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Award ID | Description | Recipient | Total Value | Awarding Agency | Funding Agency | Set Aside | NAICS | PSC | Award Date | Start Date | End Date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IN SPACE ASSEMBLY (ISA) SIMPLIFYING INTERCONNECT WITH REALTIME VERIFICATION | ALTIUS SPACE MACHINES, INC | $1,670,454 | DEPT OF THE AIR FORCE | DEPT OF THE AIR FORCE | — | 541715Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) | AC32NATIONAL DEFENSE R&D SERVICES; DEFENSE-RELATED ACTIVITIES; APPLIED RESEARCH | Feb 23, 2023 | Feb 23, 2023 | May 24, 2024 | ||
| DOCKING ANCHORING AND TOWING UNIVERSAL MATCH-PLATE (DATUM) FOR DOD | ALTIUS SPACE MACHINES, INC | $149,877 | DEPT OF THE AIR FORCE | DEPT OF THE AIR FORCE | — | 541715Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) | AR12SPACE R&D SERVICES; SPACE FLIGHT, RESEARCH AND SUPPORTING ACTIVITIES; APPLIED RESEARCH | Dec 22, 2022 | Dec 22, 2022 | Dec 26, 2023 | ||
| SIDELOBE INTERLINK WITH MODPAK FOR BI-DIRECTIONAL INPUT/OUTPUT TELECOMMUNICATIONS | ALTIUS SPACE MACHINES, INC | $248,557 | DEPT OF THE AIR FORCE | DEPT OF THE AIR FORCE | — | 541715Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) | AC32NATIONAL DEFENSE R&D SERVICES; DEFENSE-RELATED ACTIVITIES; APPLIED RESEARCH | Sep 26, 2022 | Sep 26, 2022 | Feb 28, 2023 | ||
| MR CLAW: MAGNETO-RHEOLOGICAL CAPTURE, LOCOMOTION, ANCHORING, AND WORKHOLDING | ALTIUS SPACE MACHINES, INC | $249,915 | DEPT OF THE AIR FORCE | DEPT OF THE AIR FORCE | — | 541715Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) | AC11NATIONAL DEFENSE R&D SERVICES; DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE - MILITARY; BASIC RESEARCH | Aug 18, 2022 | Aug 22, 2022 | Jan 23, 2023 | ||
| BOOM ASSISTED RENDEZVOUS AND CAPTURE FOR TUMBLING TARGETS | ALTIUS SPACE MACHINES, INC | $249,950 | DEPT OF THE AIR FORCE | DEPT OF THE AIR FORCE | — | 541715Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) | AC11NATIONAL DEFENSE R&D SERVICES; DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE - MILITARY; BASIC RESEARCH | Jul 5, 2022 | Jul 5, 2022 | Feb 1, 2023 | ||
| STTR-REACHBOT | ALTIUS SPACE MACHINES, INC | $249,055 | DEPT OF THE AIR FORCE | DEPT OF THE AIR FORCE | — | 541715Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) | AC11NATIONAL DEFENSE R&D SERVICES; DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE - MILITARY; BASIC RESEARCH | Jun 14, 2022 | Jul 5, 2022 | Feb 6, 2023 | ||
| MAGNETIC CAPTURE TECHNOLOGY FOR AFFORDABLE MICROSAT/NANOSAT SERVICING | ALTIUS SPACE MACHINES, INC | $750,000 | DEPT OF THE AIR FORCE | DEPT OF THE AIR FORCE | — | 541715Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) | AC21NATIONAL DEFENSE R&D SERVICES; ATOMIC ENERGY DEFENSE ACTIVITIES; BASIC RESEARCH | Apr 15, 2021 | Apr 15, 2021 | Nov 1, 2022 | ||
| MAGNETIC INTERFACES FOR IVR LOGISTICS, CARGO MANAGEMENT AND OUTFITTING | ALTIUS SPACE MACHINES, INC | $124,759 | NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION | NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION | — | 541715Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) | AR11SPACE R&D SERVICES; SPACE FLIGHT, RESEARCH AND SUPPORTING ACTIVITIES; BASIC RESEARCH | Jul 31, 2020 | Aug 31, 2020 | Mar 1, 2021 | ||
| AUTONOMOUS IN-SPACE ASSEMBLY OF MODULAR STRUCTURES | ALTIUS SPACE MACHINES, INC | $123,306 | NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION | NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION | — | 541715Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) | AR11SPACE R&D SERVICES; SPACE FLIGHT, RESEARCH AND SUPPORTING ACTIVITIES; BASIC RESEARCH | Jul 29, 2020 | Aug 31, 2020 | Sep 30, 2021 | ||
