{"projectId":93767,"project":{"projectId":93767,"title":"Software and Tools for Electronics Printing in Space(STEPS)","startDate":"2017-06-09","startYear":2017,"startMonth":6,"endDate":"2017-12-08","endYear":2017,"endMonth":12,"programId":73,"program":{"ableToSelect":false,"acronym":"SBIR/STTR","isActive":true,"description":"<p>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.</p><p><strong>The SBIR and STTR programs have 3 phases</strong>:</p><ul><li><strong>Phase I</strong> is the opportunity to establish the scientific, technical, and commercial feasibility of the proposed innovation in fulfillment of NASA needs.</li><li><strong>Phase II</strong> is focused on the development, demonstration and delivery of the proposed innovation.</li></ul><p>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.</p><ul><li><strong>Phase III</strong> is the commercialization of innovative technologies, products, and services resulting from either a Phase I or Phase II contract. Phase III contracts are funded from sources other than the SBIR and STTR programs and may be awarded without further competition.</li></ul><p><strong>Opportunity for Continued Technology Development Post-Phase II</strong>:</p><p>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.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Please review the links below to obtain more information on the SBIR/STTR programs.</strong></p><ul><li><strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http://sbir.gsfc.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/ParticipationGuide.pdf\">Participation Guide</a></strong></li></ul><p>Provides an overview of the SBIR and STTR programs as implemented by NASA</p><ul><li><strong><a href=\"http://sbir.gsfc.nasa.gov/solicitations\">Program Solicitations</a></strong></li></ul><p>Provides access to the annual SBIR/STTR Solicitations containing detailed information on the program eligibility requirements, proposal instructions and research topics and subtopics</p><ul><li><strong><a href=\"http://sbir.gsfc.nasa.gov/prg_sched_anncmnt\">Schedule and Awards</a></strong></li></ul><p>Schedule and links for the SBIR/STTR solicitations and selection announcements</p><ul><li><strong><a href=\"http://sbir.gsfc.nasa.gov/content/additional-sources-assistance\">Sources of Assistance</a></strong></li></ul><p>Federal and non-Federal sources of assistance for small business</p><ul><li><strong><a href=\"http://sbir.gsfc.nasa.gov/abstract_archives\">Awarded Abstracts</a></strong></li></ul><p>Search our complete archive of awarded project abstracts to learn about what NASA has funded</p><ul><li><strong><a href=\"http://sbir.gsfc.nasa.gov/content/frequently-asked-questions\">Frequently Asked Questions</a></strong></li></ul><p>&nbsp;Still have questions? Visit the program FAQs</p>","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":"We are proposing an to develop a direct write electronics and avionics printing capability within the Techshot BioFabrication Facility currently funded and anticipated to be deliver to the International Space Station in late 2018. We are calling this new system Software and Tools for Electronics Printing in Space or STEPS as it will be another step forward to truly having multimodal digital manufacturing ability in space. Throughout this program we will develop the direct write tools, software and platform to test various combinations of conductive and nonconductive materials for antennas, circuit masks and circuit layouts to prepare to move forward to add pick and place capability and substrate printing to build complete circuit boards and eventually complete 3D circuit structures. Although many of the necessary technologies exist, a key feature in out platform will be a unifying open-source software package. We believe that moving to open-source will broaden the potential user base but will also provide the control, training, security and stability that can only occur when the user community is allowed access to the source code. This is a paradigm shift in the commercial controls world but is readily embraced in the 3D printing world. Now as a dual use system, the BioFabrication Facility plus STEPS will not be limited to crew demands or vehicle availability which may limit biological systems. It will be able to print replacement or upgraded electronics or avionics when it?s not printing tissues. Our end goal is to have enough added capability that the facility will never need to sit idle, space on an exploration vehicle is too valuable.","benefits":"The space services segment is the core of Techshot?s business plan. In the initial stages of our new product introduction, Techshot?s commercialization strategy is largely dependent on infusion into NASA programs. Through its Space Act Agreement and its IDIQ contract, Techshot will offer both the STEPS equipment and the services associated with flight hardware, which are expected to be highly desired by NASA-funded researchers and personnel within NASA?s Advanced Exploration Systems (AES) division. AES pioneers new approaches for rapidly developing prototype systems ? demonstrating key capabilities, and validating operational concepts for future human missions beyond low-Earth orbit. AES activities are uniquely related to crew safety and mission operations in deep space, and are strongly coupled to future vehicle development. STEPS could prove to be a key resource that enables human pioneering beyond low Earth orbit.