Award Data

High G Aerodynamic Controls | Approved for Public Release 18-MDA-9707 (3 Jul 18)

Our vision for the next generation missile and space propulsion engine is a flexible and non-toxic propulsion technology using HAN/kerosene, offering variable thrust with a high degree of mission tailoring. Additionally, high bulk density of HAN/kerosene bi-propellant improves stage mass fraction and delivers performance metrics that exceed current toxic storable propellants. We propose an innovat ...

During the proposed Phase 1 research and development effort, the project team will design an innovative turbopump system for a target vehicle upper stage using “Green" liquid propellants that meet Missile Defense Agency's requirements. The use of a turbopump will result in an upper stage that has a greater than 50% improvement in delta velocity in comparison to a previously designed, pressure fe ...

Uncertainty Reduction in High Speed Flight Vehicle Modeling | Approved for Public Release 18-MDA-9707 (3 Jul 18)

Signature Research, Inc. (SGR) and Michigan Technological University (MTU) propose a Phase I STTR effort to develop a learning algorithm which exploits the spatio-spectral characteristics inherent within IR imagery and motion imagery.Our archive of modelled and labeled data sets will allow our team to thoroughly capture the variable elements that will drive machine learning performance.The overall ...

On this effort Toyon Research Corp. and The Pennsylvania State University are developing deep learning-based algorithms for object recognition and new class discovery in look-down infrared (IR) imagery. Our approach involves the development of a hybrid classifier that exploits both transfer learning and semi-supervised paradigms in order to maintain good generalization accuracy, especially when li ...

The Department of Defense uses large-scale high-resolution federated simulations to propagate rocket vehicle trajectories. Runge-Kutta methods have served as a de-facto standard while conducting such simulations. However, there are several challenges while using Runge-Kutta methods for this task. Firstly, there should be exact time-step matching between federates, otherwise the states have to be i ...

West Coast Solutions (WCS), in collaboration with the Georgia Institute of Technology and Creare LLC, proposes an adaptation of our SmallSat Stirling Cryocooler (SSC) technology in response to STTR Topic MDA17-T003: High-Efficiency, Low-Volume, Space-Qualified Cryogenic-Coolers. In Phase 1 we will scale up a design currently in development for NASA to meet the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) topic re ...

The Iris Technology team which also include Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems (NGAS) and the University of Wisconsin, is attacking the problem of high-efficiency, low-volume, space-qualified cryocooler systems.The team has a firm starting point by leveraging the Northrop Grumman Microcryocooler and the Iris Technology mLCCE (Miniature Low Cost Control Electronics).TMU enhancement will start with ...

The Ground-Based Interceptor (GBI) missile is the weapon component of the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system that consists of a rocket booster and kinetic kill vehicle. Recently, MDA has sought technologies to improve the performance of the booster vehicle (BV). To date, studies have shown that reductions in weight have a direct impact on overall effectiveness. The current proposal aims t ...