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Polymer Derived Rare Earth Silicate Nanocomposite Protective Coatings for Nuclear Thermal Propulsion Systems Project
nasa-test-0.demo.socrata.com | Last Updated 2015-07-20T05:33:39.000ZLeveraging a rapidly evolving state-of-the-art technical base empowered by Phase I NASA SBIR funding, NanoSonic's polymer derived rare earth silicate EBCs will provide a paradigm breaking advancement for NTPs by extending the operational utility of NTP rocket thrust chambers and nozzles. Unlike competing deposition technologies severely limited by substrate size and dimensions, NanoSonic's rare earth silicate coatings may be spray deposited under ambient conditions onto large area complex substrates and converted to mechanically robust, thermally insulative EBCs on a production basis. In fact, legacy spray equipment employed for hardcoat deposition within the marine, automotive and aerospace industries has been used for successful EBC deposition. Simulated NTP testing completed by the University of Washington on coated Inconel 625 substrates indicate five candidate EBCs have exceptional environmental, dimensional, and adhesive durability within flow conditions representative of NTP rocket engines. In fact, zero spallation, erosion, or any other form of coating degradation was observed at the thermal limit of testing of 1,950 C. All candidate resins may be transitioned to 200-gallon batch production quantities within an established manufacturing infrastructure.
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Nano Dust Analyzer Project
nasa-test-0.demo.socrata.com | Last Updated 2015-07-20T05:42:34.000Z<p> We propose to develop a new highly sensitive instrument to confirm the existence of the so-called nano-dust particles, characterize their impact parameters, and measure their chemical composition. Simultaneous theoretical studies will be used to derive the expected&nbsp; mass and velocity ranges of these putative particles to formulate science and measurement requirements for the future deployment of&nbsp; the proposed Nano-Dust Analyzer (NDA)&nbsp;</p> <p> Early dust instruments onboard Pioneer 8 and 9 and Helios spacecraft detected a flow of submicron sized dust particles coming from the direction of the Sun. These particles originate in the inner solar system from mutual collisions among meteoroids and move on&nbsp; hyperbolic orbits that leave the Solar System under the prevailing radiation pressure force. Later dust instruments with higher&nbsp; sensitivity had to avoid looking toward the Sun because of interference from the solar wind and UV radiation and thus contributed&nbsp; little to the characterization of the dust stream. The one exception is the Ulysses dust detector that observed escaping dust particles&nbsp; high above the solar poles, which confirm the suspicion that charged nanometer sized dust grains are carried to high heliographic&nbsp; latitudes by electromagnetic interactions with the Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF). Recently, the STEREO WAVES instruments&nbsp; recorded a large number of intense electric field signals, which were interpreted as impacts from nanometer sized particles striking the&nbsp; spacecraft with velocities of about the solar wind speed. This high flux and strong spatial and/or temporal variations of nanometer&nbsp; sized dust grains at low latitude appears to be uncorrelated with the solar wind properties. This is a mystery as it would require that&nbsp; the total collisional meteoroid debris inside 1 AU is cast in nanometer sized fragments. The observed fluxes of inner-source pickup ions&nbsp; also point to the existence of a much enhanced dust population in the nanometer size range.&nbsp;</p> <p> This new heliospherical phenomenon of nano-dust streams may have consequences throughout the planetary system, but as of yet no dust instrument exists that could be used to shed light on their properties. &nbsp;We propose to develop a dust analyzer capable to detect and&nbsp; analyze these mysterious dust particles coming from the solar direction and to embark upon complementary theoretical studies to&nbsp; understand their characteristics. The instrument is based on the Cassini Dust Analyzer (CDA) that has analyzed the composition of&nbsp; nanometer sized dust particles emanating from the Jovian and Saturnian systems but could not be pointed towards the Sun. By&nbsp; applying technologies implemented in solar wind instruments and coronagraphs a highly sensitive dust analyzer will be developed and&nbsp; tested in the laboratory. The dust analyzer shall be able to characterize impact properties (impact charge and energy distribution of&nbsp; ions from which mass and speed of the impacting grains may be derived) and chemical composition of individual nanometer sized&nbsp; particles while exposed to solar wind and UV radiation. The measurements will enable us to identify the source of the dust by&nbsp; comparing their elemental composition with that of larger micrometeoroid particles of cometary and asteroid origin and will reveal&nbsp; interaction of nano-dust with the interplanetary medium by investigating the relation of the dust flux with solar wind and IMF&nbsp; properties.&nbsp;</p> <p> Complementary theoretically studies will be performed to understand the characteristics of nano-dust particles at 1 AU to answer the&nbsp; following questions:&nbsp; - What is the speed range at which nanometer sized particles impact
