce the cost of advanced upper stage engines. Upper stage engines using the High Performance Hybrid Cycle (HPHC) will have the benefits of compact design, high thrust-to-weight, and high Isp. Once… More

ORBITEC proposes to develop the Advanced Reversible Cryogenic Thermal Energy Storage (ARCTES) system, which will provide temporary backup cooling for circulating helium gas coolant in high-temperature superconducting (HTS) systems for naval applications. The ARCTES will rely on an initially-frozen… More