| TO ENABLE SERVICEABLE SATELLITES AND PERSISTENT ORBITAL PLATFORMS, THE NEED EXISTS FOR SIMPLE, ROBUST AND LIGHTWEIGHT MODULAR INTERFACES. | ALTIUS SPACE MACHINES, INC | $753,478 | NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION | NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION | — | 541715Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) | AR11SPACE R&D SERVICES; SPACE FLIGHT, RESEARCH AND SUPPORTING ACTIVITIES; BASIC RESEARCH | Jul 21, 2019 | Jul 21, 2019 | Jul 20, 2021 | ||
| WITH THE ADVANCEMENT OF EVER MORE CAPABLE ROBOTIC EXPLORATION OF EXTRATERRESTRIAL BODIES COMES THE NEED FOR LOW-POWER, LOW MASS, | ALTIUS SPACE MACHINES, INC | $754,461 | NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION | NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION | — | 541715Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) | AR11SPACE R&D SERVICES; SPACE FLIGHT, RESEARCH AND SUPPORTING ACTIVITIES; BASIC RESEARCH | Jul 17, 2019 | Jul 17, 2019 | Jul 16, 2021 | ||
| MAGNETIC CAPTURE TECHNOLOGY FOR AFFORDABLE MICROSAT/NANOSAT SERVICING | ALTIUS SPACE MACHINES, INC | $149,966 | DEPT OF THE AIR FORCE | DEPT OF THE AIR FORCE | — | 541715Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) | AC21NATIONAL DEFENSE R&D SERVICES; ATOMIC ENERGY DEFENSE ACTIVITIES; BASIC RESEARCH | Dec 18, 2018 | Dec 18, 2018 | Sep 20, 2019 | ||
| REQUIREMENT IS TO PERFORM BASIC RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT INTO MAGNETIC MODULAR INTERFACES AND ROBOTICS FOR AFFORDABLE SATELLITE SERVICING. | ALTIUS SPACE MACHINES, INC | $149,948 | DEPT OF THE AIR FORCE | DEPT OF THE AIR FORCE | — | 541715Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) | AC21NATIONAL DEFENSE R&D SERVICES; ATOMIC ENERGY DEFENSE ACTIVITIES; BASIC RESEARCH | Nov 29, 2018 | Nov 29, 2018 | Aug 30, 2019 | ||
| FOR MANY YEARS INDUSTRIAL ROBOTS HAVE BENEFITED FROM THE AVAILABILITY OF AUTOMATIC TOOL CHANGERS, ALLOWING ONE ROBOT TO PERFORM A MUCH WIDER RANGE OF TASKS THAN COULD BE PERFORMED OTHERWISE. WHILE SPACE ROBOTS FOR SATELLITE SERVICING HAVE EMBRACED THE USE OF ROBOTIC TOOL CHANGERS, PLANETARY SCIENCE ROBOTICS SYSTEMS HAVE HISTORICALLY AVOIDED THE USE OF TOOL CHANGERS, BECAUSE TRADITIONAL TOOL CHANGERS USE COMPLEX MECHANICAL LATCHING MECHANISMS WITH MANY EXPOSED MOVING PARTS, WHICH ARE OFTEN MECHANICALLY UNRELIABLE IN DUSTY ENVIRONMENTS. TO SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS, AND ENABLE PLANETARY SCIENCE MISSIONS TO SWITCH FROM USING MASSIVE, COMPLEX, AND BULKY MULTI-TOOL TURRET DESIGNS, ALTIUS PROPOSES THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN ELECTROPERMANENT MAGNETIC TOOL CHANGER, WHICH HAS NO EXTERNALLY EXPOSED MOVING PARTS. THIS PROPOSED EPM TOOL CHANGER CONCEPT USES A SOLID STATE SWITCHABLE MAGNETIC LATCHING SYSTEM TO HOLD THE TOOL TO THE TOOL CHANGER, AND NON-CONTACT POWER AND DATA TRANSMISSION. AND WHILE IT IS NOT IN THE SCOPE OF THE PROPOSED PHASE I/II EFFORT, THIS TOOL CHANGER DESIGN CAN ALSO ENABLE THE USE OF A CONTACTLESS MECHANICAL TOOL-DRIVE COUPLING SYSTEM, ENABLING MECHANICAL TOOL DRIVE WITHOUT EXPOSED MOVING PARTS ON EITHER SIDE OF THE INTERFACE. DURING PHASE I, ALTIUS WILL WORK WITH NASA PLANETARY SCIENCE ROBOTICS TEAMS TO IDENTIFY AND DOCUMENT SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS, AND THEN ALTIUS WILL DESIGN, BUILD, AND PROTOTYPE THE MAGNETIC CONNECTION SYSTEM AND THE WIRELESS POWER/DATA TRANSFER SYSTEMS. THIS TESTING, WHICH WILL INCLUDE PRELIMINARY DUSTY ENVIRONMENT TESTING WILL RAISE THE TRL OF THE