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Extreme Temperature Gearhead Project
nasa-test-0.demo.socrata.com | Last Updated 2015-07-20T05:14:44.000ZIn response to the need for actuators, particularly, gear heads, that can operate in the harsh Venusian environment for extended periods of time, on the order of several days to weeks, Honeybee Robotics proposes to develop and demonstrate an extreme temperature compatible gear head. The proposed effort will consider the novel design of gear bearings, which is capable of handling wide range speeds and loads requirements, but will also incorporate standard bearings as a means of constraining relative axial motions of the gears. The high gear reductions possible within a single stage, coupled with the already compact size make this innovation ideal for spaceflight hardware where size and weight are at a premium, specifically to the extreme conditions of Venus. During Phase I, a first-generation prototype gear head will be designed, built, and tested in Venus-like conditions (486oC temperature and mostly CO2 gas environment). Phase I testing will verify the feasibility of the design and confirm that the gear head can operate at 486oC for an extended period of time. In a potential Phase II effort, an extreme environment compatible gear head will be developed to TRL 6. Fully developed and optimized versions of this gear head, when integrated with the offeror's high temperature motors, could be used to actuate drills, robotic arms, and other devices outside of an environment-controlled landed platform on the surface of Venus.
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Heated Thermoplastic Fiber Placement Head for NASA Langley Research Center Project
nasa-test-0.demo.socrata.com | Last Updated 2015-07-20T05:29:25.000ZReduced mass composite materials are crucial to the success of aerospace systems, but are inhibited by expensive autoclave consolidation, especially for large parts. To remedy this, NASA-LaRC has been developing cost-effective high-performance thermoplastic composite materials for years. NASA materials could dramatically reduce the cost of large aerospace structures, because those materials avoid the autoclave. However, NASA lacks a robust, cost-effective fabrication process to tow-place these emerging materials into laminates, and thus can?t evaluate their usefulness to industry. This program develops for NASA-LaRC the processing equipment that allows material evaluation and allows out-of-autoclave fiber placement. In particular, this program will deliver a heated in situ deposition head to fit on NASA-LaRCs placement machine. Heads can also be sold to industrial companies for existing placement machines so that aerospace composites can be fabricated out of the autoclave. In phase I, the deposition head will be designed and reviewed with NASA. The process window requirements for the placement head for NASA materials will be verified. In phase II, we will complete the design, fabricate, install, and prove-out the head equipment. We then start up the deposition head at NASA so that the emerging NASA-LaRC materials can be proven in laminates.
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Hybrid High-Fidelity Auscultation Scope Project
nasa-test-0.demo.socrata.com | Last Updated 2015-07-20T05:08:32.000ZTo address the NASA Johnson Space Center's need for a space auscultation capability, Physical Optics Corporation proposes to develop a Hybrid High-Fidelity Auscultation Scope (AUSCU-SCOPE) based on a unique combination of multiple auscultation mechanisms with a novel sensor-fusion algorithm. This system incorporates a hybridized sensor configuration and novel signal processing algorithm that will separate low-intensity body sounds (<25 dBA) from a noisy background (>70 dBA) experienced in spaceflights with a 20-dB signal-to-noise ratio. The non-invasive and space-qualified AUSCU-SCOPE is safe, easy-to-use for a non-expert crew member and does not require extra training of clinicians to Doppler sounds. Additionally, the system easily connects with space telemetry systems via Ethernet, firewire, USB, and wireless 802.11 for transmitting sound data for distance diagnosis. In Phase I, POC will demonstrate feasibility of AUSCU-SCOPE through system design, simulation, assembly, and testing of a benchtop prototype, which will reach TRL-level 4 by the end of Phase I. In Phase II, POC will develop a fully functional prototype at TRL-6 and demonstrate high-fidelity spaceflight auscultation capability in the presence of a 70-dBA noise. The results will enable NASA to perform spaceflight auscultation even against significant background noise.