<br /> <br />Techshot?s commercial space history traces to co-founder John Vellinger?s 1989 Kentucky Fried Chicken-funded space flight experiment with chicken embryos. Later, throughout the 1990?s, Techshot was a pioneer in commercial space flight research, becoming one of the first companies of its kind to be paid by non-NASA, non-space centric organizations to process materials in space. As an official CASIS Implementation Partner, Techshot has been successfully marketing its hardware and services to a new generation of commercial companies that may not have previously participated in space research and/or materials processing. Companies such as Novartis and Eli Lilly have recently used Techshot on-orbit equipment. The wearable electronics market is expected to break $20 billion this year. The old way of making electronics by laying copper on rigid printed circuit boards is not cutting it anymore. Like everything else in our lives; faster, smaller, cheaper is the driver but softer, tactile and aesthetic are also key. This is where we will shine with what we learn. Multi-material, 3D high tech electronics packaged in new ways to withstand the rigors of space in small packages. These could be game changers in consumer products also. Techshot is partnering with nScrypt, a leading digital manufacturing company, to terrestrially commercialize intellectual property resulting from SBIR contracts.","releaseStatus":"Released","status":"Completed","viewCount":607,"destinationType":["Moon_and_Cislunar"],"trlBegin":2,"trlCurrent":4,"trlEnd":4,"lastUpdated":"01/22/26","favorited":false,"detailedFunding":false,"projectContacts":[{"contactId":156942,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Furman","lastName":"Thompson","fullName":"Furman V Thompson","fullNameInverted":"Thompson, Furman V","middleInitial":"V","email":"furman.v.thompson@nasa.gov","receiveEmail":"Subscribed_User","projectContactRole":"Project_Manager","projectContactId":547877,"projectId":93767,"programContactRolePretty":"","projectContactRolePretty":"Project Manager"},{"contactId":147503,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Eugene","lastName":"Boland","fullName":"Eugene D Boland","fullNameInverted":"Boland, Eugene D","middleInitial":"D","receiveEmail":"Subscribed_User","projectContactRole":"Principal_Investigator","projectContactId":547878,"projectId":93767,"programContactRolePretty":"","projectContactRolePretty":"Principal Investigator"}],"programContacts":[{"contactId":206378,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Jason","lastName":"Kessler","fullName":"Jason L Kessler","fullNameInverted":"Kessler, Jason L","middleInitial":"L","email":"jason.l.kessler@nasa.gov","receiveEmail":"Subscribed_User","programContactRole":"Program_Director","programContactId":143,"programId":73,"programContactRolePretty":"Program Director","projectContactRolePretty":""},{"contactId":62051,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Carlos","lastName":"Torrez","fullName":"Carlos Torrez","fullNameInverted":"Torrez, Carlos","email":"carlos.torrez@nasa.gov","receiveEmail":"Subscribed_User","programContactRole":"Program_Manager","programContactId":194,"programId":73,"programContactRolePretty":"Program Manager","projectContactRolePretty":""}],"leadOrganization":{"organizationId":3948,"organizationName":"Redwire Space Technologies, Inc.","organizationType":"Industry","city":"Greenville","stateTerritoryId":37,"stateTerritory":{"abbreviation":"IN","country":{"abbreviation":"US","countryId":236,"name":"United States"},"countryId":236,"name":"Indiana","stateTerritoryId":37,"isTerritory":false},"country":{"abbreviation":"US","countryId":236,"name":"United States"},"countryId":236,"zipCode":"47124-9515","dunsNumber":"621970383","uei":"EYSXHJ3R7S53","cageCode":"1D0E2","congressionalDistrict":"Indiana 09","projectId":93767,"projectOrganizationId":575591,"organizationRole":"Lead_Organization","canUserEdit":false,"locationEdit":false,"organizationRolePretty":"Lead Organization","organizationTypePretty":"Industry"},"otherOrganizations":[{"organizationId":3948,"organizationName":"Redwire Space Technologies, Inc.","organizationType":"Industry","city":"Greenville","stateTerritoryId":37,"stateTerritory":{"abbreviation":"IN","country":{"abbreviation":"US","countryId":236,"name":"United States"},"countryId":236,"name":"Indiana","stateTerritoryId":37,"isTerritory":false},"country":{"abbreviation":"US","countryId":236,"name":"United States"},"countryId":236,"zipCode":"47124-9515","dunsNumber":"621970383","uei":"EYSXHJ3R7S53","cageCode":"1D0E2","congressionalDistrict":"Indiana 09","projectId":93767,"projectOrganizationId":575591,"organizationRole":"Lead_Organization","canUserEdit":false,"locationEdit":false,"organizationRolePretty":"Lead Organization","organizationTypePretty":"Industry"},{"organizationId":4854,"organizationName":"Marshall Space Flight