Cryogenic Selective Surfaces based on diffusing materials

This concept is of great potential value to NASA.  Firstly, if successful, it would provide a means for maintaining cryogenic commodity, e.g. LOX, on a trip to Mars. This is not possible under current technology and was highlighted by the NIAC review board as an important goal of the work. Maintenance of cryogenic commodities in deep space is a current need within the NASA community as highlighted by TA14.1-“Maintain cryogenic temperatures to enable longer duration missions that use cryogenic propellants...”.  In addition NASA’s strategic plan (2014) Objective 1.1 states “Expand human presence… to the surface of Mars to advance…innovation.”  This project fits within that objective.

One of NASA’s most significant challenges is dealing with the damage to astronauts caused by galactic cosmic radiation (GCR).  To date there is no solution to this problem, however, shielding with magnetic fields based on superconducting cable may work. The proposed technology may allow superconducting cable to operate passively in space, enabling the development of a GCR shield.