Award Data

Phase I results showed that two surface treatments, oxidative plasma and reactive finishes, are effective means of modifying the surface chemistry of exfoliated graphite nanoflakes. The surface modifications provide a more compatible surface energy for dispersion in polymers and create well-bonded interfaces with the polymer matrix. In order to be cost effective for NASA and commercial applicati ...

NASA has numerous requirements for in-space repair capabilities to aid future missions beyond earth orbit. A subset of these requirements is adhesive patch materials that provide permanent or temporary repair of a wide variety of surfaces with minimal surface preparation. Prior work on light (UV and visible) curing composite matrix resins for rigidizing inflatable spacecraft shows that there is ...

Advanced Cooling Technologies, Inc. (ACT), supported by Hamilton Sundstrand, proposes to develop a heat pipe heat exchanger that is low mass and provides two levels of isolation between fluid streams. It has potential applications in thermal control of manned spacecraft and a number of military and commercial equipment and processes. Phase I has successfully demonstrated the feasibility of the hea ...

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project will develop titanium Loop Heat Pipes (LHPs) that can be used in low-mass space nuclear radiators, such as the radiators currently being designed for Project Prometheus, as well as radiators for the lunar and Mars surfaces. LHPs are two phase heat transfer devices that can be embedded in radiator panels. Advanced Cooling Technologies, Inc. ...

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project will develop heat pipe and loop heat pipe (LHP) working fluids for what is known as the intermediate temperature range, from roughly 500 K to 700 K. Currently, there are no working fluids in this range that can be used in NASA applications, due in part to unknown physical properties and insufficient life test data. The overall objective of ...

ATA proposes development of an Advanced Rate Gyro (ARG) that blends two of ATA’s developmental designs to fulfill MDA’s airborne gyroscope requirements. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) requires such high performance gyros for Advanced Inertial Reference Units (aIRUs) for Airborne Laser DE systems and space-based surveillance and weapons systems. Current high performance gyros are marginal in mee ...

Applied Technology Associates (ATA) proposes to develop a new inertial sensor by combining two sensing phenomena in a single device. ATA has patented an advanced inertial sensing technology based on magnetohydrodynamics (MHD). Numerous researchers have patented and developed micro-electromechanical sensors (MEMS) that measures inertial angular motions. We believe that a composite sensor based o ...

Department of Defense space surveillance and weapons systems require highly accurate inertial knowledge in absolute location and orientation. Current technologies providing these functions are not integrated into a single, light-weight, low-cost, power-efficient, and drift-free instrument. Applied Technology Associates (ATA) proposes to further develop its innovative Auto-correcting Inertial Measu ...

As the Airborne Laser (ABL) comes closer to directing a high energy laser (HEL) at a boosting missile target, it is essential that higher bandwidth fast steering mirrors (FSMs) need to be developed. These FSMs must be capable of controlling large 12-inch mirrors while handling the HEL power levels. Unfortunately, it is unlikely that a FSM mechanism (substrate and mounting structure) can be designe ...

Large stroke and high precision electroactive single crystal and polymer actuators are desired for cryogenic passive optics such as Fabry-Perot Interferometer (FPI) and Fourier Transform Spectrometer (FTS) in NASA remote sensing missions. The results of the Phase I program have successfully demonstrated the feasibility of using electroactive single crystal and polymer actuator concepts for large ...