Path:  Home | Solicitations | 1999 STTR Phase I Solicitation | Chapter 8  | Topic 1  |
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Small Business Technology Transfer 1999 Program Solicitation

NASA Installation: Johnson Space Center (JSC)

The Center of Excellence for Human Operations in Space seeks to expand the human experience into the far reaches of space through exploring, using and enabling the development of space. Human presence in space requires research and technology to establish and maintain the state-of-the-art of applications and manufacturing techniques related to human spacecraft and habitat.

Technology challenges to support this Center of Excellence for this Solicitation include:

Applications of nanotechnology should focus on long duration space missions and habitats for beyond Earth orbit. Revolutionary designs and concepts are sought using the extraordinary properties of single wall carbon nanotubes in areas such as high strength materials and composites, energy and fuel storage, nanoelectronics, and advanced thermal protection, among others. Nanotube composites (polymer or metal matrix) are of particular interest because of the great possibilities of using these materials with their ultra- high strength combined with good toughness. Products should be real world applications, which have the capability to revolutionize a system or capability for far space missions.

This focus of nanotechnology should include the use of carbon or other nanotubes, and may include the following ideas. However, other ideas for applications using nanotubes for space applications will be thoroughly considered..

Of particular interest is a dramatic improvement in strength to weight properties of composites (polymer or metal matrix) that is possible by the application of Nanotubes to these materials. These properties offers the opportunity to significantly reduce the total structural mass of future spacecraft. Products which have practical applications and which have the ability to revolutionize spacecraft system design, compared to current state-of-the-art, will have higher value.

• Advanced Materials. Nanocomposites may provide extremely high strength to weight ratios, compared to today's state of the art materials. They may also incorporate multiple functionality or hierarchical structured materials. For example, a material may serve many purposes such as external environment and radiation shielding, thermal control, power distribution, etc. Composites including nanotubes are thought to be able to greatly add to the strength of today's best materials.

• Rapid prototyping of materials may also be greatly enhanced by using nanotubes as reinforcement. New ideas are desired in this area so that increasing the strength of rapidly prototyped parts through the use of nanotube reinforcement may develop useable parts.

• Fuel and Energy Storage. The high surface area of nanotubes, inside and out, may allow for storage of extremely high amounts of energy or fuel. Advanced concepts are desired using nanotubes to surpass any of today's devices.

• Nanoelectronics and Other Applications. Many applications are coming closer to reality through the use of nanotubes. These include field emission through very tiny tips of nanotubes for flat panel displays and scanning probe microscope tips. New technologies some years from now will certainly include nanoelectronics. These may include carbon nanotubes used as nanowires.

[ back to Solicitation back to Chapter 8 ]