POWER/DATA VERSION OF THE EPM TOOL CHANGER FROM TRL 2 TO TRL 4, ENABLING A FLIGHT-GRADE PROTOTYPE OF THE POWER/DATA EPM TOOL CHANGER TO BE DESIGNED, BUILT, AND QUALIFIED DURING PHASE II, RAISING THE SYSTEM TO TRL 6, WHERE IT IS MATURE ENOUGH TO BE INTEGRATED INTO FUTURE NASA AND COMMERCIAL MISSIONS. | ALTIUS SPACE MACHINES, INC | $123,225 | NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION | NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION | — | 541715Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) | AR11SPACE R&D SERVICES; SPACE FLIGHT, RESEARCH AND SUPPORTING ACTIVITIES; BASIC RESEARCH | Jul 26, 2018 | Jul 27, 2018 | Feb 15, 2019 | ||
| MAGTAGS ARE A MODULAR INTERFACE SOLUTION UTILIZING SOLID STATE SWITCHABLE MAGNETS AND FERROUS TARGET MATERIALS TO CREATE A SECURE ELECTRICAL OR LOW-PRESSURE FLUID CONNECTION BETWEEN MODULES AND SPACECRAFT WITH NO MOVING PARTS. THIS SWITCHABLE ELECTROPERMANENT MAGNET (EPM) REQUIRES NO HOLDING POWER, PROVIDING BENEFITS OVER BOTH STANDARD PERMANENT MAGNETS AND ELECTROMAGNETS. THE PROPOSED INNOVATION ALLOWS FOR SIMPLIFIED REPAIR AND UPGRADE OF NASA AND COMMERCIAL ON ORBIT LONG DURATION ASSETS BY USING MAGTAGEQUIPPED PLUG-AND-PLAY MODULES SUCH AS BATTERIES OR REACTION WHEEL SYSTEMS. AS CURRENTLY ENVISIONED MAGTAGS FIT WITHIN A 60MM X 60MM X 25MM VOLUME MAKING THEM COMPATIBLE FOR USE ON CUBESATS AND SMALLSATS. DURING THE PROPOSED PHASE I EFFORT, ALTIUS WILL DEVELOP REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAGTAG, REVIEW THE REQUIREMENTS AND THE RESULTING MAGTAG CONCEPTUAL DESIGN AT A WORKSHOP AT THE SMALL SATELLITE CONFERENCE, AND THEN USING FEEDBACK FROM THAT WORKSHOP, ALTIUS WILL DESIGN, BUILD, AND TEST SEVERAL BRASSBOARD PROTOTYPES OF THE MAGTAG ELECTRICAL INTERFACE, RAISING THE SYSTEM FROM A TRL 2 TO A TRL 5. IN PHASE II ALTIUS PROPOSES DOING DETAILED FLIGHT DESIGN, ANALYSIS, AND SPACE ENVIRONMENT QUALIFICATION TESTING OF THE MAGTAGS, WORKING WITH A SATELLITE COMPONENT PROVIDER TO DEVELOP AT LEAST ONE REPRESENTATIVE MAGTAG-EQUIPPED MODULE, AND DEVELOPING A PRELIMINARY DESIGN AND PROTOTYPE OF A PALLET FOR CARRYING MULTIPLE MAGTAG-EQUIPPED MODULES ON ALTIUS'S BULLDOG SATELLITE SERVICING VEHICLE. THIS WILL RAISE THE MAGTAG TRL TO 6 BY THE END OF PHASE II, WITH THE POTENTIAL TO REACH TRL 9 VIA FLIGHT DEMONSTRATION SUBSEQUENTLY. | ALTIUS SPACE MACHINES, INC | $124,862 | NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION | NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION | — | 541715Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) | AR11SPACE R&D SERVICES; SPACE FLIGHT, RESEARCH AND SUPPORTING ACTIVITIES; BASIC RESEARCH | Jul 25, 2018 | Jul 27, 2018 | Feb 15, 2019 | ||
| ONE OF THE KEY ELEMENTS OF NASA'S FUTURE HUMAN EXPLORATION PLANS IS THE DEVELOPMENT OF HUMANTENDED DEEP SPACE HABITATS. THESE MAY SERVE AS HABITATS DURING TRANSFER FROM EARTH TO A DESTINATION (THE MOON, MARS, ETC), OR SERVE AS PERIODICALLYINHABITED ORBITAL BASES. FOR ALL OF THESE DEEPSPACE HABITATS, ESPECIALLY ONES LEFT IN ORBIT AROUND A DESTINATION PLANET OR MOON, ASTRONAUT TIME AT THE HABITAT WILL BE BOTH INFREQUENT, AND VERY VALUABLE. AS SUCH IT WOULD BE EXTREMELY DESIRABLE TO DEVELOP WAYS TO ENABLE ROBOTS TO OUTFIT THE HABITAT PRIOR TO HUMAN OCCUPATION, AND TO ALLOW ROBOTS TO PERFORM MAINTENANCE AND LOGISTICS TASKS BOTH WHEN HUMANS ARE PRESENT AND WHEN THEY ARE NOT. THESE ROBOTIC INTERACTION AIDS IDEALLY CAN SERVE THREE PURPOSES: 1) HELPING ROBOTS DETERMINE THEIR RELATIVE POSE AND POSITION WITH RESPECT TO THE TARGET, AND THEIR RELATIVE LOCATION/POSE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE