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If you are a small business concern (SBC) with 500 or fewer employees or a non-profit RI such as a university or a research laboratory with ties to an SBC, then NASA encourages you to learn more about the SBIR and STTR programs as a potential source of seed funding for the development of your innovations.
The SBIR and STTR programs have 3 phases:
The SBIR and STTR Phase I contracts last for 6 months with a maximum funding of $125,000, and Phase II contracts last for 24 months with a maximum funding of $750,000 - $1.5 million.
Opportunity for Continued Technology Development Post-Phase II:
The NASA SBIR/STTR Program currently has in place two initiatives for supporting its small business partners past the basic Phase I and Phase II elements of the program that emphasize opportunities for commercialization. Specifically, the NASA SBIR/STTR Program has the Phase II Enhancement (Phase II-E) and Phase II eXpanded (Phase II-X) contract options.
Please review the links below to obtain more information on the SBIR/STTR programs.
Provides an overview of the SBIR and STTR programs as implemented by NASA
Provides access to the annual SBIR/STTR Solicitations containing detailed information on the program eligibility requirements, proposal instructions and research topics and subtopics
Schedule and links for the SBIR/STTR solicitations and selection announcements
Federal and non-Federal sources of assistance for small business
Search our complete archive of awarded project abstracts to learn about what NASA has funded
Still have questions? Visit the program FAQs
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Additionally, self-reliant GNC systems possess the potential to reduce spacecraft response times where delays are introduced by communications lags and human-in-the-loop interactions. Autonomy is particularly important for deep space missions where there is significant response time delay and sporadic communication due to the physical distance between the spacecraft and Earth. A strategy that independently and adaptively handles the GNC requirements, from generating baseline trajectories to control about the reference path, in an effort to satisfy specified mission objectives is therefore highly desirable. The scope of the current problem is restricted to the generation and optimization of reference solutions for spacecraft trajectories. A strategy combining a multitude of gravitational models and propulsion methods, functional and direct optimization, and hybrid systems methodologies is proposed. Specifically, a method for the autonomous generation, selection, and optimization of reference spacecraft trajectories in multiple gravitational regimes will be developed. The proposed trajectory design and optimization scheme is sufficiently general to allow for wide implementation among a variety of spacecraft and scenarios. The methodology will be autonomous and adaptable such that baseline solutions are generated numerically and, when necessary, re-designed with a minimum of human-in-the-loop interaction. The procedure will independently determine an appropriate gravitational model for reference trajectory design and controller/estimator operation based on navigational data. Hybrid systems theory is implemented to specify a sequence of dynamical regimes that will satisfy mission objectives. Therefore, a baseline design for a mission from Earth to Europa, for example, could include propagations in Earth, Sun-Earth, Sun, Sun-Jupiter, and Jupiter-Europa gravitational models with low-thrust engine operation and impulsive maneuvers during varying segments along the full trajectory. Reference trajectories, comprised of impulsive maneuvers and/or low-thrust arcs, are optimized using a combination of functional and parameter optimization strategies. The underlying targeting process is inherently numerical, for example a shooting or collocation scheme, because of the non-linearity of the gravitational models and the likely inclusion of some type of continuous thrust or forcing effects. The primary investigation method will be numerical simulation of the autonomous scheme and its components. Because the purpose of this investigation is the development of the autonomous strategy, emphasis will be placed on robust operation rather than performance-optimized for a particular computing platform. Sample controllers/estimators will be included to test the operation of the overall design strategy, but the actual operation of the guidance and navigation system is not a focus of this research. Whether the objective is preliminary design or operations, the end goal is a process such that a desired spacecraft end-state and an allowable range of mission parameters are initially defined and a new design for the spacecraft path then emerges independently with an optimal series of maneuvers and/or low-thrust intervals to generate the desired response of the vehicle. The proposed strategy will extend the mission design and operation capabilities of future near-Earth and deep space NASA missions as well as increase engineering knowledge of autonomy and system optimization and design.","benefits":"The proposed strategy will extend the mission design and operation capabilities of future near-Earth and deep space NASA missions as well as increase engineering knowledge of autonomy and system optimization and design.","releaseStatus":"Released","status":"Completed","destinationType":["Earth"],"trlBegin":2,"trlCurrent":3,"trlEnd":3,"favorited":false,"detailedFunding":false,"programContacts":[{"contactId":183514,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Hung","lastName":"Nguyen","fullName":"Hung D Nguyen","fullNameInverted":"Nguyen, Hung D","middleInitial":"D","email":"hung.d.nguyen@nasa.gov","receiveEmail":"Subscribed_User","programContactRole":"Program_Manager","programContactId":162,"programId":69,"programContactRolePretty":"Program Manager","projectContactRolePretty":""},{"contactId":321177,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Matthew","lastName":"Deans","fullName":"Matthew C Deans","fullNameInverted":"Deans, Matthew C","middleInitial":"C","email":"matthew.c.deans-1@nasa.gov","receiveEmail":"Subscribed_User","programContactRole":"Program_Director","programContactId":267,"programId":69,"programContactRolePretty":"Program Director","projectContactRolePretty":""}],"endDateString":"Jul 2014","startDateString":"Aug 2012"},"relatedProjectId":10377,"relatedProject":{"projectId":10377,"title":"Three-Dimensional Backscatter X-Ray Imaging System","startDate":"2010-01-29","startYear":2010,"startMonth":1,"endDate":"2011-01-28","endYear":2011,"endMonth":1,"programId":73,"program":{"ableToSelect":false,"acronym":"SBIR/STTR","isActive":true,"description":"The NASA SBIR and STTR programs fund the research, development, and demonstration of innovative technologies that fulfill NASA needs as described in the annual Solicitations and have significant potential for successful commercialization. If you are a small business concern (SBC) with 500 or fewer employees or a non-profit RI such as a university or a research laboratory with ties to an SBC, then NASA encourages you to learn more about the SBIR and STTR programs as a potential source of seed funding for the development of your innovations.