Center","acronym":"MSFC","organizationType":"NASA_Center","city":"Huntsville","stateTerritoryId":18,"stateTerritory":{"abbreviation":"AL","country":{"abbreviation":"US","countryId":236,"name":"United States"},"countryId":236,"name":"Alabama","stateTerritoryId":18,"isTerritory":false},"country":{"abbreviation":"US","countryId":236,"name":"United States"},"countryId":236,"zipCode":"35812","projectId":93767,"projectOrganizationId":575592,"organizationRole":"Supporting_Organization","canUserEdit":false,"locationEdit":false,"organizationRolePretty":"Supporting Organization","organizationTypePretty":"NASA Center"}],"primaryTx":{"taxonomyNodeId":11063,"taxonomyRootId":8817,"parentNodeId":11062,"code":"TX02.3.1","title":"Electronics Development Tools","description":"This area covers advanced digital design tools that will enable complex systems to be implemented quickly and cost effectively and have the fault tolerance to operate reliably in the space environment. As technology scales to smaller fabrication processes, higher clock speeds, and greater miniaturization, design tools will need to adapt.","exampleTechnologies":"Automated hardware development toolsets, electronic design automation tools, additive manufactured electronics development tools, high-level design synthesis tools, printed circuit board (PCB) design tools, cable design tools, techniques for circuit design correctness and validation","level":3,"hasChildren":false,"selected":false,"isPrimary":true,"hasInteriorContent":true},"primaryTxTree":[[{"taxonomyNodeId":11042,"taxonomyRootId":8817,"code":"TX02","title":"Flight Computing and Avionics","level":1,"hasChildren":true,"selected":false,"hasInteriorContent":true},{"taxonomyNodeId":11062,"taxonomyRootId":8817,"parentNodeId":11042,"code":"TX02.3","title":"Avionics Tools, Models, and Analyses","description":"This area covers tools, models, analyses, databases, design techniques, and design processes for avionics evaluation, development, and support.","level":2,"hasChildren":true,"selected":false,"hasInteriorContent":true},{"taxonomyNodeId":11063,"taxonomyRootId":8817,"parentNodeId":11062,"code":"TX02.3.1","title":"Electronics Development Tools","description":"This area covers advanced digital design tools that will enable complex systems to be implemented quickly and cost effectively and have the fault tolerance to operate reliably in the space environment. As technology scales to smaller fabrication processes, higher clock speeds, and greater miniaturization, design tools will need to adapt.","exampleTechnologies":"Automated hardware development toolsets, electronic design automation tools, additive manufactured electronics development tools, high-level design synthesis tools, printed circuit board (PCB) design tools, cable design tools, techniques for circuit design correctness and validation","level":3,"hasChildren":false,"selected":true,"hasInteriorContent":true}]],"technologyOutcomes":[],"primaryImage":{"file":{"fileExtension":"png","fileId":367853,"presignedUpload":false,"fileSizeString":"0 Byte"},"libraryItemId":367128,"description":"Software and Tools for Electronics Printing in Space(STEPS), Phase I Briefing Chart Image","projectId":93767,"publishedDateString":"","entryDateString":"","libraryItemTypePretty":"","modifiedDateString":""},"libraryItems":[{"file":{"fileExtension":"pdf","fileId":367854,"fileName":"SBIR_2017_1_BC_H7_01-9552","fileSize":245099,"objectId":367129,"objectType":"libraryItemFiles","presignedUpload":false,"fileSizeString":"239.4 KB"},"files":[{"fileExtension":"pdf","fileId":367854,"fileName":"SBIR_2017_1_BC_H7_01-9552","fileSize":245099,"objectId":367129,"objectType":"libraryItemFiles","presignedUpload":false,"fileSizeString":"239.4 KB"}],"libraryItemId":367129,"title":"Briefing Chart","description":"Software and Tools for Electronics Printing in Space(STEPS), Phase I Briefing Chart","libraryItemType":"Document","projectId":93767,"isPrimary":false,"internalOnly":false,"publishedDateString":"","entryDateString":"01/22/25 01:10 AM","libraryItemTypePretty":"Document","modifiedDateString":"01/08/24 08:27 PM"},{"file":{"fileExtension":"png","fileId":367853,"fileName":"SBIR_2017_1_BC_H7_01-9552","fileSize":228957,"objectId":367128,"objectType":"libraryItemFiles","presignedUpload":false,"fileSizeString":"223.6 KB"},"files":[{"fileExtension":"png","fileId":367853,"fileName":"SBIR_2017_1_BC_H7_01-9552","fileSize":228957,"objectId":367128,"objectType":"libraryItemFiles","presignedUpload":false,"fileSizeString":"223.6 KB"}],"libraryItemId":367128,"title":"Briefing Chart Image","description":"Software and Tools for Electronics Printing in Space(STEPS), Phase I Briefing Chart Image","libraryItemType":"Image","projectId":93767,"isPrimary":true,"internalOnly":false,"publishedDateString":"","entryDateString":"01/22/25 01:10 AM","libraryItemTypePretty":"Image","modifiedDateString":"01/08/24 08:27 PM"}],"states":[{"abbreviation":"AL","country":{"abbreviation":"US","countryId":236,"name":"United States"},"countryId":236,"name":"Alabama","stateTerritoryId":18,"isTerritory":false},{"abbreviation":"IN","country":{"abbreviation":"US","countryId":236,"name":"United States"},"countryId":236,"name":"Indiana","stateTerritoryId":37,"isTerritory":false}],"endDateString":"Dec 2017","startDateString":"Jun 2017"}}