THE HABITAT, 2) IDENTIFYING WHAT THE OBJECTS ARE, ESPECIALLY IF THE OBJECTS ARE MOBILE LIKE SOFTGOODS BAGS, AND 3) SIMPLIFYING PHYSICAL INTERACTIONS WITH THE OBJECT, INCLUDING ANCHORING TO AND MANIPULATING THE OBJECT. TO ENABLE THESE TYPES OF ROBOTIC INTERACTIONS, ALTIUS PROPOSES THE DEVELOPMENT OF A LIGHTWEIGHT, LOWCOST, PASSIVE "DOGTAG" ROBOTIC INTERFACE THAT CAN BE ATTACHED TO VARIOUS HABITAT STRUCTURES AND OBJECTS. THE DOGTAG INTERFACE INCLUDES: 1) A THIN (<0.4MM) FERROMAGNETIC MATERIAL LAYER THAT ALLOWS ROBOTS WITH MAGNETIC GRIPPERS TO STICK TO THE DOGTAG, 2) A PRINTED ON LONGRANGE OPTICAL FIDUCIAL ON THE DOGTAG FACE FOR ALLOWING THE ROBOT TO DETERMINE RELATIVE POSE AND POSITION OF THE OBJECT EVEN FROM ACROSS A LARGE HABITAT, 3) AN IDENTIFICATION CODE AND POSSIBLY RFID TAG FOR IDENTIFYING THE OBJECT, ALSO ON THE DOGTAG FACE, AND 4) METHODS FOR ATTACHING THE DOGTAG TO THE DESIRED OBJECT. DURING PHASE I, ALTIUS AND TEAM WILL DEFINE REQUIREMENTS, DEVELOP AND TEST THE OPTICAL FIDUCIALS AND IDENTIFICATION CODES, AND DEVELOP CONCEPTUAL DOGTAG DESIGNS AND PROTOTYPES, RAISING THE TRL FROM 2 TO 3. | ALTIUS SPACE MACHINES, INC | $29,899 | NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION | NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION | — | — | AR21 | Jun 14, 2017 | Jun 15, 2017 | Oct 30, 2017 | ||
| IGF::OT::IGF ONE OF THE KEY ELEMENTS OF NASA'S FUTURE HUMAN EXPLORATION PLANS IS THE DEVELOPMENT OF HUMAN-TENDED DEEP SPACE HABITATS. THESE MAY SERVE AS HABITATS DURING TRANSFER FROM EARTH TO A DESTINATION (THE MOON, MARS, ETC), OR SERVE AS PERIODICALLY-INHABITED ORBITAL BASES. FOR ALL OF THESE DEEP-SPACE HABITATS, ESPECIALLY ONES LEFT IN ORBIT AROUND A DESTINATION PLANET OR MOON, ASTRONAUT TIME AT THE HABITAT WILL BE BOTH INFREQUENT, AND VERY VALUABLE. AS SUCH IT WOULD BE EXTREMELY DESIRABLE TO DEVELOP WAYS TO ENABLE ROBOTS TO OUTFIT THE HABITAT PRIOR TO HUMAN OCCUPATION, AND TO ALLOW ROBOTS TO PERFORM MAINTENANCE AND LOGISTICS TASKS BOTH WHEN HUMANS ARE PRESENT AND WHEN THEY ARE NOT. THESE ROBOTIC INTERACTION AIDS IDEALLY CAN SERVE THREE PURPOSES: 1) HELPING ROBOTS DETERMINE THEIR RELATIVE POSE AND POSITION WITH RESPECT TO THE TARGET, AND THEIR RELATIVE LOCATION/POSE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE THE HABITAT, 2) IDENTIFYING WHAT THE OBJECTS ARE, ESPECIALLY IF THE OBJECTS ARE MOBILE LIKE SOFT-GOODS BAGS, AND 3) SIMPLIFYING PHYSICAL INTERACTIONS WITH THE OBJECT, INCLUDING ANCHORING TO AND MANIPULATING THE OBJECT. TO ENABLE THESE TYPES OF ROBOTIC INTERACTIONS, ALTIUS PROPOSES THE DEVELOPMENT OF A LIGHTWEIGHT, LOW-COST, PASSIVE "DOGTAG" ROBOTIC INTERFACE THAT CAN BE ATTACHED TO VARIOUS HABITAT STRUCTURES AND OBJECTS. THE DOGTAG INTERFACE INCLUDES: 1) A THIN (<0.4MM) FERROMAGNETIC MATERIAL LAYER THAT ALLOWS ROBOTS WITH MAGNETIC GRIPPERS TO STICK TO THE DOGTAG, 2) A PRINTED ON LONG-RANGE OPTICAL FIDUCIAL ON THE DOGTAG FACE FOR ALLOWING THE ROBOT TO DETERMINE RELATIVE POSE AND POSITION OF THE OBJECT EVEN FROM ACROSS A LARGE HABITAT, 3) AN IDENTIFICATION CODE AND POSSIBLY RFID TAG FOR IDENTIFYING THE OBJECT, ALSO ON THE DOGTAG FACE, AND 4) METHODS FOR ATTACHING THE DOGTAG TO THE DESIRED OBJECT. DURING PHASE I, ALTIUS AND TEAM WILL DEFINE REQUIREMENTS, DEVELOP AND TEST THE OPTICAL FIDUCIALS AND IDENTIFICATION CODES, AND DEVELOP CONCEPTUAL DOGTAG DESIGNS AND PROTOTYPES, RAISING THE TRL FROM 2 TO 3. | ALTIUS SPACE MACHINES, INC | $124,947 | NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION | NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION | — | 541712 | AR11SPACE R&D SERVICES; SPACE FLIGHT, RESEARCH AND SUPPORTING ACTIVITIES; BASIC RESEARCH | Jun 6, 2017 | Jun 9, 2017 | Dec 8, 2017 | ||
