Award Data

In this work, Ultramet is developing a three-dimensional (3D) laser-directed chemical vapor deposition (CVD) additive manufacturing system to build free-form refractory metal components for liquid rocket propulsion systems. By combining Ultramet's experience in refractory metal fabrication by CVD with computer control of directed laser energy, nearly unlimited expression of part shape and metal co ...

Large solar arrays (100 kW-1 MW) are required in order to generate the power necessary for solar electric propulsion to drive NASA's future missions, including: Asteroid Redirect Mission, Mars Exploration, and NASA Commercial Supply. The advantages and benefits of large solar array designs will only be realized if the array support structure weight and packaging volume are minimized. SDC's Advanc ...

Our proposed research work significantly enhances the state-of-the-art in aviation data analytics by providing, for the first time, a one-stop resource for meeting data analysis needs of aviation researchers, analysts and practitioners. The resulting Cloud-based Aviation Big Data Analytics Platform benefits multiple NASA projects: RSSA real-time safety assessment, SMARTNAS test-bed, and the Sherl ...

Electronic Waste is the fastest growing waste stream in the US. Significant amounts are recoverable for reuse, resale, and refining for precious metals. The disassemblers send circuit boards to refiners/smelters for precious metals recovery. E-Waste disassemblers remove parts from these circuit boards, so only certain parts are smelted. As such they are the key market for our depopulator. Refiners ...

Industrial Microbes is developing a green fermentation platform to replace carbon-emitting petrochemical production with newer methods that build chemicals out of methane and carbon dioxide.Chemical production is a major source of carbon pollution, responsible for 18% of direct industrialemissions. Our innovation is an engineered microbe that can consume carbon dioxide and methane and produce a ch ...

Fumed silica is an important additive in many products including paints, plastics and tires, but it is produced by an energy-intensive costly, toxic and hazardous process. SioTex has developed a superior triple green replacement for fumed silica that produces no toxic waste, uses little energy, and is inexpensive.  Our patent pending technology uses rice hulls, a bio-waste, as the feedstock.  Us ...

In Phase 2 we will develop a fully integrated, autonomous free-flying robotic system based on a commercial SkyJib quadcopter, and demonstrate flying straight and level to a target location, acquisition of rock and regolith samples, and return to the point of origin. The work plan for Phase 2 is as follows: 1. Completion of the Guidance, Navigation, Control, Vision, and Sample Acquisition subsyste ...

The NASA's PATH mission employs GeoSTAR spectral radiometer processing data from antenna consisting of three arms, each holding 128 microwave receivers. Each of the 384 receivers amplifies RF signals, and down-converts them to an intermediate frequency (IF). As a result, 768 in-phase (I) and quadrature (Q) signals are produced with a frequency of 10 to 500MHz. The IF signals have to be normalized ...

We propose to develop and demonstrate a new sensor platform for isotope and trace-gas analysis that is appropriate for future planetary missions. Among other applications, the technology can enable the collection of isotope ratio data in support of the search for evidence of life within the solar system. Current limitations to in-situ isotope measurements will be overcome by utilizing a capillar ...

Flight Works is proposing to expand its work in micro-gear-pumps for hypergolic and ?green? propellants in order to develop and demonstrate a micropump for MON-25 and mono methyl hydrazine (MMH) bipropellant thrusters. MON-25, with 25% of nitric oxide (NO) and 75% nitrogen tetroxide (NTO, N2O4), allows lowering the oxidizer freezing point to -55 C, which is a close match to that of the fuel, MMH ( ...