{"project":{"acronym":"","projectId":93754,"title":"Silica-Silica Mirror Substrate Fabrication Technology","primaryTaxonomyNodes":[{"taxonomyNodeId":10748,"taxonomyRootId":8816,"parentNodeId":10747,"level":3,"code":"TX08.2.1","title":"Mirror Systems","definition":"Mirror systems development aims to provide increased sensitivity and resolution, such as improved resolution of X-ray grazing incidence optics and reduced areal costs for aperture systems > 10 m in diameter.","exampleTechnologies":"Ground metrology and systems; integrated electronic, integrated photonic, sensor readouts that enable significant data compression; low-noise, low-power, high-performance analog and mixed signal electronic components, and electronics packaging technology capable of operating in and surviving extreme temperatures. Sensor electronics designs to accommodate reduced size, weight, and power (SWaP), including wireless networking techniques. Analog and Mixed-Signal Instrument front end electronics ASICs, FPGAs and discrete components, space cube, onboard SAR processor, MUSTANG, supporting nanoelectronic elements, and supporting high-voltage power supplies.","hasChildren":false,"hasInteriorContent":true}],"startTrl":3,"currentTrl":4,"endTrl":4,"benefits":"Silica-Silica composites, can be fabricated into low cte, lightweight, and affordable sandwich panels using unique manufacturing techniques developed at Mentis. The resulting structures would be suitable for use as mirror substrates. These mirror substrates have potential applications as components on NASA UV/Optical Telescopes. The technology is suitable for monolithic mirrors up to 8 meters and segmented mirrors that are even larger. Missions that meet these requirements would be Large UV/Optical and Habitable Exoplanet missions. The predicted light weight of the system also make the technology suitable for use as a mirror for Ultra-Stable Balloon Telescopes and Exoplanet balloon telescopes.
Within the Department of Defense there are several applications for affordable mirror structures that are lightweight and have a low cte. Two potential applications would be integration into the optics train on a missile interceptor or use as part of the Gun-launched Tactical Satellite System (GLTSS). Performance optics with a low weight are critical to both applications and the unique ability to affordably manufacture sandwich panels from the silica-silica material make this material a true contender for insertion on these systems.","description":"Mentis Sciences, Inc. Proposes to develop a thin walled Silica-Silica composite that can be used as part of a honeycomb core sandwich panel that will form a mirror substrate that has a low coefficient of thermal expansion that is matched in all directions. The sandwich panel will be manufactured as a quartz polysiloxane composite. Following the cure, organics will be burned out and the system will be backfilled using Tetraethyl orthosilicate as a silica precursor. Following conversion, the resulting silica-silica composite will be suitable for use as a mirror substrate. The resulting product will be an ideal solution for reducing the areal cost of ultraviolet and optical mirror systems while meeting the stringent performance requirements of these systems. The novel manufacturing process used by Mentis will allow for thinner walls than have been used on mirrors in the past, resulting in a lightweight materials solution. During Phase I, Mentis will develop the Silica-Silica manufacturing process, and obtain preliminary modulus, cte and thermal conductivity data. In addition, a top-level feasibility study will be conducted and a small-scale piece of silica-silica honeycomb sandwich panel will be manufactured.","startYear":2017,"startMonth":6,"endYear":2017,"endMonth":12,"statusDescription":"Completed","principalInvestigators":[{"contactId":3251667,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Robert","lastName":"Lumpkins","fullName":"Robert Lumpkins","fullNameInverted":"Lumpkins, Robert","primaryEmail":"rlumpkins@mentissciences.com","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false},{"contactId":401921,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Robert","lastName":"Lumpkins","fullName":"Robert W Lumpkins","fullNameInverted":"Lumpkins, Robert W","middleInitial":"W","primaryEmail":"Rlumpkins@Mentissciences.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":410436,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Ron","lastName":"Eng","fullName":"Ron Eng","fullNameInverted":"Eng, Ron","primaryEmail":"Ron.Eng@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":298306,"fileName":"SBIR_2017_1_BC_S2.03-8716","fileSize":57322,"objectId":294840,"objectType":{"lkuCodeId":889,"code":"LIBRARY_ITEMS","description":"Library Items","lkuCodeTypeId":182,"lkuCodeType":{"codeType":"OBJECT_TYPE","description":"Object Type"}},"objectTypeId":889,"fileSizeString":"56.0 KB"},"files":[{"fileExtension":"pdf","fileId":298306,"fileName":"SBIR_2017_1_BC_S2.03-8716","fileSize":57322,"objectId":294840,"objectType":{"lkuCodeId":889,"code":"LIBRARY_ITEMS","description":"Library Items","lkuCodeTypeId":182,"lkuCodeType":{"codeType":"OBJECT_TYPE","description":"Object Type"}},"objectTypeId":889,"fileSizeString":"56.0 KB"}],"id":294840,"title":"Briefing Chart","description":"Silica-Silica Mirror Substrate Fabrication Technology, Phase I Briefing Chart","libraryItemTypeId":1222,"projectId":93754,"primary":false,"publishedDateString":"","contentType":{"lkuCodeId":1222,"code":"DOCUMENT","description":"Document","lkuCodeTypeId":341,"lkuCodeType":{"codeType":"LIBRARY_ITEM_TYPE","description":"Library Item Type"}}},{"caption":"Silica-Silica Mirror Substrate Fabrication Technology, Phase I Briefing Chart Image","file":{"fileExtension":"jpg","fileId":299382,"fileName":"SBIR_2017_1_BC_S2.03-8716","fileSize":41177,"objectId":295920,"objectType":{"lkuCodeId":889,"code":"LIBRARY_ITEMS","description":"Library Items","lkuCodeTypeId":182,"lkuCodeType":{"codeType":"OBJECT_TYPE","description":"Object Type"}},"objectTypeId":889,"fileSizeString":"40.2 KB"},"files":[{"fileExtension":"jpg","fileId":299382,"fileName":"SBIR_2017_1_BC_S2.03-8716","fileSize":41177,"objectId":295920,"objectType":{"lkuCodeId":889,"code":"LIBRARY_ITEMS","description":"Library Items","lkuCodeTypeId":182,"lkuCodeType":{"codeType":"OBJECT_TYPE","description":"Object Type"}},"objectTypeId":889,"fileSizeString":"40.2 KB"}],"id":295920,"title":"Briefing Chart Image","description":"Silica-Silica Mirror Substrate Fabrication Technology, Phase I Briefing Chart Image","libraryItemTypeId":1095,"projectId":93754,"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":"jpg","fileId":299382,"fileSizeString":"0 Byte"},"id":295920,"description":"Silica-Silica Mirror Substrate Fabrication Technology, Phase I Briefing Chart Image","projectId":93754,"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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