| IGF::OT::IGF THREE OF THE KEY ABILITIES NEEDED FOR MAKING FUTURE NASA AND COMMERCIAL LAUNCH AND IN-SPACE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS MORE AFFORDABLE AND CAPABLE ARE: A) THE ABILITY TO "LIVE OFF OF THE LAND" VIA IN-SITU RESOURCE UTILIZATION (ISRU), B) THE ABILITY TO REUSE IN-SPACE TRANSPORTATION HARDWARE, AND C) THE ABILITY TO LEVERAGE CONTINUING ADVANCEMENTS IN LOWER-COST EARTH-TO-ORBIT TRANSPORTATION. ALL OF THESE ABILITIES REQUIRE THE ABILITY TO TRANSFER LARGE QUANTITIES OF CRYOGENIC LIQUIDS (OXYGEN, HYDROGEN, AND METHANE) BETWEEN TANKS ON SEPARATE VEHICLES. WHILE ALL CRYOGENIC ROCKET STAGES HAVE TO HAVE A PROPELLANT FILL/DRAIN COUPLING FOR LOADING PROPELLANT ON THE GROUND, EXISTING DESIGNS ARE NOT CAPABLE OF IN-SPACE REFUELABILITY. A DUAL-PURPOSE COUPLER THAT COULD BE USED FOR BOTH GROUND FILL/DRAIN AND FOR IN-SPACE REFUELING WOULD BE EXTREMELY VALUABLE.IN THIS PROPOSED SBIR PHASE II RESEARCH EFFORT, ALTIUS SPACE MACHINES PROPOSES CONTINUING THE DEVELOPMENT OF JUST SUCH A DUAL-PURPOSE, LIGHTWEIGHT, HIGH-FLOW CRYOGENIC PROPELLANT COUPLING TO ENABLE BOTH GROUND FILL/DRAIN AND IN-SPACE REFUELING. THIS COUPLING INCORPORATES AN INNOVATIVE NEW CRYOGENIC SEALING ARCHITECTURE TO ENABLE A COUPLING WITH VERY LOW INSERTION/EXTRACTION FORCES, FOR MANUAL, ROBOTIC, AND ASTRONAUT-CONNECTED CRYOGENIC PROPELLANT TRANSFER OPERATIONS. IN PHASE I, ALTIUS DEMONSTRATED THE INNOVATIVE NEW CRYOGENIC SEALING ARCHITECTURE, AND PERFORMED INSERTION/EXTRACTION AND LEAK TESTS, DEMONSTRATING SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS OVER TRADITIONAL SPRING-ENERGIZED POLYMER SEALS, RAISING THE TRL FROM 2 TO 3 AT THE END OF PHASE I. IN PHASE II ALTIUS WILL CONTINUE REFINEMENT OF THE CRYOGENIC SEALING ARCHITECTURE, AND WILL DESIGN, FABRICATE, AND TEST A FAMILY OF COUPLERS BASED ON THIS ARCHITECTURE, AND FOCUSED ON AN INDUSTRY-PROVIDED LAUNCH VEHICLE APPLICATION. TESTING OF THE GROUND AND IN-SPACE COUPLERS DURING PHASE II WILL RAISE THE SYSTEM TRL TO 6, PAVING THE WAY FOR POST-PHASE II FLIGHT DEMONSTRATION (YIELDING TRL 9). | ALTIUS SPACE MACHINES, INC | $751,784 | NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION | NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION | — | 541712 | AR11SPACE R&D SERVICES; SPACE FLIGHT, RESEARCH AND SUPPORTING ACTIVITIES; BASIC RESEARCH | May 1, 2017 | May 1, 2017 | Apr 30, 2019 | ||
| IGF::OT::IGF THE SOLAR CUBE HELIOGYRO IS A CUBESAT PROPULSION SYSTEM THAT UTILIZES REFLECTED SOLAR PRESSURE AS ITS ONLY MEANS OF PROPULSION AND ATTITUDE CONTROL. IT HAS THE APPEARANCE OF A DUTCH WINDMILL AND EMPLOYS SAIL CONTROL AKIN TO A HELICOPTER. FOUR SOLAR REFLECTING BLADES MADE OF ULTRATHIN POLYIMIDE ATTACH TO A CENTRAL BUS. DURING OPERATION, CENTRIPETAL TENSION AND CHORD-WISE BATTENS PROVIDE STIFFNESS. THE SYSTEM USES COLLECTIVE AND CYCLIC PITCH OF THE BLADES TO CONTROL ATTITUDE AND THRUST. FOR STOWAGE, EACH BLADE IS ROLLED ONTO A SPOOL ADJACENT TO ITS PITCH ACTUATOR. FOR DEPLOYMENT, THE SPACECRAFT SPINS AND THE BLADES UNROLL IN A CONTROLLED MANNER. THE PROPOSED PHASE I EFFORT WILL FOCUS ON FABRICATION AND FEASIBILITY TESTING OF A BLADE ASSEMBLY, TO PROVE THAT A SAIL BLADE OF SUFFICIENT AREA CAN STOW IN THE PROPOSED VOLUME AND CAN DEPLOY AND PITCH RELIABLY. PHASE II WILL MATURE THE HARDWARE DESIGN AND DEVELOP THE NECESSARY GNC SOFTWARE. EVENTUALLY, SOLAR CUBE WILL HELP CUBESATS BECOME CAPABLE OF INTERPLANETARY OPERATION, AND EXTEND THEIR REACH TO PLACES THAT ARE CURRENTLY UNATTAINABLE | ALTIUS SPACE MACHINES, INC | $124,812 | NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION | NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION | — | 541712 | AR11SPACE R&D SERVICES; SPACE FLIGHT, RESEARCH AND SUPPORTING ACTIVITIES; BASIC RESEARCH | Jun 7, 2016 | Jun 10, 2016 | Dec 9, 2016 | ||
