Post Phase II SBIR Transitions on Programs (Phase II-E and Related Sources)
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Phase II-E↗
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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.
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Overview of Electric Propulsion Projects at NASA Glenn Research Center
NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) is currently leading the development of multiple electric propulsion systems to flight readiness. The Advanced Electric Propulsion System is a 12.5 kW Hall thruster system that is being developed by the Solar Electric Propulsion Technology Demonstration Mission (SEP TDM) project, under the sponsorship of the Space Technology Mission Directorate. NASA's Evolutionary Xenon Thruster-Commercial (NEXT-C) is 7 kW class gridded ion thruster system that being developed under the sponsorship of the Science Mission Directorate. NASA GRC is also providing electric propulsion discipline support to the Power and Propulsion Element and the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) missions, which will be the first applications for these technologies, respectively. Lower technology readiness level (TRL) projects are underway for applications including CubeSats, small spacecraft and Mars exploration vehicles. Under the sponsorship of the Small Spacecraft Technology Program, NASA GRC has performed numerous independent verification and validation tests of CubeSat class electric propulsion systems in support of a growing number of small US businesses that are developing these systems. Lastly, three technology development efforts focused on 100 kW EP strings led by Aerojet Rocketdyne, Ad Astra and MSNW were recently completed.
Smith, Bryan K.↗
Hybrid Upper Stage Provides a Safe, Green, and Cost-Efficient Solution for CubeSat Launches
Parabilis Space Technologies developed a hybrid upper stage that combines the benefits of traditional liquid and solid propulsion systems while reducing risk and cost. Hybrid technology is safe, green, and cost-efficient, making it versatile, especially for CubeSat launches, and Parabilis’ ACE configuration makes the system more compact. Parabilis received additional funding from NASA and the U.S. Air Force to develop this technology beyond the Phase I and II STTR accomplishments
SBIR/STTR↗
Power and Propulsion for Gateway: A NASA SBIR/STTR Success Story
NASA’s Gateway in lunar orbit will play a critical role in the Artemis program, which aims to land the first woman and the next man on the Moon by 2024. The development of the Power and Propulsion Element for Gateway is being led by Maxar Technologies, a mid-size organization, with contributions from two NASA SBIR/STTR awardees—Deployable Space Systems and Busek Company, Inc, both of which initially developed their Gateway contributions with support from the NASA SBIR/STTR program.
SBIR/STTR↗
3-D Bioprinter Overcomes Gravity by Printing Living Tissues in Space
Techshot, Inc., based in Greensville, IN, is the first U.S. company to 3-D print organic products on the International Space Station (ISS). The company’s BioFabrication Facility (BFF), developed in collaboration with nScrypt, Inc., prints in space to overcome the effects of gravity on Earth, which cause 3-D printed tissues to disform under their own weight. Techshot’s BFF was launched to the ISS supported by the NASA SBIR/STTR program in 2019. The company has since worked with NASA and other customers, valuing BFF’s external investments at more than $5 million, including $2.5 million from the ISS Program.
SBIR↗
Low-Maintenance Bioreactor Cultivates Fungi for Sustainable Food Source in Space
Nature’s Fynd, a food company headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, partnered with Montana State University on NASA STTR contracts to further develop a micro-gravity biofilm-biomat reactor, which cultivates a unique fungus to form a dense protein material. The resulting “biomat” could serve as a nutritious food source for life away from Earth. Nature’s Fynd has received external investments totaling more than $500 million for developing its technologies, and the company recently launched its meatless and dairy-free foods in specific retailers.
STTR↗
SAR Instruments Support Earth Science by Monitoring Surface Deformation and Change
With the NASA SBIR/STTR Program, Tendeg, LLC, has advanced its parabolic antenna technology. NASA’s Surface Deformation and Change (SDC) study is interested in antenna technology that could be used to capture images of Earth’s surface for science research. In 2021, Tendeg received investor funds from SDC to continue developing SBIR-related work through the Phase II-Extended (II-E) option. Tendeg’s technology has supported NASA and commercial space missions; in total, Tendeg attributes $45 million in revenue as a result of SBIR-related developments.
SBIR↗
Methane Bioreactor System Offers Sustainable Plastic Alternative for Earth and Space
Mango Materials partnered with the Colorado School of Mines on NASA STTR awards to adapt a bioreactor system to convert methane into bioplastic for low-gravity environments. In space, methane from carbon dioxide conversion systems and waste treatment can be used to 3D print objects and provide polymers for construction and regolith binding. On Earth, the system can convert methane—a greenhouse gas—into environmentally conscious bioplastic. Mango Materials received $6 million through NASA CCRPP, including funds from fashion investors seeking alternatives to plastic-based textiles.
SBIR/STTR↗
Decarbonizing the Building Sector: A Human-Centered Study Focused on Small/Light Commercial Building Energy Equity
Decarbonization of the building sector is no small feat; buildings account for 40% of primary energy consumption, and fossil-fuel combustion in buildings leads to roughly 30% of total greenhouse gas emissions. Energy efficiency, electrification and smart technologies are fundamental strategies to reduce consumption and shift away from fossil-fuel use in buildings. This energy transition carries significant societal risks unless the shift is carried out with equity and justice as a top priority. Low-income, vulnerable and communities of color have higher energy burdens compared to affluent populations. Furthermore, systemic racism and historic exclusionary policies have resulted in increased risks (environmental, climatic, economic, and social) to low-income and communities of color, and underserved communities often do not have financial resources for, or access to, advanced building technologies. The U.S. Department of Energy is funding research to characterize and develop solutions to the challenges of equity and justice that complicate the ability of communities to contribute to goals for decarbonization. Our project has a specific focus on small commercial buildings and the businesses that occupy them. Significantly less is known about the burdens and risks these businesses experience or the challenges they face in pursuing decarbonization, or how those are affected by income and race, in comparison to research on energy equity and justice for diverse households. The project team includes the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Arizona State University and Clark Atlanta University. Researchers are conducting semi-structured interviews with small business owners in underserved communities in Phoenix and Atlanta, followed by a survey distributed to the larger community to learn more about the equity and justice issues that communities with different racial, economic, and cultural backgrounds face. Results will help inform an actionable and replicable framework for engaging small commercial building owners/operators to catalyze the reduction of energy burdens and increase equity.
