{"project":{"acronym":"","projectId":8883,"title":"Expandable External Payload Carrier for Existing Launch Vehicles","primaryTaxonomyNodes":[{"taxonomyNodeId":10925,"taxonomyRootId":8816,"parentNodeId":10923,"level":3,"code":"TX14.1.2","title":"Launch Vehicle Propellant","definition":"Launch vehicle propellant technologies include all propellant handling aspects for both the vehicle and its payload while on the pad and during the ascent and on-orbit deployment phases. This subcategory includes technologies relevant to commercial launch industry enabling growth to support NASA Earth-to-orbit needs for cargo, science, and crew.","exampleTechnologies":"Tank/line insulation suitable for atmospheric conditions/ survive ascent environment; composite structures and components and lines for cryogenic application; propellant stratification and management; ascent/staging slosh/ullage collapse/geysering management; vehicle feedline chill and operation; instrumentation/mass gauging to track propellant inventory; autogenous and helium pressurization systems for cryogenic propellants; settled cryogenic fluid operations; quick disconnects (vehicle and payloads)","hasChildren":false,"hasInteriorContent":true}],"startTrl":1,"currentTrl":3,"endTrl":3,"benefits":"Applications not correlated to NASA include research by Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the U.S. Air Force. Interests may include flying such vehicles as the X-51 and the Hypersonic Test Vehicle (HTV) and Global Strike and RAPID EYE style demonstrator programs. Another application beyond that of NASA is an evolution of eXPC as a risk reduction technology demonstrator for advance hydrocarbon propulsion systems and applicability to the Reusable Booster System (RBS) within the U.S. Air Force EELV system. Additional commercial applications include payloads for the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Payloads may include rapid weather systems and exo-atmospheric research.
NASA has the opportunity to support the development of a suborbital system that expands the capability 10 fold. Utilizing a modular concept can leverage excess capability on other emerging launch vehicles with excess performance. Opportunities for NASA include hypersonic research, reentry research on capsules and winged vehicles, inflatable reentry technology, thermal protection system research, large scale zero-G fluids experiments, upper atmospheric research, and potentially fly-back booster technology. The eXPC test bed offers the cost effective pricing with the utilization of launch vehicles with excess performance. The applicability of the eXPC system to a number of NASA Centers as well as potential manufacture and operational support out of NASA Kennedy Space Center offers NASA personnel to be trained in advanced payload processing techniques, and suborbital research experiments in a collaborative environment.","description":"Numerous existing launch vehicles have excess performance that is not being optimized. By taking advantage of excess, unused, performance, additional NASA experiments and missions can be enhanced with this excess ELV performance. Designing an experimental platform for suborbital, hypersonic, and innovative payloads will bridge a technology gap in size and weight over current capabilities. Commercially, there are many customers that will be able to take advantage of the increase in size and weight for experimental research onboard the experimental platform. To minimize the launch vehicle integration efforts, the design of the experimental platform will mimic the current processing methods of auxiliary interfaces to the launch vehicle. During Phase I, SAS will be providing NASA with an adaptable cost effective experimental platform (expandable external payload carrier) design that may be used on a multitude of launch vehicles at a low risk and lower cost per pound then existing suborbital systems. This TRL 3 design will consist of a feasibility concept, detailed analysis and modeling, and a system requirements document. Path towards Phase II will be discussed, utilizing a hardware risk reduction approach. During Phase II, SAS will be providing NASA an expected TRL 5 of the design for one of the current launch vehicles.","startYear":2011,"startMonth":2,"endYear":2011,"endMonth":8,"statusDescription":"Completed","principalInvestigators":[{"contactId":3164411,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Tim","lastName":"Bulk","fullName":"Tim Bulk","fullNameInverted":"Bulk, Tim","primaryEmail":"tbulk@specialaerospaceservices.com","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false},{"contactId":468444,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Timothy","lastName":"Bulk","fullName":"Timothy A Bulk","fullNameInverted":"Bulk, Timothy