Award Data

Through a NASA Phase II SBIR Contract # 80NSSC18C0063, CUA developed the 1.7U-32J Fiber-fed Pulsed Plasma Thruster (FPPT), which achieves scalable propellant throughput with its fiber-fed design. During the development process, subsystems were improved and miniaturized. These include the high-density energy storage via multi-layer ceramic (MLCC) capacitors (100x life tested), high-thrust, low-eros ...

In order to support NASArsquo;s ability to land humans and support a sustainable presence on the Moon, AMSENG has prepared a Invited Sequential Phase II Proposal for the white paper (2023-1-94-W) with aim to facilitate rapid technology maturation development and assist in its insertion and to infuse key technologies to advance the objectives of the Moon to Mars campaign.nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nb ...

In the proposed Phase II program, we will transition MicroLink's 6-inch epitaxial lift-off (ELO) solar cell fabrication process into a manufacturing platform capable of sustaining large-volume production. Key Phase II improvements in the ELO process are reduction in cycle time and increase in the yield of large-area devices. In addition, we will transition all critical device fabrication process ...

The primary goal of this proposed work is to develop a long wavelength infrared (LWIR) colloidal quantum dot (CQD)-based focal plane array (FPA) and show its feasibility when used in a camera system and a hyperspectral imaging system. Phase I results cumulated in the first-ever synthesis of photoresponsive LWIR CQDs and CQD-based photodetectors at the single device level operating at room temperat ...

Design, build, test and evaluate an engineering prototype neutron generator for Am-Be replacement that is to scale and function to simulate ruggedness and suitability for borehole applications. In Phase II, Starfire will develop the most difficult tool for design and evaluation, the 1-11/16” bore tool for 2” cased oil/gas wells, which has the greatest market application. The unit output will ...

The goal of the program is to reduce the cost of substrate reclaim for high-efficiency solar cells fabricated by an epitaxial lift-off (ELO) process, and to increase the number of reuse cycles for a given substrate. If successful, this will result in a reduction in the cost of GaAs-based multi-junction solar cells, in which the cost of the substrate accounts for approximately 50% of the total cos ...

The purpose of this SBIR project is to solve the critical problem of ensuring emergency communications network coverage for the first responder in a host of building types and locations. The advent of FirstNet and other broadband networks as equally critical communications tools increases the complexity of this problem.While localities' code policies are accelerating the move toward providing for ...

To continue the trend towards ever more efficient photovoltaic devices, next-generation multi-junction cells will be based on increasingly complex structures. These structures will require the ability to join two or more independently grown epitaxial structures together via wafer bonding which is a complicated process to include in a high-volume manufacturing environment using conventional wafer ...

Future advanced heterodyne sensors for submillimeter-wave receivers require 50 to 100 mW of cooling at 15 to 20 K for the sensor, and 1 to 2 W cooling at 80 to 120 K for the local oscillator, with size and input power suitable for use in a Small Sat. nbsp;During Phase I, a detailed cryocooler configuration trade study was completed, and the 3-stage pulse tube configuration driven by the Lockheed M ...

CU Aerospace (CUA) proposes the further development of the Quick Turn Pulsed Plasma Thruster (QT-PPT) in configurations up to 3200s specific impulse that will provide CubeSat deorbit capability at end-of-life for LEO missions.nbsp; While classic PPT technology is mature, it has historically been limited by its size and propellant load. CUA developed the Fiber-fed PPT (FPPT) and developed miniaturi ...