Award Data

Future MDA space missions will utilize small spacecraft with correspondingly small, advanced sensor systems. Cooling of these sensors is required to decrease detector noise and increase detector sensitivity by maintaining the detector at a reduced operating temperature. The cooling system comprises a mechanical cryocooler and its control electronics, both of which are critical technologies to enab ...

The Missile Defense Agency is searching for innovative technologies to implement in future interceptor missiles and kill vehicles that will produce weight savings within the systems. To answer this need, Touchstone Research Laboratory proposes to develop fiber reinforced aluminum (FRA) metal matrix composite components to replace those that were originally made from Ti-6-4. The FRA is able to reta ...

GTL has identified an innovative architecture for KV Divert and Attitude Control System (DACS). Instead of mounting a set of liquid propellant tanks around a central structural mast as done in conventional storable liquid DACS, the Compact Modular DACS uses an innovative configuration for propellant storage. The CMDACS architecture has increased volumetric efficiency that will increase the kinemat ...

Diode-Pumped Alkali Lasers (DPALs) have great potential for high-energy lasers. Proper design of these systems is challenging because many interrelated processes impact their performance, and critical kinetic rate coefficients are not well known. In response, our team is developing a comprehensive physics-based analysis/design tool, and experimentally determining key kinetic rate coefficients. The ...

International FemtoScience will develop and demonstrate a new technology to achieve an advanced accelerometer that enhances an Inertial Measurement Units high-g operability. This accelerometer provides smaller, lighter, more robust, less expensive devices, compatible with known production methodologies. To achieve the required performance a novel material, deposited diamond, (not silicon-based, to ...

The solid state semiconductor technology in radar systems supporting the U. S. Army's ballistic missile defense program increases its vulnerability to the effects of high power, fast rise-time EMP, HPM, and UWB pulses. Recent research has shown that using carbon nanotubes (CNTs) can greatly improve the performance of a limiter. Improvements upon a previous X-band waveguide plasma limiter can be m ...

Future missile detection systems will require improved thermal management for cooling gimbal-mounted sensors and optics. Current systems utilize cryocoolers placed on the gimbal, which necessitates the cryocooler heat to be rejected directly from the gimbal. A far superior approach in terms of payload mass would locate the warm elements of the cryocooler on the stationary platform near the space ...

Plasma Sciences Corporation (PSC) will build upon previous and ongoing research in transient voltage phenomena to develop a microwave front end limiter that can withstand high power RF interference with minimal impact on normal operations. Participating in the effort is Professor Popovic of Old Dominion University (ODU), a subject matter expert, who will support plasma computer modeling, simulati ...

Missile seekers would benefit from a focal plane array (FPA) that allowed high-speed single or multiple-windowing acquisition of the target or targets while maintaining situational awareness of the rest of the field of view. Such data reduction helps where bandwidth is limited, e.g. arrays with formats larger than 1Kx1K, allowing tracking of high-speed missiles at high frame rates. Readout multi ...

We propose to develop a high-performance longwave infrared focal plane array (FPA) based on Type-II InAs/(In)GaSb strained-layer-superlattice (SLS) technology and deliver it packaged in a portable handheld CAMERA. In Phase 1, a matrix of recipes was designed and grown, several wafers were processed, arrays were fabricated and characterized, and material and process issues identified. In Phase 2, ...