Award Data

Infrared (IR) windows operating in the environment experienced by endo-atmospheric interceptors are limited in performance by the high heat fluxes, temperatures, and pressures characteristic of these environments. Window temperature can exceed 900 C from exposure to the high heat fluxes and temperatures associated with hypersonic flight. Existing materials are limited by poor mechanical and optica ...

The Radionuclide Aerosol Sampler and Analyzer (RASA) is a completely automated monitoring system that detects airborne radioactive particles and is one of the detection systems used in the U.S. and global International Monitoring System (IMS) of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) to detect nuclear detonations. Mainstream proposes develop a high-efficiency cyclone separa ...

This program is significant in that it represents a leap forward in electron beam (Ebeam) processes as well as liquid propellant tank designs. Mainstream will demonstrate the technical feasibility of Ebeam additive manufacturing (AM) for upper-stage liquid propellant tanks with Mainstream’s EBEAM facility by fabricating test coupons and subscale prototype components from novel materials. We will ...

Based on the results of our Phase I work, one significant barrier to optimizing battery performance lies in understanding the relationship between bulk solids and particle flow properties and the flow into the die. Our hypothesis: an increase in quality batteries production can be achieved if powder preparation process can be optimized and the die filling process controlled. We feel that control o ...

Future interceptors would benefit from advanced propulsion capabilities, with higher performance in smaller, volume-constrained systems. Innovative propellant chemistry is needed to enable substantially greater performance in smaller packages. One factor limiting the maximum performance achievable in modern solid propellants is the slow ignition and combustion of the propellant’s metal fuel part ...

Preliminary definition and analysis of Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS) requirements in an isolated, manual, and loosely controlled change environment shows significant overlap in effort, resulting in a major increase to cost, schedule, mission classification, subsystem propagation, and trace of system impacts. To assist MDA with movement of BMDS mission objectives to mission requirements, ...

"This Phase I SBIR project will develop an innovative, high-performance, secure processing architecture for system-on-a-chip (SoC) devices used in defense electronics systems. Athena's security technology will integrate compression and encryption, andenable end-to-end secure processing in advanced defense systems, providing significantly improved tampering and reverse engineering resistance when c ...

"The goal of the present Phase 1 proposal is introducing nonlinear optical technologies for controlling light beams in complex optical structures, including fiber optics interconnects and switches. We will revisit and gain further insight into the processesof laser beam interaction with liquid crystals proving that novel materials have matured those processes for modern applications. Operation of ...

"Thermal batteries are mission-critical components utilized in virtually every weapon system. Thermal batteries require four types of pellets that comprise the energy-producing portion of the battery. These include: (1) anode pellets, composed of Li(Si)alloy and electrolyte salt, (2) cathode pellets, consisting of either FeS2 or CoS2 and electrolyte salt, (3) separator pellets, consisting of MgO ...

"Thermal batteries are a mission-critical component utilized in virtually every weapon system. Four types of pellets comprise the energy-producing portion of a thermal battery. These include: (1) anode pellets, composed of Li(Si) alloy and electrolytesalt, (2) cathode pellets, consisting of either FeS2 or CoS2 and electrolyte salt, (3) separator pellets, consisting of MgO and electrolyte salt an ...