| IGF::OT::IGF THE ABILITY TO "LIVE OFF OF LAND" VIA IN-SITU RESOURCE UTILIZATION HAS LONG BEEN RECOGNIZED AS A KEY CAPABILITY FOR ENABLING THE AFFORDABLE DEVELOPMENT OF SPACE. WHILE MOST OF THE FOCUS HAS BEEN ON THE PRODUCTION OF BULK QUANTITIES OF ROCKET PROPELLANTS SUCH AS LIQUID METHANE, LIQUID HYDROGEN, AND LIQUID OXYGEN FROM EXTRATERRESTRIAL WATER AND CARBON DIOXIDE SOURCES, THERE HAS RECENT BEEN AN INCREASE OF INTEREST IN THE PRODUCTION OF STRUCTURAL MATERIALS AS WELL FROM IN-SITU RESOURCES, PARTICULARLY MATERIALS THAT CAN BE USED FOR ADDITIVE MANUFCATURING. | ALTIUS SPACE MACHINES, INC | $124,943 | NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION | NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION | — | 541712 | AR11SPACE R&D SERVICES; SPACE FLIGHT, RESEARCH AND SUPPORTING ACTIVITIES; BASIC RESEARCH | Jun 2, 2016 | Jun 10, 2016 | Dec 9, 2016 | ||
| IGF::OT::IGF THREE OF THE KEY ABILITIES NEEDED FOR MAKING FUTURE NASA AND COMMERCIAL IN-SPACE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS MORE AFFORDABLE AND CAPABLE ARE: A) THE ABILITY TO ?LIVE OFF OF THE LAND? VIA IN-SITU RESOURCE UTILIZATION (ISRU), B) THE ABILITY TO REUSE IN-SPACE TRANSPORTATION HARDWARE, AND C) THE ABILITY TO LEVERAGE CONTINUING ADVANCEMENTS IN LOWER-COST EARTH-TO-ORBIT TRANSPORTATION. ALL OF THESE ABILITIES REQUIRE THE ABILITY TO TRANSFER LARGE QUANTITIES OF CRYOGENIC LIQUIDS (OXYGEN, HYDROGEN, AND METHANE) BETWEEN TANKS ON SEPARATE VEHICLES. IN THIS PROPOSED SBIR RESEARCH EFFORT, ALTIUS SPACE MACHINES PROPOSES THE DEVELOPMENT OF A LIGHTWEIGHT, HIGH-FLOW CRYOGENIC PROPELLANT COUPLING TO ENABLE SUCH BULK PROPELLANT TRANSFERS. THIS COUPLING INCORPORATES AN INNOVATIVE NEW CRYOGENIC SEALING ARCHITECTURE TO ENABLE A COUPLING WITH VERY LOW INSERTION/EXTRACTION FORCES, FOR BOTH ROBOTIC AND ASTRONAUT-CONNECTED CRYOGENIC PROPELLANT TRANSFER OPERATIONS. IN PHASE I, ALTIUS AND ITS TEAM WILL FOCUS ON DEVELOPING AND TESTING A PROOF-OF-CONCEPT OF THIS INNOVATIVE NEW CRYOGENIC SEALING ARCHITECTURE, INCLUDING PERFORMING INSERTION/EXTRACTION AND LEAK TESTING, TO COMPARE WITH A MORE TRADITIONAL SPRING-ENERGIZED POLYMER SEAL CONCEPT. ALTIUS WILL THEN UPDATE THE COUPLING DESIGN BASED ON LESSONS LEARNED-FROM THESE TESTS, RAISING THE TRL FROM 2 TO 3 AT THE END OF PHASE I. | ALTIUS SPACE MACHINES, INC | $124,925 | NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION | NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION | — | 541712 | AR11SPACE R&D SERVICES; SPACE FLIGHT, RESEARCH AND SUPPORTING ACTIVITIES; BASIC RESEARCH | Jun 1, 2016 | Jun 10, 2016 | Dec 9, 2016 | ||
| IGF::OT::IGF ALTIUS SPACE MACHINES PROPOSES THE DEVELOPMENT OF LIGHTWEIGHT ROBOTIC MANIPULATORS, THAT UTILIZE ROLLABLE COMPOSITE STEM BOOMS TO PROVIDE A PRISMATIC EXTENSION/RETRACTION DOF, AS ROBOT ARMS FOR ASSISTIVE FREE-FLYERS (AFFS) ON THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION. THESE LOW-INERTIA STEM ARM (LISA) MANIPULATORS CAN PROVIDE COMPARABLE OR BETTER MANIPULATION CAPABILITIES TO AFFS THAN TRADITIONAL ROBOTIC MANIPULATORS, BUT WITH LESS MASS, LOWER INERTIAL, BETTER STOWABILITY, AND THE ABILITY TO REACH INTO VERY HARD-TO-ACCESS LOCATIONS. IN PHASE I, ALTIUS AND ITS PARTNERS WILL GATHER POTENTIAL USE CASES FOR MANIPULATOR-EQUIPPED AFFS, DERIVE SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS AND DEVELOP A CONCEPTUAL