{"project":{"acronym":"","projectId":93633,"title":"Metal Production Away From Earth","primaryTaxonomyNodes":[{"taxonomyNodeId":10724,"taxonomyRootId":8816,"parentNodeId":10721,"level":3,"code":"TX07.1.3","title":"Resource Processing for Production of Mission Consumables","definition":"This area covers resource processing technologies that produce mission consumables, such as water, breathable oxygen, inert gases, and propellants, from pre-processed resources.","exampleTechnologies":"Instruments and devices functioning in the relevant gravity environment including: thermal/mechanical components and reactors to extract end-product resources from inert materials (e.g. thermal reactors for volatile extraction from regolith); chemical, electrochemical, and biological materials, catalysts, components, and reactors to extract and combine resources to produce end-products (e.g. catalytic reactors to produce methane, electrolysis devices to produce oxygen, etc.); phase-change devices to extract or distill end-product gases from by-product recycling sources (e.g. cryocoolers for gas product drying); filtration and purification devices for meeting mission-critical end use requirements; crosscutting technologies for enhancing production system durability and reliability in harsh environments (e.g. dust tolerant seals and bearings); crosscutting technologies for utilizing sources of high-temperature thermal energy for process-heating (e.g. integrated solar concentrators); and models and simulations to identify and quantify opportunities for systemic reductions in power requirements and enhancements in durability and reliability for resource processing systems","hasChildren":false,"hasInteriorContent":true}],"startTrl":2,"currentTrl":3,"endTrl":3,"benefits":"Producing the materials needed to fabricate structures and vehicles is a critical requirement for the long-term occupation of space. If everything had to be delivered from Earth, the cost would be overwhelming. The process proposed here will allow the production of iron and nickel almost anywhere in the solar system in a form appropriate for use in Additive Manufacturing without consuming any material that must be brought from Earth. Once in the powder form the metals, if desired, can readily be converted to other forms such as rods, ingots, and sheets for use with conventional fabrication methods. Therefore, proposed process allows supplying both additive and conventional fabrication processes with metal.
The volatilization-based process to be used in the proposed project is already known as an effective method of producing high purity metals. Pure metals produced by this process are generally more expensive compared to those produced by other processes (for instance, iron reduced with coke), which limits their use to high value applications. A direct application of the proposed process is to permit the straight fabrication of metal in a form suitable for Additive Manufacturing processes rather than making bulk material and reducing its particle size. Indirectly, improvements made as part of this project will contribute to reducing the price gap and increasing the number of applications that can cost effectively use high purity iron and nickel.","description":"Long-term occupation of space requires a supply of metal suitable for fabrication of various components and structures. While astronomical objects are rich in the desired metallic elements, these elements are in the form inappropriate for use in Additive Manufacturing processes. Lynntech, in collaboration with University of Texas El Paso, proposes to develop a process to convert material from its native state (typically an oxide dispersed in a silicate matrix) to one suitable for use in Additive Manufacturing methods to allow the direct fabrication of complex parts in space. Proposed process consists of four steps: grinding of the native material for ease of processing, reduction of oxides to zero valent metal, conversion of the metal to a volatile form for separation and recovery, and direct formation of metal powder in a size and purity suitable for use in Additive Manufacturing. Our unique process requires relatively low temperatures, recycles all the reagents (thus there is no need for consumables), and produces oxygen as a byproduct. Phase I effort will demonstrate the reduction, volatilization, and powder formation steps for nickel and iron using regolith simulant as the feedstock. Recovered metal powders will be thoroughly characterized for use in powder-based Additive Manufacturing processes.","startYear":2017,"startMonth":6,"endYear":2018,"endMonth":6,"statusDescription":"Completed","principalInvestigators":[{"contactId":507281,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Sanil","lastName":"John","fullName":"Sanil John","fullNameInverted":"John, Sanil","primaryEmail":"sanil.john@lynntech.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":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},{"contactId":3251916,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Thomas","lastName":"Lippitt","fullName":"Thomas Lippitt","fullNameInverted":"Lippitt, Thomas","primaryEmail":"Thomas.Lippitt@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"website":"","libraryItems":[{"file":{"fileExtension":"pdf","fileId":301999,"fileName":"STTR_2017_1_BC_T4.02-9965","fileSize":75153,"objectId":298541,"objectType":{"lkuCodeId":889,"code":"LIBRARY_ITEMS","description":"Library Items","lkuCodeTypeId":182,"lkuCodeType":{"codeType":"OBJECT_TYPE","description":"Object Type"}},"objectTypeId":889,"fileSizeString":"73.4 KB"},"files":[{"fileExtension":"pdf","fileId":301999,"fileName":"STTR_2017_1_BC_T4.02-9965","fileSize":75153,"objectId":298541,"objectType":{"lkuCodeId":889,"code":"LIBRARY_ITEMS","description":"Library Items","lkuCodeTypeId":182,"lkuCodeType":{"codeType":"OBJECT_TYPE","description":"Object Type"}},"objectTypeId":889,"fileSizeString":"73.4 KB"}],"id":298541,"title":"Briefing Chart","description":"Metal Production away from Earth, Phase I Briefing Chart","libraryItemTypeId":1222,"projectId":93633,"primary":false,"publishedDateString":"","contentType":{"lkuCodeId":1222,"code":"DOCUMENT","description":"Document","lkuCodeTypeId":341,"lkuCodeType":{"codeType":"LIBRARY_ITEM_TYPE","description":"Library Item Type"}}},{"caption":"Metal Production away from Earth, Phase I Briefing Chart Image","file":{"fileExtension":"png","fileId":297256,"fileName":"STTR_2017_1_BC_T4.02-9965","fileSize":46386,"objectId":293787,"objectType":{"lkuCodeId":889,"code":"LIBRARY_ITEMS","description":"Library Items","lkuCodeTypeId":182,"lkuCodeType":{"codeType":"OBJECT_TYPE","description":"Object Type"}},"objectTypeId":889,"fileSizeString":"45.3 KB"},"files":[{"fileExtension":"png","fileId":297256,"fileName":"STTR_2017_1_BC_T4.02-9965","fileSize":46386,"objectId":293787,"objectType":{"lkuCodeId":889,"code":"LIBRARY_ITEMS","description":"Library Items","lkuCodeTypeId":182,"lkuCodeType":{"codeType":"OBJECT_TYPE","description":"Object Type"}},"objectTypeId":889,"fileSizeString":"45.3 KB"}],"id":293787,"title":"Briefing Chart Image","description":"Metal Production away from Earth, Phase I Briefing Chart Image","libraryItemTypeId":1095,"projectId":93633,"primary":true,"publishedDateString":"","contentType":{"lkuCodeId":1095,"code":"IMAGE","description":"Image","lkuCodeTypeId":341,"lkuCodeType":{"codeType":"LIBRARY_ITEM_TYPE","description":"Library Item Type"}}}],"transitions":[],"primaryImage":{"file":{"fileExtension":"png","fileId":297256,"fileSizeString":"0 Byte"},"id":293787,"description":"Metal Production away from Earth, Phase I Briefing Chart Image","projectId":93633,"publishedDateString":""},"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
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