Award Data

NASA's future missions to investigate the structure and evolution of the universe require highly-efficient, very low temperature coolers for low-noise detector systems. We propose to develop a highly-efficient, lightweight, space magnetic cooler that can continuously provide remote/distributed cooling at temperatures in the range of 1 K with a heat sink at about 30 K. The proposed magnetic coole ...

Manned lunar exploration will require extravehicular activity (EVA) suits that surpass existing technology. We propose an innovative thermal control system for EVA suits that uses an absorption heat pump with a flexible radiator that offers reduced size, lighter weight, conformability, rugged construction, and freeze tolerance. The heat pump absorbs a crew member's metabolic heat and rejects it ...

Environmental control systems for manned lunar and planetary bases will require condensing heat exchangers to control humidity. Condensing surfaces must be hydrophilic to ensure efficient operation and biocidal to prevent growth of microbes in the moist, condensing environment. The coatings must be extremely stable and adhere to the condensing surface for many years. We propose an innovative co ...

The new devices and missions to achieve the aims of the NASA's Science Mission Directorate (SMD) are creating increasingly demanding thermal environments and applications. A key element that drives the design of thermal management systems in these demanding applications is the thermal interface material (TIM) between mating surfaces. Our innovation is a novel, vacuum-compatible, durable, heat-co ...

For lunar-based fission power systems that will support In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) or Mars robotic and manned missions, power requirements may vary from 10s to 100s of kWe to support initial human missions and longer term lunar bases. Due to the large amounts of waste heat generated by these systems, a key consideration is the development of lightweight, highly efficient heat rejection s ...

We propose to develop a compact handheld longwave infrared camera based on quantum well infrared photodetector (QWIP) focal plane array (FPA) technology. Based on the photoexcitation of electrons out of quantum wells of GaAs sandwiched between AlGaAs barriers, QWIP FPAs have emerged as a promising new candidate for longwave infrared imaging and spectroscopy, offering superb sensitivity, pixel ope ...

The proposed innovation is germanium power semiconductor devices (diodes and transistors) developed specifically for power-management and actuator-control circuits operating at low and cryogenic temperatures. This is important for upcoming space missions to extremely cold environments, because it can greatly reduce the need for thermal control and required spacecraft power. These missions include ...

The proposed innovation is germanium power semiconductor devices (diodes and transistors) developed specifically for power-management and actuator-control circuits operating at low and cryogenic temperatures. This is important for upcoming space missions to extremely cold environments, because it can greatly reduce the need for thermal control and required spacecraft power. These missions include ...

This project addresses the development of high performance evaporators for loop heat pipes (LHP) or capillary pumped loops. Thermal management of future high-power laser instrumentation will require power dissipation of 2-5 kW at heat fluxes beyond 100 W/cm2. Although localized heat fluxes as high as 100 W/cm2 have been demonstrated using bi-disperse wicks, the maximum average heat flux capability ...

This project addresses the development of high performance evaporators for loop heat pipes (LHP) or capillary pumped loops. Thermal management of future high-power laser instrumentation will require power dissipation of 2-5 kW at heat fluxes beyond 100 W/cm2. Although localized heat fluxes as high as 100 W/cm2 have been demonstrated using bi-disperse wicks, the maximum average heat flux capability ...