National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Small Business Innovation Research & Technology Transfer 2004 Program Solicitations

TOPIC X2 Space Utilities and Power

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X2.01 Photovoltaic Solar Power Generation
X2.02 Nuclear Power Generation
X2.03 Wireless Power Transmission
X2.04 Cryogenic Propellant Depots
X2.05 Power Management for Space Utilities
X2.06 Thermal Materials and Management
X2.07 Space Environmental Effects
X2.08 Energy Conversion Technologies


This topic covers utilities and power for space vehicles and off-Earth surface sites. NASA is planning robotic exploration of the moon with a return of humans between 2015-2020. The human return does not mean the robotic effort comes to a halt, but, instead, robotic interfaces will further evolve with the additional need for the utilities and power elements to suit people. The objectives of this topic is to identify and develop breakthrough technologies that have broad potential across many types of systems, to provide increased scientific return at lower cost, and to enable missions and capabilities beyond current horizons.

X2.01 Photovoltaic Solar Power Generation
Lead Center: GRC

Research and technology development and/or demonstrations are needed that lead to significant improvements in performance over current photovoltaic systems or enable new operational capabilities for exploration missions. Examples of such include, but are not limited to, dramatic increases in array specific power, operational array voltages approaching 1000V, arrays capable of long-term operation in high radiation environments, arrays having very small stowed volume, surface array concepts using automated deployment systems, and arrays capable of sustained operation under various planetary surface environments. Concepts are sought with power levels in the 10–100 kW range, which could be available for use within 10 years. Research and technology developments are also needed that involve nanostructures for photovoltaics (inorganic/organic, III-V, thin film, thermo-photovoltaics including uses of carbon nanotubes, quantum dots, microcrystalline interfaces, etc.).

Proposal efforts for photovoltaic cells and solar arrays could include technology development, validation, and demonstrations in the areas of innovative solar cells with efficiencies above 35%, photovoltaic devices capable of sustained operation under various environmental extremes (high and low temperatures, high radiation environments, space plasma environments that could lead to arcing, high dust environments, etc.), solar array blanket technology, and unique array designs and deployment schemes. Cell and blanket technology should have the potential for significant cost reduction compared to state-of-the-art space-qualified arrays. Other areas include demonstration of high efficiency, lightweight concentrator cell and array designs, advanced concentrator concepts (up to 100 times concentration), multiquantum well and multiquantum dot devices, and advanced multiband gap schemes.

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X2.02 Nuclear Power Generation
Lead Center: GRC

NASA is interested in the development of highly advanced systems, subsystems, and components for use with both nuclear reactors and radioisotopes for future lunar and Mars robotic and manned missions. Anticipated power levels range from 100s of watts to multi-megawatts.

In-space applications include power for primary electric propulsion, crew planetary transfer habitation module, vehicle housekeeping, cryogenic propellant maintenance, orbiting power station, and science payloads. For planetary surface applications, habitats; resource processing and propellant production, liquefaction and maintenance; surface mobility for both robotic and piloted rovers; excavating and mining equipment; atmospheric mobility (airplanes, blimps, etc.) are needed. For science applications, deep drilling, resource production demos, rovers, weather stations, etc. are needed; and for surface robotic outpost as a precursor to human exploration and extended stay human bases (50–500 days).

Major technologies being pursued are:

Supporting technology includes:

In addition to reducing overall system mass, volume and cost, increased safety and reliability are of extreme importance. It is envisioned that these technologies will be used on robotic and human missions and it is to NASA’s advantage to develop those technologies that transcend robotic to human mission requirements with a minimum of redesign. Technologies that enable challenging missions such as, electric power production for bimodal nuclear thermal propulsion, nuclear electric propulsion, planetary surface power, are of particular interest. Technologies that easily and efficiently scale in power output and can be used in a host of applications (high commonality) are desired.

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X2.03 Wireless Power Transmission
Lead Center: MSFC

The focus of this activity is to conduct research for Space Solar Power (SSP) Wireless Power Transmission (WPT) technology development to reduce the cost of electrical power and to provide a stepping stone to NASA for delivery of power between objects in space, between space and surface sites, between ground and space and between ground and air platform vehicles. WPT can involve lasers or microwaves along with the associated power interfaces. Microwave and laser transmission techniques have been studied with several promising approaches to safe and efficient WPT identified. These investigations have included microwave phased array transmitters, as well as visible light laser transmission and associated optics. Within the roadmap of SSP WPT there is a need to produce "proof-of-concept" validation of critical WPT technologies for both the near-term, as well as far-term applications. These investments will be harvested in near-term beam safe demonstrations of commercial WPT applications. Proposals are sought that include such activities as the technology elements, architecture, and demonstration program for wireless transmission of power. Receiving sites (users) include ground-based stations for terrestrial electrical power, orbital sites to provide power for satellites and other platforms, future space elevator systems, and space-based sites for spacecraft and space vehicle propulsion.