DESIGN FOR THE LISA MANIPULATORS, AND DEVELOP A PROOF-OF-CONCEPT PROTOTYPE OF THE SMALL STEM BOOM DEPLOYERS FOR THE LISA MANIPULATORS. THIS WILL RAISE THE SYSTEM TRL FROM 2 TO 3. IN PHASE II, ALTIUS AND ITS PARTNERS WILL DEVELOP A PROTOTYPE FLIGHT-SET OF LISA MANIPULATORS AND INTERFACE HARDWARE TO CONNECT THEM TO THE SPHERES TESTBEDS ON ISS, AND WILL SUPPORT THE NECESSARY ISS SAFETY REVIEW MEETINGS TO GET FLIGHT APPROVAL BY THE END OF PHASE II. SUCCESSFUL FLIGHT DEMONSTRATION IN A PHASE II-E OR II-X OPTION WOULD RAISE THE SYSTEM TRL TO 8, AT WHICH POINT IT COULD BE SMOOTHLY INTEGRATED INTO OPERATIONAL AFFS SUCH AS THE ONES NASA STMD IS CURRENTLY DEVELOPING. | ALTIUS SPACE MACHINES, INC | $124,638 | NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION | NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION | — | 541712 | AR11SPACE R&D SERVICES; SPACE FLIGHT, RESEARCH AND SUPPORTING ACTIVITIES; BASIC RESEARCH | May 29, 2015 | Jun 17, 2015 | Dec 17, 2015 | ||
| IGF::OT::IGF THIS IS A BAA CONTRACT FOR RESEARCH FOR A KRAKEN ASTEROID BOULDER RETRIEVAL SYSTEM. THE NASA ASTEROID REDIRECT MISSION AIMS TO ALLOW MANNED EXPLORATION OF A NEAR EARTH ASTEROID (NEA) IN THE EARLY 2020S BY USING A ROBOTIC SPACECRAFT TO CAPTURE AND DELIVER A SMALL NEA OR A BOULDER OFF OF AN NEA TO A DISTANT RETROGRADE ORBIT (ORO) AROUND THE MOON IN THE EARLY 2020S. THIS WILL ENABLE LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE ORIGINS OF OUR SOLAR SYSTEM, PRACTICING PLANETARY DEFENSE STRATEGIES TO ENABLE DEFLECTION OF A POTENTIALLY EARTH-IMPACTING ASTEROID, AND WILL PROVIDE MEDIUM-DURATION MANNED EXPLORATION OPERATIONAL EXPERIENCE IN PREPARATION FOR FUTURE DEEP-SPACE MISSIONS TO MARS AND OTHER DESTINATIONS. THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS EFFORT WILL BE TO DETERMINE VIA ANALYSIS AND PROTOTYPE TESTING THE VIABILITY OF THE PROPOSED KRAKEN ASTEROID BOULDER RETRIEVAL SYSTEM INCLUDING BOTH A BOULDER GRASPING MECHANISM AND AN ELECTRODYNAMIC DUST COLLECTION SYSTEM. THE CONTRACTOR WILL CHARACTERIZE THE MOST LIKELY MATERIAL PROPERTIES OF ASTEROIDAL REGOLITH AND ROCKS AS WELL AS CHARACTERIZING THE LIKELY ASTEROIDAL SURFACE ENVIRONMENT. THIS WILL INCLUDE CHARACTERIZING ROCK AND REGOLITH MECHANICAL, ELECTROSTATIC, AND MAGNETIC PROPERTIES, AND DETERMINING LIKELY TEMPERATURE RANGES ON THE ASTEROID SURFACE. THE CONTRACTOR WILL ALSO DESIGN AND FABRICATE A BREADBOARD PROTOTYPE OF AN ELECTRODYNAMIC DUST COLLECTION SYSTEM. THIS TASK WILL INCLUDE CREATING HIGH-LEVEL ANALYTICAL MODELS FOR SIZING AND DESIGN OF THE ELECTROMAGNETIC LOOPS, DESIGNING THE ELECTROSTATIC ELECTRODES, DESIGNING THE DRIVE ELECTRONICS FOR THE SYSTEM, AND FABRICATING THE BREADBOARD PROTOTYPE AND ASSOCIATED TESTING FIXTURES. THE OUTPUT FOR THIS WILL BE A REPORT SECTION FOR THE INTERIM REPORTS DISCUSSING THE DESIGN, ANALYTICAL RESULTS, AND DEVELOPMENTAL TESTING RESULTS FOR THE DUST COLLECTOR SYSTEM. THE CONTRACTOR WILL TEST THE BREADBOARD PROTOTYPE DEVELOPED IN TASK 2 IN A VACUUM ENVIRONMENT AT ITS OWN FACILITIES USING ASTEROIDAL DUST SIMULANT. THE OUTPUT FOR THIS WILL BE A REPORT SECTION FOR THE INTERIM REPORT DISCUSSING TESTING RESULTS. THE CONTRACTOR WILL TEST THE SPACE-COMPATIBLE JAMMING GRIPPER BRASSBOARD PROTOTYPE DESIGNED IN A THERMAL-VAC CHAMBER. THIS TEST RIG WILL USE THE SIMULATED ASTEROID ROCK SURFACE. THE OUTPUT FOR THIS WILL BE A REPORT SECTION FOR THE FINAL REPORT DISCUSSING TESTING RESULTS. THE CONTRACTOR WILL DESIGN AND FABRICATE A SUBSCALE BRASSBOARD PROTOTYPE OF THE BOULDER GRASPING MECHANISM. THIS WILL CULMINATE IN THE DESIGN AND FABRICATION OF A SUBSCALE, BRASSBOARD BOULDER GRASPER MECHANISM PROTOTYPE FOR TESTING. | ALTIUS SPACE MACHINES, INC | $499,659 | NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION | NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION | — | 336414Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing | AR12SPACE R&D SERVICES; SPACE FLIGHT, RESEARCH AND SUPPORTING ACTIVITIES; APPLIED RESEARCH | Jul 29, 2014 | Jul 29, 2014 | Feb 27, 2015 | ||
