Award Data

Reduced mass materials are critical to the success of aerospace systems. Thus, large air and space structures can benefit from lightweight composite materials. However, their adoption is impaired by the lack of a robust, cost-effective fabrication process, principally because the autoclaves used to consolidate composite laminates are so expensive for large parts. This program develops for US aeros ...

This Phase I Small Business Innovation Research proposal will develop porous dielectrics as a low-cost, large-area detector for high spatial resolution x-ray detection. An alternative to microchannel plates, porous dielectric electron amplifiers are formed by a thin layer, generally less than 1 mm, of a low density dielectric. The microscopic pores formed in such material, provide a natural, but m ...

For propulsion related applications, materials must be able to demonstrate excellent ablation and oxidation resistance at temperature approaching 3500?C, adequate load bearing capabilities, non-catastrophic failure modes, and ability to withstand transient thermal shock. Advanced Ceramics Research, Inc. (ACR) has developed low cost, flexible-manufacturing processes for Zr & Hf-based carbon fiber r ...

THE FOLLOWING PROPOSAL IS FOR EXPLORATORY RESEARCH INTO A PLANNING APPROACH, CALLED BEHAVIORAL PLANNING, WHICH EMPHASIZES ROBUST AGENT PERFORMANCE IN UNRESTRICTED ENVIRONMENTS, WHILE POTENTIALLY SACRIFICING GUARANTEED ABILITY TO ACCOMPLISH GOALS. THIS WORK IS MEANT AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO PLANNERS OF THE LOGIC-INTENSIVE VARIETY WHICHPRODUCE PROVABLY CORRECT ACTION SEQUENCES, BUT HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED E ...

A major objection to the use of nuclear energy for space applications is the perceived risk involved in the launching of a fully fueled nuclear reactor. Even when it is pointed out that the fuel is in fact not radioactive, concerns persist. It is acknowledged that to design a reactor able to withstand all conceivable launch accidents would result in an impractical heavy design. To avoid the above ...

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OF ADVANCED LASER-BASED DIAGNOSTICSFOR THE DETERMINATION OF DROP SIZE SPECTRA AND LIQUID WATER CONTENT (LWC) FOR AIRCRAFT ICING RESEARCH IS PROPOSED. THISEFFORT WILL LEAD TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF INSTRUMENTS THAT ARE SUITABLE FOR OBTAINING RELIABLE DATA IN LARGE SCALE ICING RESEARCH TUNNELS AND AIRBORNE CLOUD MEASUREMENTS. SUCH DATAARE FUNDAMENTALS TO THE RESEARCH IN AIRCRAFT ...

This Phase I proposal develops a novel technology to automate the process of docking the Shuttle to the International Space Station (ISS). This technology is based on the Laser Dynamic Range Imager (LDRI) and a cross-plane point tracking algorithm. The LDRI provides the range measurement from the laser unit to the field of view for far or near inspection distances. The LDRI is a dynamic adaptation ...

A MINIATURE, LOW-POWER, GAAS MONOLITHIC GHZ WAVEFORM DIGITIZER IS PROPOSED FOR ANALYZINGSPACE-BASE LASER ALTIMETER PULSE-SPREADING EFFECT. IT CONSISTS OF A GHZ GAASSAMPLE-AND-HOLD AND A 6-BIT MONOLITHIC GAAS FLASH A/D CONVERTER USING THE ENHANCEMENT/DEPLETION (E/D) TECHNOLOGY AND LATCHING COMPARATORS. THE ADVANTAGES OF THE APPROACH ARE: (1) THE USE OF A FRONT-END SAMPLE-AND-HOLD ELIMINATES THE CLO ...

Manned exploration beyond Mars requires very high specific energy. The only potential solution under discussion is fusion propulsion. However, fusion has been ten years away for forty years. We have an available solution that combines new technology with an old concept ¿ ¿Project Orion¿. The proposed MagOrion Propulsion System combines a magnetic sail (MagSail) with conventional small yield (0. ...

Various planned NASA missions depend on the availability of reliable and efficient coolers that achieve temperatures below 6K. These coolers are needed as the upper stage for lower temperature coolers such as dilution refrigerators or adiabatic demagnetization refrigerators. Astronomical missions utilize such low temperatures to enhance infrared detector sensitivity and to cool optics. Low tempera ...