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>1,000 W/kg Rad-Hard, High-Voltage PV Blanket at < $50/W IMM Cell Cost Project
nasa-test-0.demo.socrata.com | Last Updated 2015-07-20T05:31:36.000ZThe innovation is a new type of Stretched Lens Array (SLA) with a much thinner, lighter and more robust Fresnel lens than prior versions. The new lens enables a full blanket-level specific power > 1,000 W/kg, including lenses, the complete PV cell circuit (including cells, encapsulation, high-voltage insulation, and heavy radiation shielding), and waste heat rejection radiator. The new SLA array is cost-effective, with the most expensive array cost element, the IMM solar cell, contributing less than $50/W to the array cost. The new lens is novel in configuration, enabling single-axis tracking for the array even in the presence of large beta angles (e.g., 50 degrees) between the array and the sun. For future high-power arrays (e.g., > 100 kW), including Solar Electric Propulsion (SEP) missions, the new SLA will offer a unique combination of high efficiency (e.g., >35%), ultra-low mass, high-operating voltage (e.g., >300 V), and low cost. SLA technology is a direct descendant of the SCARLET array used to power NASA's Deep Space 1 SEP mission in 1998-2001. SLA recently completed a flight test on TacSat 4 in a very high radiation orbit, and the lessons learned from TacSat 4 led to the new SLA, the subject of this proposal. The new SLA is scalable to multi-hundred-kW array sizes using blanket deployment and support platforms such as DSS's Roll-Out Solar Array (ROSA) or ATK's SquareRigger. The new SLA will typically operate at 4-8X concentration, saving substantially on solar cell area, cost, radiation shielding mass, and dielectric isolation mass. The new SLA will enable the early use of state-of-the-art cells, such as inverted metamorphic (IMM) cells with 4 or 6 junctions, and will enhance the production capacity of cell vendors (e.g., 100 kW per year of 1 sun cells = 700 kW per year of 7X cells). The feasibility of the new SLA will be firmly established in Phase I, and functional prototype new SLA hardware will be fully developed and tested in Phase II.
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Generating Autoclave-Level Mechanical Properties with Out-of-Autoclave Thermoplastic Placement of Large Composite Aerospace Structures Project
nasa-test-0.demo.socrata.com | Last Updated 2015-07-20T05:41:46.000ZWhile in the 1970's and 1980's, composites were adopted for aerospace structure for increased performance and weight savings, the 1990's and 2000's witnessed the attention towards cost-effective fabrication. All thermoset processes that utilize such machines rely on autoclaves to consolidate the laminates, at significant acquisition and operational expense. Autoclaves to consolidate wings are hugely expensive. Autoclaves for fuselages are nearly cost-prohibitive (only one exists). Autoclaves for the Ares V do not exist. The marketplace would welcome a proven out-of-autoclave fabrication technology. The tasks in the ASI/UD-CCM STTR phase 1 was to assess the performance of the current TP-ATP heads, do a model based parametric study to determine possible head and process parameter changes and demonstrate an improved understanding of the head, with a goal of autoclave level properties. A set of models for the in situ Automated Tow/Tape Placement (ATP) processes that capture the important process phenomena were developed by UD-CCM. Accudyne then measured the laminate roughness, fabricated samples using a variety of conditions and tested the samples. Testing of the laminates indicate: placing with flat tape and using improved head chilling increases mechanical properties. Compacting with only a < load reduces properties. Using a vacuum bag oven reconsolidation is ineffective, and even reduces mechanical properties. The phase 2 program innovation is to develop and deploy University of Delaware process models to Accudyne's thermoplastic tow and tape placement head to remedy the mechanical property shortfall between the two fabrication processes used to manufacture large composite aerospace structure important to NASA. An additional advantage that would accrue by adopting TP-ATP would be the use of novel thermoplastic materials with thermal stability and toughness far in excess of what thermosetting materials can achieve.
