{"project":{"acronym":"","projectId":89848,"title":"Propellant Gelation for Green In-Space Propulsion","primaryTaxonomyNodes":[{"taxonomyNodeId":10539,"taxonomyRootId":8816,"parentNodeId":10533,"level":3,"code":"TX01.1.6","title":"Gels","definition":"Gelled and metallized fuels are a class of thixotropic (shear-thinning) fuels that improve the performance of rocket and air-breathing systems.","exampleTechnologies":"Gelled oxygen (O2)/hydrogen (H2), gelled MMH/IRFNA propellants, nanogelled propellants","hasChildren":false,"hasInteriorContent":true}],"startTrl":3,"currentTrl":4,"endTrl":4,"benefits":"The applications derived from creating safer versions of high-performing liquid bipropellants are numerous and will find many NASA applications especially in the secondary payload propulsion marketplace. Among these uses are: gelled liquid apogee engines, reaction control thrusters, and gelled liquid upper-stage engines. Specific NASA applications include attitude control engines for spacecraft and satellites, apogee engines on spacecraft, orbit transfer, maneuvering and station keeping. This technology will find direct applications and insertion opportunities into several existing NASA related engines and platforms including: Modular Common Spacecraft Bus (MCSB), R-4D family of thrusters including HiPAT Apogee Kick Motor, Draco and Super-Draco engines.
The applications derived from creating safer versions of high-performing liquid bipropellants are numerous and will arise from both civilian and military uses. The proposed technology will find many applications in attitude control and apogee engines for commercial and government satellites. Other military and commercial applications include maneuvering and divert and attitude control system engines for hypersonic and other kill vehicles. The primary commercial customers for the end-product are the space launch community and federal agencies such as Air Force, Army and MDA as well as their aerospace propulsion contractors.","description":"Concerns in recent years about the toxicity and safe handling of the storable class of propellants have led to efforts in greener monopropellants and bi-propellants. CFDRC has worked with researchers in designing and synthesizing propellants called ionic liquids. These are generally not as high-performing as traditional storables and still have toxicity issues. Other work by CFDRC and Army researchers (among others) has demonstrated that gelling of liquid propellants, even toxic hypergols, can enhance their insensitive munitions (IM) properties to a significant degree. Besides the IM benefits, gelling of the fuel allows the suspension of ultrafine particles that both densify the propellant and add to the combustion energy, and thereby the specific impulse. CFDRC proposes to combine these research elements into a comprehensive assessment in Phase I to determine the degree to which the gelation of innovative propellant combinations can enhance the system benefits, including performance, safety, and launch costs. Then in Phase II, the desired propellants will be obtained or synthesized, and then gelled. A liquid apogee motor-class thruster will be fabricated and the gelled propellants will be hot-fired in the thruster for evaluation. The end Phase II will focus on identification of opportunities to transition and integrate this technology into NASA, DoD and commercial product lines, with special emphasis on NASA secondary payload propulsion applications.","startYear":2016,"startMonth":6,"endYear":2016,"endMonth":12,"statusDescription":"Completed","principalInvestigators":[{"contactId":313193,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Mark","lastName":"Ostrander","fullName":"Mark Ostrander","fullNameInverted":"Ostrander, Mark","primaryEmail":"Mark.Ostrander@Cfdrc.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":3164746,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Bryan","lastName":"Palaszewski","fullName":"Bryan Palaszewski","fullNameInverted":"Palaszewski, Bryan","primaryEmail":"Bryan.A.Palaszewski@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":[{"file":{"fileExtension":"pdf","fileId":303505,"fileName":"SBIR_2016_1_BC_S3.02-8435","fileSize":235757,"objectId":300055,"objectType":{"lkuCodeId":889,"code":"LIBRARY_ITEMS","description":"Library Items","lkuCodeTypeId":182,"lkuCodeType":{"codeType":"OBJECT_TYPE","description":"Object Type"}},"objectTypeId":889,"fileSizeString":"230.2 KB"},"files":[{"fileExtension":"pdf","fileId":303505,"fileName":"SBIR_2016_1_BC_S3.02-8435","fileSize":235757,"objectId":300055,"objectType":{"lkuCodeId":889,"code":"LIBRARY_ITEMS","description":"Library Items","lkuCodeTypeId":182,"lkuCodeType":{"codeType":"OBJECT_TYPE","description":"Object Type"}},"objectTypeId":889,"fileSizeString":"230.2 KB"}],"id":300055,"title":"Briefing Chart","description":"Propellant Gelation for Green In-Space Propulsion, Phase I Briefing 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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
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