| IGF::OT::IGF ALTIUS SPACE MACHINES AND MSNW LLC PROPOSE THE DEVELOPMENT OF A CUBESAT-SCALE MULTIPURPOSE INTERPLANETARY DEPLOYABLE AEROCAPTURE SYSTEM (MIDAS), TO PROVIDE CUBESATS WITH THE CAPABILITY TO PERFORM RELIABLE AEROCAPTURE AND AEROBRAKING MISSIONS. THE MIDAS SYSTEM CONSISTS OF A THIN, DEPLOYABLE, MAGNETOSHELL AEROCAPTURE (MAC) ELECTROMAGNET COIL THAT IS DEPLOYED OUTWARD FROM THE CUBESAT BODY USING MULTIPLE ELASTICALLY DEPLOYED COMPOSITE STEM BOOMS. THE MIDAS SYSTEM ALSO INCORPORATES INTO ITS STRUCTURE A HIGH-POWER CUBESAT-SCALE ROLL-OUT SOLAR ARRAY (CAPABLE OF>5W ORBIT AVERAGED POWER EVEN AT JUPITER DISTANCES), AND A HIGH-POWER BURST-MODE LOOP YAGI ANTENNA FOR POTENTIAL DEEP-SPACE SPACECRAFT-TO-EARTH GROUND LINK COMMUNICATIONS. WHILE IT WILL NOT BE INVESTIGATED IN THE PROPOSED PHASE I WORKPLAN, PREVIOUS RESEARCH AT MSNW INDICATES THAT THE MIDAS TECHNOLOGY MAY ALSO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SHIELDING AGAINST SOLAR FLARES AND PLANETARY RADIATION BELTS. THE GOAL IS TO PACKAGE THIS SYSTEM INTO 2-3U OF A 6U CUBESAT FOR MISSIONS TO MARS, VENUS, OR EUROPA. THE PHASE I WORKPLAN WILL FOCUS ON SIZING THE MAC COIL, CREATING AN ACTIVE AEROGRAVITY TOUR (AATOUR) DESIGN TOOL FOR SIZING MAC HARDWARE FOR AEROCAPTURE MISSIONS, DESIGNING AND SIZING THE MIDAS STRUCTURE, ANALYZING THE BURST-MODE LOOP YAGI SYSTEM TO VERIFY IT CAN CLOSE A USEFUL DATA LINK WITH EARTH (AND VICE VERSA), AND THEN DESIGNING AND PROTOTYPING THE MIDAS SYSTEM FOR PACKAGING AND DEPLOYMENT. THE PHASE I EFFORTS WILL CULMINATE IN THE DEPLOYMENT TESTING OF A FULL-SCALE MIDAS SYSTEM. IF COMPLETED SUCCESSFULLY, THE PHASE I EFFORT WILL RAISE THE SYSTEM FROM A TRL OF 2 TO 3. FOLLOW-ON PHASE II EFFORTS WILL DEVELOP AND PERFORM DEVELOPMENT TESTS ON A FULL BRASSBOARD MIDAS DEMONSTRATION SYSTEM, RAISING THE SYSTEM TO A TRL OF 4 OR 5. | ALTIUS SPACE MACHINES, INC | $124,703 | NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION | NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION | — | 541712 | AR11SPACE R&D SERVICES; SPACE FLIGHT, RESEARCH AND SUPPORTING ACTIVITIES; BASIC RESEARCH | Jun 2, 2014 | Jun 20, 2014 | Dec 19, 2014 | ||
| IGF::OT::IGF OTHER FUNCTIONS THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS EFFORT IS TO DEVELOP A SINGLE DEGREE OF FREEDOM COMPOSITE STORABLE TUBULAR EXTENSIBLE MEMBER (STEM) ARM FOR SPACE SITUATIONAL AWARENESS AND OSCILLATION DAMPING APPLICATIONS. DARPA'S PHOENIX PROGRAM AIMS TO CHANGE HOW SATELLITES ARE BUILT, SHIFTING TO ON-ORBIT ASSEMBLY TO UPGRADE SATELLITES TO INCORPORATE NEW ELECTRONICS AND NEW TECHNOLOGIES. THIS APPROACH INCREASES THE EFFECTIVE US GOVERNMENT RETURN ON INVESTMENT BY RE-USING HIGHEST VALUE COMPONENTS ON ORBIT, AND ALLOWS NON-TRADITIONAL SPACE SUPPLIERS TO ENTER GEO USING HIGH VOLUME LOW COST MANUFACTURING THROUGH DISPENSED COTS HOSTED PAYLOAD DELIVERY. BY ENABLING "ASSEMBLY IN SPACE," DARPA AND NASA CAN MORE COST-EFFECTIVELY BUILD VERY LARGE APERTURES FOR BOTH RF AND OPTICAL SYSTEMS. | ALTIUS SPACE MACHINES, INC | $317,000 | NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION | NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION | — | 541712 | AR22 | Jun 20, 2012 | Jun 25, 2012 | Aug 25, 2013 |