Award Data

The ability to quickly estimate flight vehicle behavior in an operational environment is particularly important since engineers from a variety of disciplines require accurate predictions in order to plan flight test experiments, expand aircraft operating envelopes safely, and have access to diagnostic methods when problems arise. In order to minimize risks, and to maximize compatibility with prese ...

As The Center of Excellence for Human Operations in Space seeks to expand the possibilities of space exploration, they have recognized the limitations when it comes to medical care. Small crews have mission critical skills, but receive little training and practice in emergency medical response. If a medical emergency were to occur, these crewmembers will have to handle the diagnosis and treatment ...

As The Center of Excellence for Human Operations in Space seeks to expand the possibilities of space exploration, they have recognized the limitations when it comes to medical care. Small crews have mission critical skills, but receive little training and practice in emergency medical response. If a medical emergency were to occur, these crewmembers will have to handle the diagnosis and treatment ...

A collaborative effort between MEMX and Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU/APL) is proposed to develop an innovative approach to enhancing LIDAR and optical communication transmitter systems and components with Micro ElectroMechanical Systems (MEMS) beam steering components. The MEMS Optical Beam Steerers (MOBSTERs) will demonstrate a capability that is scalable to space or c ...

Aeroelastic studies, such as the prediction of flutter boundaries and limit cycle oscillations, play a critical role in aircraft safety and design. To perform these analyses with the required accuracy, nonlinear aerodynamic, and possibly nonlinear structural, effects must be included. Furthermore, these effects must be considered early in the design cycle in order to reduce life cycle costs. The V ...

A new modular solar powered rocket engine is proposed to provide a few milligrams to a few kilograms of thrust at 900-1000 seconds of specific impulse by heating hydrogen propellant to average temperatures ranging from 2750 to 3250K. The proposed design utilizes one or several sunflower-like clusters of nonimaging concentrators coupled to optical fiber bundles that guide the solar energy with a th ...

Current thermal protection systems (TPS) severely limit the flight path and the mission flexibility of space transportation vehicles, including reusable launch vehicles. TPS are essential, but add parasitic weight rather than providing both structural functionality and thermal protection. Multifunctional TPS with combined thermal-structural capability would be highly desirable. TPS are also subjec ...

Current thermal protection systems (TPS) severely limit the flight path and the mission flexibility of space transportation vehicles, including reusable launch vehicles. TPS are essential, but add parasitic weight rather than providing both structural functionality and thermal protection. Multifunctional TPS with combined thermal-structural capability would be highly desirable. TPS are also subjec ...

Low-density, high specific stiffness ceramic and metal open-cell foam materials may be utilized for creation of an innovative fuel matrix for use in space nuclear reactors. Highly porous structural foam may be developed for high thermal efficiency, high temperature fuel elements for both propulsion and gas-cooled power reactors. Current designs, such as annular rods or pebble beds, cannot operate ...

This program addresses an opportunity to develop unique electronically tunable filters for multi- and hyperspectral imaging with characteristics that surpass all other present tunable filter technologies. The approach is based on holographically formed polymer dispersed liquid crystal material that were under development at Brown University for display and telecommunication applications. The H-PDL ...