NASA SBIR 2006 Solicitation
FORM B - PROPOSAL SUMMARY
PROPOSAL NUMBER: |
06-2 S7.04-9588 |
PHASE 1 CONTRACT NUMBER: |
NNM07AA47C |
SUBTOPIC TITLE: |
Chemical and Propellantless Propulsion for Deep Space |
PROPOSAL TITLE: |
Low Mass Aeroshell Deployment Mechanism |
SMALL BUSINESS CONCERN (Firm Name, Mail Address, City/State/Zip, Phone)
Cornerstone Research Group, Inc.
2750 Indian Ripple Road
Dayton, OH 45440 - 3638
(937) 320-1877
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR/PROJECT MANAGER (Name, E-mail, Mail Address, City/State/Zip, Phone)
Michael J Fisher
fishermj@crgrp.net
2750 Indian Ripple Road
Dayton, OH 45440 - 3638
(937) 320-1877
TECHNICAL ABSTRACT (Limit 2000 characters, approximately 200 words)
Cornerstone Research Group Inc. (CRG) will develop new shape memory polymer (SMP) deployment mechanisms for actuating thermal protection system (TPS) panels to create a deployable, large surface area aeroshell. This innovation will exploit Veriflex(R) -- CRG's high-performance SMP material -- to create a low-mass actuation system for a deployable aeroshell design. Veriflex(R)-based mechanisms will deploy the aeroshell without the use of motors, springs, or mechanical controls. These simple, self-deploying, self-aligning mechanisms will reduce the mass and the complexity of the aeroshell design. Veriflex(R)-based deployment mechanisms will enable use of panels made from existing TPS materials to create a large surface area aeroshells that will stow in a highly compact pre-launch and storage configuration and then self-deploy before entry to the operational configuration. The TPS panels will deploy outward and increase the diameter of the aeroshell. For every 10 percent increase in the diameter, there will be a 21 percent increase in the total surface area of the aeroshell. The relative volume of space needed to stow the entry vehicle would not increase. This innovation directly addresses the need for aeroassist/aerocapture technology for planetary exploration spacecraft as defined by subtopic S7.04 of NASA SBIR/STTR Solicitation 2006-1.
POTENTIAL NASA COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS (Limit 1500 characters, approximately 150 words)
This project's technologies developed for NASA systems would also directly apply to deployable subsystems for spacecraft operated by other Government and commercial enterprises. This project's deployment technologies will be easily tailorable to actuation of instrument booms, instrument covers, and solar arrays for a wide variety of remote sensor and communication spacecraft. Furthermore, materials and design modifications could prove the technology's suitability for a myriad of applications in terrestrial and air vehicles, including drag reduction to drag modification, stabilization and control, and boundary layer control on airfoils and other vehicle bodies.
POTENTIAL NON-NASA COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS (Limit 1500 characters, approximately 150 words)
Supporting NASA's Exploration Systems Mission Directorate and addressing NASA's need for aeroassist/aerocapture technology for planetary exploration spacecraft as defined by subtopic S7.04 of NASA SBIR/STTR Solicitation 2006-1, this project's technologies enable low mass, large surface area deployable aeroshells for providing aerocapture functionality for future planetary exploration missions similar to the Phoenix Lander, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, and Mars Science Laboratory.
NASA's technology taxonomy has been developed by the SBIR-STTR program to disseminate awareness of proposed and awarded R/R&D in the agency. It is a listing of over 100 technologies, sorted into broad categories, of interest to NASA.
TECHNOLOGY TAXONOMY MAPPING |
Aerobrake
Composites
Guidance, Navigation, and Control
Kinematic-Deployable
Launch and Flight Vehicle
Multifunctional/Smart Materials
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Form Generated on 08-02-07 14:39
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