Innovative concepts for integrated power and communication transmission in space are also solicited. Concepts that use a single laser beam to carry both high power and information packets are of interest. Challenges include separation of unmodulated power from modulated power, bandwidth issues, pulsed versus continuous power beaming, etc. Configurations of interest include space-based laser transmitters that operate simultaneously for both power and communications using the same system, or are highly integrated into units suitable for space testing and use. Dual-use configurations of receiver systems for both power and communications are also of interest.

Innovative technology elements of interest include the following:

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X2.04 Cryogenic Propellant Depots
Lead Center: MSFC
Participating Center(s): GRC, JSC, KSC

The focus of this subtopic is to develop and advance enabling technologies required to build and operate an in-space cryogenic propellant depot with the capability to preposition, store, manufacture, and later use the propellants for Earth–Neighborhood campaigns and beyond. In-Space cryogenic or gel propellant production and/or storage technology is quite unique in that it has been studied in detail but little research has been accomplished in space, where the effects of low gravity come into play. The in-space propellant depot will provide affordable propellants and similar consumables to support the development of sustainable and affordable exploration strategies as well as commercial space activities. An in-space propellant depot not only requires technology development in key areas such as cryogenic or gel storage, electrolysis, and fluid transfer, but in other areas such as lightweight structures, highly reliable connectors, and autonomous operations. These technologies can be applicable to a broad range of propellant depot concepts or specific to a certain design. In addition, these technologies are required for spacecraft and orbit transfer vehicle propulsion and power systems, and space station life support. Generally, applications of this technology require long-term storage (>30 days), on-orbit fluid transfer and supply, cryogenic propellant production from water, and unique instrumentation. Components or concept proposals for intelligent modular systems are being solicited to improve the performance, operating efficiency, safety and reliability of cryogenic fluid production, storage, transfer, and handling in a low gravity (10-6 g to 10-2 g) environment. Specific areas of interest include the following:


Several options are available to test the technology needed for propellant depots. Technologies can be tested in the laboratory, on Expendable Launch Vehicles, the Space Shuttle, the ISS, a Small Scale Depot, or a Full Scale Depot. Laboratory testing can use sub- or full-scale tank sets for tests carried out on components, subsystems, and integrated systems on the ground. Identified improvements can be incorporated into subsequent tank sets, which may be used on the ground or in orbital tests. In some cases, a "proto-flight" approach may be used, where the original ground-test tank set can potentially be modified for subsequent testing on-orbit. For example, test requirements may be addressed by building a subscale experiment, which simulates the hydrogen fluid systems of the storage facility, evaluating their performance in a vacuum chamber, and then demonstrating microgravity fluid transfer by performing an orbital experiment.

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X2.05 Power Management for Space Utilities
Lead Center: GRC
Participating Center(s): GSFC, JSC

Advanced power management and distribution technologies are required for manned and unmanned space exploration vehicles, orbiting assets, and surface platforms. Technologies are sought that improve the size, mass, capacity, durability, reliability, modularity, and costs of the electrical power distribution system. Advancements are sought in three areas: advanced materials and devices, modular power electronic components and systems, and intelligent power systems.

Power Electronic Materials and Devices
Advancements are sought that improve the performance of power electronic devices in applications exceeding 100V. Improvements in performance are especially sought in high operating temperatures (over 200°C) and radiation tolerance (>200 krad total dose and >50 MeV LET). Proposals should focus research on developing new materials, devices, manufacturing, and/or packaging technologies to meet these requirements. Candidate applications include transformers, inductors, motors, semiconductor switches and diodes, electrostatic capacitors, current sensors, or cables.

Modular Power Electronic Components and Systems
Technologies are sought that will enable power electronic components to function as building block modules and operate in a variety of applications and missions. Candidate applications include energy source regulation, energy storage regulation, power conversion, motor drives, and protective switchgear for power systems above 100 V (AC or DC distribution) and power levels above 1 kW. Proposals should focus research on developing modular interfaces between components, including electrical interfaces, mechanical interfaces, control, and/or communications. Examples of modular technologies include series operation for increased voltage, parallel operation for increased current, efficiency optimization, active health management, and modular packaging that enables “hot-swap” maintenance. It is greatly desired that proposed technologies be entirely free of any centralized controller or sensor for increased fault tolerance.

Modular power system technologies are also sought which enable large power systems to be built from smaller, independent power systems. Of particular interest are proposals that research highly fault-tolerant distribution architectures, structural cables and connectors, and technologies that allow multiple power systems to collaborate and share resources.

