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Condition Based Maintenance of Space Exploration Vehicles Using Structural Health Monitoring

Award Information
Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Branch: N/A
Contract: NNA06AA20C
Agency Tracking Number: 054769
Amount: $69,999.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: N/A
Solicitation Number: N/A
Timeline
Solicitation Year: N/A
Award Year: 2006
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): N/A
Award End Date (Contract End Date): N/A
Small Business Information
155 C-3 Moffett Park Drive
Sunnyvale, CA 94089
United States
DUNS: 043688410
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Amrita Kumar
 Principal Investigator
 (408) 745-1188
 akumar@acellent.com
Business Contact
 Amrita Kumar
Title: Business Official
Phone: (408) 745-1188
Email: akumar@acellent.com
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

Acellent Technologies proposes to develop an autonomous and automated diagnostic system for condition based maintenance (CBM) of safety critical structures for space exploration vehicles. The proposed system will provide real-time information on the integrity of critical structures on launch vehicles, improve their performance, and greatly increase crew safety while decreasing inspection costs. The system will encompass a gamut of functions from sensing hardware through diagnosis and prognosis all the way to presentation of the asset condition with recommended maintenance actions. Additionally the system will be developed for qualification and reliable use with space vehicles from the time of manufacture through launch. The biggest payoff of IVHM is development of system determining health prior to vehicle operation. Technologies will be developed to reliably instrument and monitor damage in critical structures such as rocket motors. The system development will be based on Acellent's SMART Layer technology that utilizes a network of sensors and actuators to query and monitor the integrity of a structure. In Phase I, a prototype CBM system for rocket motors will be developed and preliminary qualification tests conducted in collaboration with ATK-Thiokol. Phase II will focus on complete system development and interface with the rocket motor IVHM system.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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