Award Data

Tunable laser spectrometers are used by NASA for investigations of planetary atmospheric constituent gases. The availability of widely tunable long-wavelength (3 to 12?Ym) lasers operating at room temperature would allow such spectrometers to a wider range of gas species detection sensitivity increased by orders-of-magnitude relative to near-infrared lasers currently used in these applications. Ac ...

Andrews Space, Inc. proposes an innovative transpiration cooled aerobrake TPS design that is thermally protective, structurally flexible, and lightweight. This innovative design will also meet launch volume constraints and satisfy terminal aerobraking requirements. The approach will focus on transpiration cooling of a flexible material and will consider ablative and insulative technologies as key ...

nLight proposes to develop high-power, high-efficiency laser diodes emitting at 1907nm. Performance is expected to improve from the current state-of-the-art technology at 15C of 20% electrical-to-optical (E/O) conversion efficiency and 11.5W continuous-wave power (CW) to 25% E/O efficiency and 18W of CW power at the conclusion of Phase I. At the conclusion of Phase II, these values are expected t ...

The focus of the proposed effort is maximizing the brightness of fiber coupled laser diode pump sources at a minimum cost. The specific innovation proposed is to challenge the industry standard design of laser bars used in fiber coupled pump packages and to demonstrate that an alternative designs can offer higher brightness and lower cost than the current state of the art. We intend to show that t ...

Most major accidents do not result simply from proximal, physical events, but from the gradual drift of an organization to a state of heightened risk. Risk often increases so gradually that no one notices, as safeguards and constraints are relaxed due to conflicting goals. When a mishap occurs, it is almost inevitable that some event will trigger an accident. A comprehensive risk analysis metho ...

Stirling Dynamics Inc and the University of Washington propose to develop a MATLAB toolbox for rapid aeroelastic (AE) and aeroservoelastic (ASE) modeling, analysis and optimization of flight vehicles. In practically all current aeroelastic analysis/optimization codes, model generation takes a considerable amount of effort, as does the processing of results. The proposed AE/ASE toolbox will provi ...

Computer codes such as MCNPX now have the capability to transport most high energy particle types (34 particle types now supported in MCNPX) with energies extending into the teravolt energy range. The efficient use of these types of Monte Carlo tools is very important for modeling the effects of space radiation on humans, spacecraft and equipment. This proposal would develop a graphical user int ...

Next generation astrophysical observatories need improvements in readout electronics and associated high density interconnects. In particular, advanced imaging spectrometers for x-ray astronomy will require significant improvements in the high density interconnects between the detector arrays and the first stage electronics. These detectors operate at 50 to 100 mK, while the first stage is held be ...

NASA needs a cryogenic refrigerator for the 15-25K range for receiving arrays of ground-based antennas that will serve the telecommunications needs of future space exploration. We propose to develop a 15-25K Static-Helium Regenerator/Double Pulse Tube Cooler for receiving arrays. Our SHR/DPTC combines two of our technologies that have potential to enable pulse-tube coolers to operate efficiently ...

The overall goal is to develop a Virtual Learning LaunchPad prototype and to compare the learning by students viewing this prototype with a traditional video lecture. The Virtual Learning LaunchPad will merge six delivery methods to greatly compress delivery time of a complex concept in reproductive science. The technologies incorporated will be: 3-dimensional anatomical reconstructions, step-an ...