The SBIR and STTR programs have 3 phases:
The SBIR and STTR Phase I contracts last for 6 months with a maximum funding of $125,000, and Phase II contracts last for 24 months with a maximum funding of $750,000 - $1.5 million.
Opportunity for Continued Technology Development Post-Phase II:
The NASA SBIR/STTR Program currently has in place two initiatives for supporting its small business partners past the basic Phase I and Phase II elements of the program that emphasize opportunities for commercialization. Specifically, the NASA SBIR/STTR Program has the Phase II Enhancement (Phase II-E) and Phase II eXpanded (Phase II-X) contract options.
Please review the links below to obtain more information on the SBIR/STTR programs.
Provides an overview of the SBIR and STTR programs as implemented by NASA
Provides access to the annual SBIR/STTR Solicitations containing detailed information on the program eligibility requirements, proposal instructions and research topics and subtopics
Schedule and links for the SBIR/STTR solicitations and selection announcements
Federal and non-Federal sources of assistance for small business
Search our complete archive of awarded project abstracts to learn about what NASA has funded
Still have questions? Visit the program FAQs
","parentProgram":{"ableToSelect":false,"isActive":true,"description":"Catalyst is a portfolio of early stage programs that specialize in different innovation constituencies and mechanisms to push the state of the art in aerospace technology development","programId":92327,"responsibleMd":{"canUserEdit":false,"locationEdit":false,"organizationRolePretty":"","organizationTypePretty":""},"title":"Catalyst","manageGaps":false,"acronymOrTitle":"Catalyst"},"parentProgramId":92327,"programId":73,"responsibleMd":{"organizationId":4875,"organizationName":"Space Technology Mission Directorate","acronym":"STMD","organizationType":"NASA_Mission_Directorate","canUserEdit":false,"locationEdit":false,"organizationRolePretty":"","organizationTypePretty":"NASA Mission Directorate"},"responsibleMdOffice":4875,"stockImageFileId":36648,"title":"Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Tech Transfer","manageGaps":false,"acronymOrTitle":"SBIR/STTR"},"description":"The overall objective of the proposal is to design, develop and demonstrate a potentially portable Compton x-ray scatter 3D-imaging system by using specially designed rotationally movable x-ray source and x-ray detector, and the development of a suitable 3D-processing computer model. The proposed rotational configuration will allow the acquisition of multiple projections or images 360a around the region of interest, probing a conical volume of the object to be interrogated. The subsequent application of a computer model on these multiple projections, developed during Phase I, will allow a three-dimensional reconstruction of the object under study. In the proposed x-ray imaging system, the primary technical advance will be to extend methods that normally supplied a 2D projected image through a sheet of material, to a 3D image with more complicated features at different depths, such as cracks, corrosion, voids, delaminations, land mines, or improvised explosive devices. Also, the proposed system will be potentially portable, allowing it to be brought to the object to be imaged. The Beta and Production Phases of the proposed system would incorporate a battery self-contained package and wireless data transfer capabilities. These systems would revolutionize the current imaging applications that rely on 2D x-ray imaging systems only.","benefits":"Aerospace - In addition to NASA's needs, there is a routine need in the aerospace industry to inspect for metal fatigue on the wings and fuselage of airplanes. Cargo Inspection - There is a demonstrated need for one-sided imaging for inspecting cargo and other transportation containers that are already loaded onto a ship or other transportation carrier. A portable, battery-powered unit would enable random inspections at a much lower cost than truck-based imaging systems. Explosives Detection - Current explosives ordinance detection systems require an imaging plate to be positioned behind a suspicious package such as a suitcase or backpack. The x-ray source is positioned in front of the package, and an x-ray transmission image is obtained. Construction and Related Industries - There is a need for contractors to be able to image inside walls, floors, ceilings, etc., to determine the location of pipes, electrical wires, and other internal obstructions before demolition or remodel work.