National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Small Business Innovation Research & Technology Transfer 2003 Program Solicitations
TOPIC T3 Glenn Research Center
[ back to Solicitation ] [ back to Chapter 9 ][ back to table of contents ]
T3.01 Aeropropulsion and Power
T3.02 Space Power and Propulsion
T3.01 Aeropropulsion and Power
The research sponsored by the Propulsion and Power Project focuses on ensuring the long-term environmental compatibility and efficiency of aircraft propulsion and power systems. The project addresses critical propulsion and power technology needs across a broad range of investment areas including revolutionary advances in combustion-based aeropropulsion systems/technologies and unconventional propulsion and power systems/technologies. High-risk, high-potential research investments include fuel-cell-based propulsion systems, high-temperature nanotechnology, and pulse detonation engine components and subsystems. Ultimately, the Propulsion and Power Project seeks to demonstrate (in a laboratory environment) key component technologies to enable: non-conventional combustion-based propulsion systems and electric/hybrid propulsion and power systems. Propulsion and Power Project directly supports the NASA objectives of: “Protect the Environment - Protect local environmental quality and the global climate by reducing aircraft noise and emissions” and “Explore New Aerospace Missions - Pioneer novel aerospace concepts to support earth and space science missions.”
Innovations sought include:
- Alternative fuels and/or alternative propulsion systems, i.e., aeronautical propulsion technology concepts with horizons of 20 to 40 years from today with potential for two times payload-range performance. Such high-payoff propulsion systems would set new, revolutionary directions well beyond the evolutionary approaches. These alternative fuel and/or alternative propulsion systems may include, but are not limited to:
- Revolutionary engine design (technologies beyond the conventional Brayton cycle gas turbine engine). For example, micromachined SiC microengines that may have potential for use in a distributed propulsion architecture.
- Nano and autonomous systems. For example: nanotechnology fibers, tubes, spheres and high temperature shape memory alloys and piezoelectric materials for their unique role in tribology, structures and composite reinforcements and control systems for autonomous, adaptive engine control and sealing.
- Non-combustion (electric) propulsion and power systems, e.g., hydrogen-based and electric aeropropulsion (propulsion systems capable of flight while producing zero CO2 emissions), and new missions enabled by quiet, clean, electric propulsion. Key technologies to enable design of an alternately fueled, fuel cell or hybrid propulsion system. These technologies may include, but are not limited to:
- Hydrogen tankage,
- Fuel cell systems, components, and subcomponents,
- Power management and distribution materials, components, and configurations.
[back to top]
T3.02 Space Power and Propulsion
The research sponsored by GRC Space Power and Propulsion focuses on the development of innovative technologies and systems that will result in robust, light weight, ultra highly efficient, lower cost, power and in-space propulsion systems that are long-lived in the relevant mission environment to enable future missions. These technologies enable effective generation and utilization of power and in-space propulsion resulting in significant increases in vehicle payload fraction for future human and robotic spacecraft. This includes analysis of systems and requirements to provide tactical and strategic guidance for technology advancement. The goal is to provide critical advanced power technology and space propulsion systems to meet the needs of all NASA Enterprises and Strategic Technology areas, including significant reduction in launch vehicle and spacecraft costs, increased mission capabilities and flexibility, while enabling cost effective utilization and/or exploration.
Innovations sought include:
- Advanced solar array technologies
- Energy storage systems (e.g., new batteries including polymer-based rechargeable energy systems, regenerative fuel cells, and flywheels)
- Dynamic power systems for nuclear power conversion
- Power distribution techniques
- Advanced power systems and power system control
- Integrated vehicle health management
- Ion propulsion
- Hall propulsion
- Pulsed plasma thruster propulsion
- Pulsed inductive thruster propulsion
- Magneto plasma dynamic propulsion
- Monopropellant and bipropellant propulsion
- Micro propulsion
[back to top]
[ back to Solicitation ] [ back to Chapter 9 ][ back to table of contents ]