Intelligent Power Systems
Technologies that improve the reliability and safety of electrical power systems are sought. To increase the reliability of long duration manned missions, technologies that enable space power systems to autonomously reconfigure following a failure, or in response to degraded system performance, are sought. Technologies that can detect 95% of hidden electrical faults (arcing, leakage, and/or corona) are desired to improve system safety. Finally, technologies and methods for detecting power electronic degradation and determining component and system health are required.

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X2.06 Thermal Materials and Management
Lead Center: JSC
Participating Center(s): ARC, GSFC, KSC, MSFC

Advanced thermal materials and thermal management techniques are needed in a wide range of operating conditions that may be addressed across the low, intermediate, and high temperature regimes. Metals, ceramics, polymers, and composites can be synthesized to address a variety of needs: thermal protection system (TPS) materials for reentry, coatings for on-orbit thermal control, improved thermal interfaces, high thermal conductivity fabrics, and methods to enhance active thermal control systems' heat acquisition, transport, and rejection. By increasing efficiency and reducing the complexity of thermal control systems, dramatic reductions in vehicle mass can be achieved.

Proposals should be particularly innovative, advance the state-of-the-art, and demonstrate a high degree of maturity in consideration of materials characterization, testing, and reliability. Materials proposed should be designed to significantly outperform existing materials systems. Materials developed for high temperature applications should show realistic promise for resilience and durability that such materials are likely to experience in reentry environments. Special consideration will be given to proposals that take a nanoscale approach to developing these materials.

A primary goal of this subtopic is to provide advanced thermal system technologies, which are highly reliable and possess low mass, size, and power requirements (i.e., reduced cost). In addition to those mentioned above, innovations are solicited in the thermal control field. Areas of interest in passive thermal control include heat pipes or thermally conductive fabrics using high thermal conductivity fibers or nanofibers. Innovations are sought in active thermal control in the areas of heat pumps capable of acquiring waste heat at near 273 K and rejecting the heat above 300 K, cabin dehumidification and temperature control technology, multifluid evaporative heat rejection devices, and robust quick disconnect fittings. Radiator designs are also sought for orbital vehicles that will survive the high temperatures of re-entry (~200–600°F). Innovations may include high temperature materials, high temperature or easily reapplied coatings, and thermal diodes to prevent fluid overpressure.

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X2.07 Space Environmental Effects
Lead Center: KSC
Participating Center(s): ARC, GSFC

This subtopic is soliciting proposals for space environmental effects with emphasis on the development of materials and equipment for spacecraft and space habitats either robotic or human. Space Environmental Effects encompasses all effects of the Space Environment on spacecraft design, performance, launch, and operation. Among the environments considered are meteoroids and debris, ionizing radiation, spacecraft charging and plasma interactions, material interactions, dusty planetary surfaces, and Low Earth Orbit (LEO)-specific environments (such as atomic oxygen and atmospheric drag), as well as the synergistic effects of the different environments. We are looking for radiation protection to 200 krads total dose and operation in environments ranging from 1 x 10-12 torr to 7-torr dusty CO2 atmospheres with dust particle sizes in the 1–10 µm range and particle velocities reaching 30 m/s. We are interested in materials and equipment that are able to withstand temperatures ranging from -193°C to 130°C, collisions with micrometer-to-millimeter size micrometeorites and fragmented space debris moving at velocities from 5–70 km/s. Full sun effects are expected to last for 17 day and night cycles.

We are interested in theoretical models, tools, ground-based environmental simulations, and space flight experiments to determine the effects of space environments on spacecraft flying through them. From these models, we should be able to derive effects on semiconductors, material degradation, and shielding effectiveness. We are looking for proposals that will develop proof-of-concept demonstrations of mitigation techniques of the deleterious effects of the space environment, such as special coatings, processes, designs, or materials hardened-by-design.

We are looking for proposals to develop screening, shielding concepts, component selection techniques, and/or manufacturing processes that will make it possible to cope with the radiation effects in the space environment.

We are looking for proposals for the development of clear antistatic coatings that can withstand exposure to the rigors of the space environment as well as for the development of adhesives which would allow the application of these coatings to flexible and rigid materials used in space suits, planetary landers and rovers, and in the instrumentation on board these craft.

We are looking for proposals that will develop techniques to modify the electrostatic properties of several polymers used in space applications that have long charge decay times. The modifications should result in charge dissipation times short enough to enable the reclassification of these polymers as statically dissipative instead of electrically insulating. These modifications should not change the physical and chemical properties that make these polymers usable for space applications. Proposals for the development of instrumentation or techniques to monitor electrostatic fields remotely are also needed. These instruments should operate inside spacecraft and space habitats at distances ranging from a few centimeters to several meters and work at relative humidities ranging from 0%–70%. Similar instruments that operate outside closed environments on planetary surfaces, at larger distances (in the meter to kilometer range) are desired.

