Award Data

This project develops a nutrition program, MenuChoice©, for community-based group homes for persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD). Adults with IDD experience poorer nutritional health and more nutrition-related secondary conditions than adults without disabilities. These conditions are preventable and modifiable through a safe, healthful diet, but multiple challenges precl ...

The Goal of this STTR is to develop a high speed, high power, waveguide based modulator (phase and amplitude) and investigate its use as a pulse slicer. The key innovation in this effort is the use of potassium titanyl phosphate (KTP) waveguides making the high power, polarization based waveguide amplitude modulator possible. Furthermore because it is fabricated in KTP, the waveguide component w ...

Situational Awareness is the key element of performing safe and effective operations, and the space vehicle operations carried out by NASA is by no means an exception to the rule. Astronauts and flight controllers need to maintain awareness of the situation in the space vehicles, robots, habitats, Mission Control Center, and other systems. NASA has devoted and continues to devote a significant am ...

FMI currently manufactures Phenolic Impregnated Carbon Ablator (PICA) material for Thermal Protection Systems (TPS) systems, such as the Stardust Sample Return Capsule and the Mars Science Laboratory Aeroshell. FMI plans to further develop TPS in support of future sample return missions such as MoonRise and OSIRIS-REx. Development of a PICA TPS with reduced mass, thermal performance enhancements, ...

During this program Fiber Materials, Inc. (FMI) will develop innovative yet practical methods for preparing Phenolic Impregnated Felt (PIF) materials for thermal protection system (TPS) segments and heat shield assemblies. Future mission flight environments and designs, such as those anticipated for Mars EDL missions, will require a variety TPS options to accommodate entry system designs. The cap ...

NASA has defined a need for higher performance ablative Thermal Protection System (TPS) materials for future exploration of our solar system's inner and outer planets than is currently available. Of particular interest are: 1) Materials with performance analogous to fully dense, heritage rayon-based carbon phenolic ; 2) Mid-density ablative systems ; and 3) Highly insulative, low-density mat ...

Single photon sources and detectors hold the key to achieving success in several quantum communication and computation applications. Many of these goals can be achieved with the realization of low-loss high-speed switching for single photons. AdvR proposes a unique implementation of an electro-optic (EO) deflector with ideal properties for single photon switching. The device operates on the pri ...

This NASA Phase I SBIR effort proposes to establish the feasibility of significantly improving coupling at fiber to waveguide interfaces for the manufacture of low loss fiber coupled components being developed for several NASA lidar based initiatives, including LaRC's HSRL program. Efficient and robust coupling of single mode fibers to optical waveguides is essential to the performance and m ...

Identification and Significance of the Problem or Opportunity. Current Military parachute canopies are constructed from cloth that has a fixed air permeability. The level of air permeability in a fabric significantly affects the opening speed of the parachute, filling time, opening shock and rate of descent. The air permeability of the fabric remains cannot be altered once the canopy is construc ...

For NASA missions requiring active control of segmented mirrors, optical trusses and booms, coherent, laser-based approaches such as CW laser interferometers have been preferred because they can provide very high resolution relative position measurements. Other approaches, such as multi-color interferometers can provide absolute range measurements. However, neither technique can measure multiple ...