Antonopoulos, Chrissi A.↗
Small Engine Technology (SET) Task 24 Business and Regional Aircraft System Studies
This final report has been prepared by Honeywell Engines & Systems, Phoenix, Arizona, a unit of Honeywell International Inc., documenting work performed during the period June 1999 through December 1999 for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, Ohio, under the Small Engine Technology (SET) Program, Contract No. NAS3-27483, Task Order 24, Business and Regional Aircraft System Studies. The work performed under SET Task 24 consisted of evaluating the noise reduction benefits compared to the baseline noise levels of representative 1992 technology aircraft, obtained by applying different combinations of noise reduction technologies to five business and regional aircraft configurations. This report focuses on the selection of the aircraft configurations and noise reduction technologies, the prediction of noise levels for those aircraft, and the comparison of the noise levels with those of the baseline aircraft.
Lieber, Lysbeth↗
Lost in Cloud
Cloud computing can reduce cost significantly because businesses can share computing resources. In recent years Small and Medium Businesses (SMB) have used Cloud effectively for cost saving and for sharing IT expenses. With the success of SMBs, many perceive that the larger enterprises ought to move into Cloud environment as well. Government agency s stove-piped environments are being considered as candidates for potential use of Cloud either as an enterprise entity or pockets of small communities. Cloud Computing is the delivery of computing as a service rather than as a product, whereby shared resources, software, and information are provided to computers and other devices as a utility over a network. Underneath the offered services, there exists a modern infrastructure cost of which is often spread across its services or its investors. As NASA is considered as an Enterprise class organization, like other enterprises, a shift has been occurring in perceiving its IT services as candidates for Cloud services. This paper discusses market trends in cloud computing from an enterprise angle and then addresses the topic of Cloud Computing for NASA in two possible forms. First, in the form of a public Cloud to support it as an enterprise, as well as to share it with the commercial and public at large. Second, as a private Cloud wherein the infrastructure is operated solely for NASA, whether managed internally or by a third-party and hosted internally or externally. The paper addresses the strengths and weaknesses of both paradigms of public and private Clouds, in both internally and externally operated settings. The content of the paper is from a NASA perspective but is applicable to any large enterprise with thousands of employees and contractors.
Maluf, David A.↗
Marketing Remote Sensing Data for North Pacific Fisheries Development and Management
Fish poaching, drug trafficking, ocean dumping, and other illegal activities are important problems on the high seas and in national economic zones. The primary thrust of the EOCAP II project, "Marketing Remote Sensing Data for North Pacific Fisheries Development and Management", was to use space-based sensors to improve the effectiveness of marine monitoring, control, and surveillance (MCS). Our initial objectives were to concentrate on the development of MCS tools using Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometry (AVHRR) and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data. Although we have successfully completed development of an initial version of our SAR-based monitoring tool (OmniVision), project activity has resulted in a much broader application of space-based assets to marine applications. Based in part on work commenced within EOCAP II, a new company, Ocean and Coastal Environmental Sensing, Inc. (OCENS), has been launched and the development of several new software products outside of the MCS arena initiated. One of those products, SeaStation, is near completion with a Fall, 1995 release date. Equity investment in OCENS now totals $70,000-with an additional amount being sought in the first round of financing. One of the pre-eminent objectives of EOCAP II is to make contributions to the US economy and job growth through the expansion of commercial uses of remotely sensed data. OCENS and the software products it is introducing into marine and coastal zone markets responds to this primary object*e. EOCAP II funding leveraged the market and technical know-how of OCENS founders into smart products that benefit marine and coastal zone users. Although technical difficulties and geopolitical shifts damaged the commercial feasibility of initial project objectives, the flexibility of the EOCAP II program now permits long-term business success. This in no small part stems from the fact that the EOCAP program recognizes the realities of small and start-up businesses and does not attempt to force these conditions to fit the apparent needs of big government. Instead, EOCAP works with those who know their market best in order to produce successful products and expanding businesses.
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Activities involving aeronautical, space science, and technology support for minority institutions
The Final Report addressed the activities with which the Interracial Council for Business Opportunity (ICBO) was involved over the past 12 months. ICBO was involved in the design and development of a CARES Student Tracking System Software (CARES). Cares is intended to provide an effective means of maintaining relevant current and historical information on NASA-funded students through a range of educational program initiatives. ICBP was extensively involved in the formation of a minority university consortium amd implementation of collaborative research activities by the consortium as part of NASA's Mission to Planet Earth/Earth Observing System. ICBO was involved in the formation of an HBCU/MI Consortium to facilitate technology transfer efforts to the small and minority business community in their respective regions.
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Selling to NASA
The prospective NASA contractor is provided with information that describes the agency and its procurement practices. Products include ideas, manufacturing capabilities, fabricated components, construction, basic materials, and specialized services. NASA assistance in marketing these and other products is emphasized. Small and minority business enterprises are discussed. The agency's scientific and technical information activities are also discussed.
Source record↗