A","middleInitial":"A","primaryEmail":"tbulk@specialaerospaceservices.com","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"programDirectors":[{"contactId":206378,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Jason","lastName":"Kessler","fullName":"Jason L Kessler","fullNameInverted":"Kessler, Jason L","middleInitial":"L","primaryEmail":"jason.l.kessler@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"programExecutives":[{"contactId":215154,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Jennifer","lastName":"Gustetic","fullName":"Jennifer L Gustetic","fullNameInverted":"Gustetic, Jennifer L","middleInitial":"L","primaryEmail":"jennifer.l.gustetic@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"programManagers":[{"contactId":62051,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Carlos","lastName":"Torrez","fullName":"Carlos Torrez","fullNameInverted":"Torrez, Carlos","primaryEmail":"carlos.torrez@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"projectManagers":[{"contactId":257217,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Justin","lastName":"Oliveira","fullName":"Justin M Oliveira","fullNameInverted":"Oliveira, Justin M","middleInitial":"M","primaryEmail":"justin.m.oliveira@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false},{"contactId":461333,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Theresa","lastName":"Stanley","fullName":"Theresa M Stanley","fullNameInverted":"Stanley, Theresa M","middleInitial":"M","primaryEmail":"theresa.m.stanley@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"website":"","libraryItems":[],"transitions":[{"transitionId":65153,"projectId":8883,"transitionDate":"2011-08-01","path":"Closed Out","closeoutDocuments":[{"title":"Final Summary Chart","file":{"fileExtension":"pdf","fileId":305395,"fileName":"SBIR_2010_1_FSC_O2.01-9180","fileSize":248555,"objectId":65153,"objectType":{"lkuCodeId":1841,"code":"TRANSITION_FILES","description":"Transition Files","lkuCodeTypeId":182,"lkuCodeType":{"codeType":"OBJECT_TYPE","description":"Object Type"}},"fileSizeString":"242.7 KB"},"transitionId":65153,"fileId":305395}],"infoText":"Closed out","infoTextExtra":"","dateText":"August 2011"}],"responsibleMd":{"acronym":"STMD","canUserEdit":false,"city":"","external":false,"linkCount":0,"organizationId":4875,"organizationName":"Space Technology Mission Directorate","organizationType":"NASA_Mission_Directorate","naorganization":false,"organizationTypePretty":"NASA Mission Directorate"},"program":{"acronym":"SBIR/STTR","active":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
","programId":73,"responsibleMd":{"acronym":"STMD","canUserEdit":false,"city":"","external":false,"linkCount":0,"organizationId":4875,"organizationName":"Space Technology Mission Directorate","organizationType":"NASA_Mission_Directorate","naorganization":false,"organizationTypePretty":"NASA Mission Directorate"},"responsibleMdId":4875,"stockImageFileId":36648,"title":"Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Tech Transfer"},"leadOrganization":{"canUserEdit":false,"city":"Boulder","congressionalDistrict":"Colorado 02","country":{"abbreviation":"US","countryId":236,"name":"United States"},"countryId":236,"external":true,"linkCount":0,"organizationId":3817,"organizationName":"Special Aerospace Services","organizationType":"Industry","stateTerritory":{"abbreviation":"CO","country":{"abbreviation":"US","countryId":236,"name":"United States"},"countryId":236,"name":"Colorado","stateTerritoryId":15},"stateTerritoryId":15,"msiData":{},"setAsideData":["Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB)","Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB)"],"ein":"223832509 ","dunsNumber":"784971116","uei":"QJMZBMHTMUE3","naorganization":false,"organizationTypePretty":"Industry"},"supportingOrganizations":[{"acronym":"KSC","canUserEdit":false,"city":"Kennedy Space Center","country":{"abbreviation":"US","countryId":236,"name":"United States"},"countryId":236,"external":false,"linkCount":0,"organizationId":4905,"organizationName":"Kennedy Space Center","organizationType":"NASA_Center","stateTerritory":{"abbreviation":"FL","country":{"abbreviation":"US","countryId":236,"name":"United States"},"countryId":236,"name":"Florida","stateTerritoryId":46},"stateTerritoryId":46,"naorganization":false,"organizationTypePretty":"NASA Center"}],"statesWithWork":[{"abbreviation":"CO","country":{"abbreviation":"US","countryId":236,"name":"United States"},"countryId":236,"name":"Colorado","stateTerritoryId":15},{"abbreviation":"FL","country":{"abbreviation":"US","countryId":236,"name":"United States"},"countryId":236,"name":"Florida","stateTerritoryId":46}],"lastUpdated":"2024-1-10","releaseStatusString":"Released","viewCount":58,"endDateString":"Aug 2011","startDateString":"Feb 2011"}}