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Lightweight Materials and Structures (LMS): Minimalistic Advanced SoftGoods Hatch (MASH) Project
nasa-test-0.demo.socrata.com | Last Updated 2015-07-20T05:35:38.000Z<p>MASH project will collaborate with NASA and industry stakeholders to facilitate design, identify materials, novel fabrication processes, and conduct validation testing and analysis of a lightweight airlock hatch system test article.&nbsp; MASH project will meet its objective through a combination of concept designs and trades, system and conop requirements definition, component development, and system design, fabrication, and testing in conjunction with mission architecture and operations studies.&nbsp; The project will address mission needs, technical challenges, risks related to the use of soft goods materials and structures.</p><p>The MASH project has 2 elements.&nbsp; The first element is a series of trade studies and evaluations that will 1) establish basic requirements and figure of merits (FOM) for the hatch system, 2) evaluate hatch concepts against requirements and FOMs, 3) survey candidate materials for hatch design, and 4) support mission impact studies that will inform the hatch design requirements. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>The second element (WBS 2.2), hatch technology development, uses a building block approach to systematically develop and demonstrate a soft goods hatch system.&nbsp; The approach includes design, analysis, fabrication and testing of first, hatch components and then, an integrated hatch system.</p><p>In FY14, the requirements and FOMs were determined from existing NASA standards for soft good structures and hatch design as well as customer needs. An initial trade evaluation informed the design of the hatch system at the beginning of the project and down selected a minimal set of design options.&nbsp;&nbsp; This minimal set of concept options will be matured with analysis and design details in the first quarter of FY15.&nbsp; A final trade evaluation with updated requirements and FOMS will be conducted to select a primary hatch design for maturation, fabrication and demonstration.&nbsp;&nbsp; In addition, a materials survey will be conducted to inform the current state of the art (SOA) and advance material options for the hatch system design.&nbsp;</p><p>In FY15, the MASH project will work with a HAT vehicle analysis team to define a reference airlock.&nbsp; The reference airlock will be used to inform and evaluate the performance of the hatch system against the key performance parameters, mass and volume.</p><p>In FY15 MASH will also futher the technology development of a soft goods hatch system design.&nbsp; Material candidate(s) from the materials survey and performance evaluations will be selected for implementation into the hatch design.&nbsp; Design analysis cycles will be conducted to inform fabrication of hatch components.&nbsp; Hatch components will be experimentally tested to validate performance.&nbsp; Specifically, sealing tests for required pressure loads and packaging evaluations will be peformed.&nbsp; The design, analysis, and component test validation along with customer needs will inform a final hatch design for a hatch system demonstration in FY16.&nbsp; The potential customers will be invited to participate in the design selection and evaluation to ensure the soft hatch design continues to be relevant to their needs.&nbsp; The technical review of the final hatch system design will be conducted prior to a continuation review of the project, and fabrication of a hatch system.&nbsp;</p><p>In FY16 MASH project activities will focus on the fabrication and experimental testing of the integrated hatch system. &nbsp;Design details for fabrication and the procurment statement of work (SOW) will be completed and ready for award the first quarter of FY16.&nbsp; An award kick-off and an intermin review for fabrication will be held during the fabrication process to ensure the fabrication of the hatch will meet requirements.&am
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Rare Earth Permanent Magnets Based on the Metastable SmCo13 Phase for XIPSs Project
nasa-test-0.demo.socrata.com | Last Updated 2015-07-20T05:26:05.000ZRare Earth Permanent Magnets Based on the Metastable SmCo13 Phase for XIPSs Project
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MODIS/Terra Vegetation Continuous Fields Yearly L3 Global 500m SIN Grid V051
nasa-test-0.demo.socrata.com | Last Updated 2015-07-20T04:50:41.000ZMODIS/Terra Vegetation Continuous Fields Yearly L3 Global 500m SIN Grid