Carbon Nano-Tube (CNT) Reinforced COPV

Closeout Summary: Successfully fabricated and flight tested a CNT fiber reinforced COPV as part of a multiexperiment payload on a Subtec 7 Black Brandt Sounding Rocket at WFF on May 16, 2017. This was the first example of a flght test of a CNT reinforced composite structural component and elevated the TRL of these composites to 7. The project did not meet the threshold goal (85%) of its COPV Liner Burst Strength and only achieved a level of 83%. All other KPPs were met. TRL advanced to 7. The objective of this project was to develop and mature high payoff nanotechnologies for future NASA mission with a focus on technologies that could lead to significant reductions in vehicle weight and improvements in performance. The project successfully developed high strength carbon nanotube composites and, for the first time, demonstrated them in a load-bearing component (composite overwrap pressure vessel) that was flight tested on a sounding rocket as part of a cold-gas thruster system. The project also developed polyimide aerogel insulation for electrical wiring that is 90% lighter than conventional polymer insulation and carbon nanotube and metal nanolattice cores for composite sandwich structures with properties that exceeded those of conventional aluminum honeycomb cores at the same density. Launched in May 2017 on a suborbital flight from WFF.