We are looking for proposals that will develop techniques to prevent the accumulation of dust on surfaces of structures, spacesuits, landers, rovers, and habitats exposed to the dusty environments of Mars and the Moon. These techniques should require low power and be lightweight.

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X2.08 Energy Conversion Technologies
Lead Center: GRC
Participating Center(s): GSFC

Over the next three decades, NASA will send robotic probes to explore our solar system, including the Moon, Mars, the moons of Jupiter and other outer planets, and will launch new space telescopes to search for planets beyond our solar system. To support these missions, a number of key building blocks are necessary. One of these building blocks includes new capabilities in power, power management and distribution, and related thermal management. A vigorous effort is needed to develop revolutionary energy conversion technologies that will enable the Agency’s “Vision For Space Exploration.” Technological challenges to be faced include:


These characteristics are representative of the type of developments required beyond the current state-of-the-art. The energy conversion technologies solicited apply to solar and nuclear sources with application to space transportation vehicles, planetary orbiting satellites, and planetary surface systems including probes, rovers, and stationary systems.

The energy conversion technologies solicited include the following:

Thermoelectric Conversion
Thermal-to-electric conversion is Carnot limited but considering the large temperature gradients typically available for space power systems, theory predicts that conversion efficiencies > 50% should be achievable. Efficient power generation (>20%) using thermoelectrics requires revolutionary advances in materials to achieve ZT values (the thermoelectric figure of merit) larger than 2 over a wide temperature range. Advances in bulk and thin-film complex engineered material structures which can eventually be applied to practical, scalable, and efficient devices are actively sought.

Acousto-Electric Conversion
Technology developments are needed that would convert acoustical or vibrational energy to usable electrical power for local activation of sensors, data processing, and telemetry circuits or devices.

MHD and Related Conversion
Development of technology that would provide electrical power from MHD, and/or provide super-conductor magnetic energy storage and/or flywheel (mechanical energy storage) for lunar systems in the 5000 W range for 120–336 hours (5–14 Earth days). Also being sought are hybrid energy storage systems with multifunctional capability or with reusable capability from spacecraft to depot to buoy to rover.

Conductors and Converters
This area seeks the development of innovative conductor technologies including power in structure, programmable/reconfigurable power and structure, and connector technology to accommodate reconfigurable power in structure implementations. This topic also includes the development of smart connector and wire technologies to detect and mitigate potential problems with mechanical continuity, corona onset, etc. Converter technologies include the development of wide temperature power processors using unique materials to accommodate harsh environments such as high radiation, high and low temperatures, etc.

Thermodynamic Conversion
This area seeks technology development for thermodynamic energy conversion to supply useable electric power for a range of applications that could include local power for small sensors, or higher power for distribution. The power range of interest is from single watts to thousands of watts. Of particular interest is the low mass, high efficiency, wide operating range, and other features that have a positive impact on system level performance.

Electrochemical Conversion
This area seeks revolutionary ultra-capacitor developments and/or applications for board level integration to provide added control redundancy and communications and locations power for rovers and fixed buoy applications. This includes microbattery power supplies and converter technologies.

Bio-Chemical Conversion
This area seeks revolutionary research and technology developments that provide advanced systems for conversion of bio-fuels or bio-wastes into energy and useful products, e.g., water, fuel, oxygen, and plant nutrients. Technologies can involve biological, thermo-chemical, or hybrid systems. Inherent system reliability, low maintenance, and limited waste (including heat) rejection are system parameters that should be considered in the technology design.

Micro- and Meso-Thermal/Chemical Process Technologies
This area seeks revolutionary research and technology developments that will enable thermal and chemical processes necessary for energy conversion to occur at micro- and meso-scales compared to today's technology.

Thermal and Chemical Modeling and Tools
This area encompasses a number of different thrusts related to developing state-of-the-art tools for evaluating performance and capabilities of not only advanced power systems, but also other passive and active thermal/fluid/chemical transport applications. Two specific needs include the following: (1) develop an innovative thermodynamic properties model that focuses on multiple phases (gas, liquid, solid, etc.) of metals for the purpose of transport modeling of advanced liquid-metal-based power conversion cycles and propulsion concepts; and (2) develop an integrated computational fluid dynamic analysis computer program composed of a system level network thermo-fluid analysis program and a Navier-Stokes based CFD program to combine the strengths of both in order to analyze complex flow phenomena over a number of components integrated into a system model.

In addition, electrical and structural effects are important and technology that includes the interplay among thermal/chemical/electrical/structural disciplines is highly desired.

Responses to this solicitation should address the current state-of-the-art showing the relative revolutionary improvements and capabilities of the proposed technologies.


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