Award Data

We propose the development of a user-friendly software tool for estimating the electric field distributions within spacecraft enclosures based on the Power Balance (PwB) method and enhanced by a database of experimentally determined Absorption Cross-Sections (ACS) of common equipment, components and cables.The software will be built around an already developed PwB solver that determines the statis ...

Plasma Controls, LLC (SBC) and Colorado State University (RI) will mature an energy and species plasma diagnostic for use with plasma thrusters. The combined Energy and Velocity Analyzer for Distributions of Electric Rockets, or the lsquo;E-VADERrsquo;, is needed especially for characterizing the plasma plume of Hall thrusters, where researchers desire to know ion energies and charged species frac ...

Opterus proposes to develop braided thin ply composite tapes. The tapes will be braided from ultra-thin spread-tow unidirectional carbon and glass ribbons and will enable a new source and form factor for thin-ply textiles. The resulting tapes will be especially useful for thin high strain composite space deployable structures where they will allow bias plies in long parts without requiring seams. ...

Accurate navigation is a crucial part of both robotic and crewed exploration of other worlds. For missions to the surfaces of Mars and the Moon, mission planners will require increasingly autonomous guidance systems that support fast, efficient, and agile surface route planning. These navigation systems will rely on access to accurate and regularly updated maps of surface landmarks. In a recent pi ...

The goal of the proposed project is ultimately to provide a tool for commercial and government satellite operators and designers that can be used to identify the cause and monitor the real time likelihood of on-orbit satellite anomalies. More specifically, the tool will provide real time situational awareness and information for identifying whether an observed satellite anomaly is likely related t ...

AeroMancer Technologies proposes to develop an 3D Airspeed Backscatter Correlation (3D-ABC) lidar velocimeter for in-flight boundary layer flow visualization and airspeed measurement in spatially and temporally resolved 3D flow fields using a rugged, eye-safe, daytime-capable, reliable Infrared (IR) optical device. AeroMancerrsquo;s technique for measuring 3-component spatially and temporally reso ...

Microelectronics Research Development Corporation (Micro-RDC) proposes to develop a low cost radiation hardened integrated circuit (IC) technology that creates new solid-state circuits at reasonable cost. The project will enable delivery of electronics that can operate in space for a prolonged time and without errors.nbsp;The enhanced technology should encourage many firms to participate in recent ...

Opterus proposes PMACs: Precision Multifunction Autonomous Connections. PMACs are a node-strut connection system designed for hybrid deployable and robotically assembled large precision optical structures. PMACs enable 10 to 30 m diameter primary mirror telescopes to be autonomously assembled on orbit. The system is multifunction and carries data, power, and fluids over the connection and is addit ...

nbsp;NASA is developing an Exploration Portable Life Support Subsystem (xPLSS) for next-generation Exploration Extra Vehicular Mobility Units (xEMU) planned to replace existing space suits. NASA has identified technology gaps in current xPLSS due to the amine swing-bed system not being design for the partial atmosphere of Mars. To solve this, NASA is requesting the development of a robust ldquo;Bo ...

Aerosol extinction measurements are crucial to understanding the effects of atmospheric particles on ozone depletion (stratosphere), radiation (stratosphere and troposphere), visibility (troposphere) and public health (boundary layer).nbsp; Despite the acute need, no existing instrument can measure direct, in situ aerosol extinction profiles from the ground to the mid-stratosphere.nbsp; Satellite- ...