Award Data

The proposed Phase 2 project consists of the physical integration of our Phase 1 small, compact exciter with a "flight like" igniter or spark plug capable of hot-fire testing. The exciter/igniter unit will operate to a pre-established subset of expected flight performance requirements established and met in Phase 1. The exciter/igniter unit will physically integrate the exciter electronics with ...

This SBIR deals with developing a commercial AC Resistance-Ratio Bridge based on research work done by R. D. Cutkosky at NIST during the 1980's. His initial work will be extended by this Phase 1 project to allow for a new state-of-the-art product design and development. The product, the Model 8686 Precision Resistance-Ratio Bridge, will have an operating current range from 0.1mA to 10mA user selec ...

In Phase 1, CRG demonstrated the feasibility of a novel approach to prepare cyanate ester based elastomers. This approach polymerizes in-situ siloxane within a reactive elastomer precursor matrix in order to achieve an elastomeric material with highly tunable and desired mechanical properties. This methodology shows great potential in materials development for applications such as space deployabl ...

Cornerstone Research Group Inc. (CRG) will develop new shape memory polymer (SMP) deployment mechanisms for actuating thermal protection system (TPS) panels to create a deployable, large surface area aeroshell. This innovation will exploit Veriflex(R) -- CRG's high-performance SMP material -- to create a low-mass actuation system for a deployable aeroshell design. Veriflex(R)-based mechanisms wi ...

Existing cognitive performance test batteries consist of synthetic tasks that, while they may probe isolated cognitive functions, provide an incomplete and unconvincing picture of an individual's true cognitive capacity within the total context of space missions. In essence, they are 'laboratory' measures that appear unrelated to the real-world environment. This leads to user non-compliance or re ...

NASA aerocapture missions require an accurate evaluation of radiative thermal transport in order to simulate the aerothermal environment around space vehicles. However, present day computation of radiative transport in this complex multi-dimensional environment is frequently done using simple one-dimensional tangent-slab approximations or optically-thick approximations which compromise the accura ...

During the Phase II Lunar Health Monitor program, Orbital Research will develop a second generation wearable sensor suite for astronaut physiologic monitoring. The low profile system will be appropriate for both Extravehicular activities (EVA) and Intravehicular activities (IVA) monitoring scenarios. The EVA and IVA wearable platforms are capable of monitoring a complete physiologic profile of ove ...

The ability to store large amounts of cryogenic fluids for long durations has a profound effect on the success of many future space programs using these fluids for propellants, reactants, and life support systems. The high cost of delivering payload mass to orbit will require storage systems capable of limiting cryogenic losses due to boil-off to less than two percent per year for mission duratio ...

Innovative approaches for broadband multi-function antennas that conserve vehicle weight and reduce drag are welcome solutions for all airborne platforms including suborbital vehicles, where less total weight translates to longer mission times, less expensive payloads, and more acrobatic flight control. The Spectra Research team proposes an innovative approach to accomplishing the program objectiv ...

This SBIR technology transfer program offers the opportunity to produce a new generation of advanced large area and monolithic pryoelectric detector arrays that fully exploit the benefits of domain engineering and "smart-cut" technologies. SRICO will Investigate domain-engineering patterns to reduce acoustic noise as well as techniques to optimize a thin film absorber to enhance the detector absor ...