NASA Advanced Space Technology in 2013

NASA Ames engineers are building PhoneSats, demonstrating how “off the shelf” consumer devices can lead to new space exploration capabilities. (Credit:
NASA Ames Research Center/Dominic Hart)

WASHINGTON (NASA PR) — NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) made major strides in 2013, pioneering new technologies and capabilities that added breadth to NASA’s tool kit, aiding current and future missions.

The directorate is engaged in nine major technology development programs that are underway at each of NASA’s ten field centers located across the United States.

“Our work engages and inspires thousands of technologists and innovators, creating a community of our best and brightest working on the nation’s toughest space technology challenges,” said NASA’s Michael Gazarik, associate administrator for space technology.

“Along with pursuing investments outlined in the Strategic Space Technology Investment Plan, our efforts also grow the nation’s innovation economy and create high-tech jobs. We have a portfolio of projects that embraces academia, industry and other government agencies,” Gazarik said.

Aerospace enterprise

Here is a sampling of STMD’s cutting edge, revolutionary and high-payoff technologies that were tackled and progressed to center-stage last year – each adding muscle to NASA’s overall space technology enterprise.

Three PhoneSats were delivered to Earth orbit on the maiden flight of the Antares launch vehicle on April 21, 2013 from Wallops Island, Va. (Credit:
NASA)

PhoneSat: Thanks to NASA’s Small Spacecraft Technology Program, the agency has given a “ringing endorsement” to PhoneSats. Four PhoneSat cubesats were placed in Earth orbit in 2013, demonstrating that off-the-shelf, commercial smartphone technology can serve as a spacecraft’s operating system enabling the transmission of images and scientific information.

Near-Space Technology: Throughout 2013, thanks to STMD’s Flight Opportunities Program, the agency solicited, selected and launched cutting-edge space technology payloads on commercial reusable launch vehicles, balloons and commercial parabolic aircraft. The flights permitted participants to demonstrate their technologies at the edge of Earth’s atmosphere—and then return that hardware back to terra firma—before committing them to the ruthless and unforgiving conditions of orbital spaceflight.

The 18-foot-diameter (5.5-meter) cryogenic propellant tank, currently being manufactured at the Boeing Developmental Center in Tukwila, Wash., will be one of the largest composite propellant tanks ever made and is scheduled to be pressure tested in 2014 at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. (Credit: Boeing)

Composite Cryogenic Propellant Tank: In a major “game changing” development in 2013, NASA completed testing on a Boeing-led 2.4 meter diameter prototype composite cryogenic propellant tank. This hydrogen-holding tank, designed to contain super-cold temperature fuel, was fabricated using out-of-autoclave techniques. The result: a composite cryogenic tank made with a 25 percent reduction in production cost and a 30 percent reduction in weight that allows for increased payload capacity. A larger tank is now in the works for testing in 2014, eyed for compatibility with the cryogenic upper stage needed for NASA’s new big booster, the Space Launch System (SLS).

3D Printing: As an innovative manufacturing project, NASA and Aerojet Rocketdyne successfully hot-fire tested a 3D printed rocket engine injector, marking one of the first steps in using additive manufacturing for space travel. The liquid-oxygen and gaseous-hydrogen rocket injector assembly was made using laser smelting manufacturing—a method to shorten production times and lower unit prices of the past.

Liquid oxygen/gaseous hydrogen rocket injector assembly built using additive manufacturing technology is hot-fire tested at NASA Glenn Research Center’s Rocket Combustion Laboratory in Cleveland. (Credit: NASA Glenn Research Center)

Visionary Views: The NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program nurtured visionary ideas that could transform future NASA missions with the creation of breakthroughs. In 2013, NIAC backed conceptual looks at radical concepts in propulsion and power, aircraft designs, removing orbital debris, mitigating the threat to Earth of a near Earth object, as well as novel ideas on robotics and interplanetary probes, imaging and communications.

Early Stage Pipeline: STMD engaged in more than 400 activities with 75 accredited U.S. universities to enable future missions and our continued leadership in space. For the third consecutive year, the Space Technology Research Grants program awarded competitive technology fellowships for graduate research on the agency’s most difficult space technology challenges. Sixty-five new fellowships were awarded this year, bringing the total number of graduate student space technology development efforts funded to-date to 193. Several fellowship graduates are already making an impact in the nation’s aerospace and innovation workforce.

Infusion potential

Along with these success stories, add to STMD’s 2013 achievements, hundreds of funded NASA Small Business Innovation Research and Technology Transfer programs. More than 400 proposals were selected from U.S. small businesses for development in 2013, demonstrating the great infusion potential of private sector innovation with NASA needs.

Looking back on 2013, what’s the payoff for investing in cutting-edge technologies?

“By investing in bold, broadly applicable, disruptive technology that industry cannot tackle today, the Space Tech Mission Directorate seeks to mature the technology required for NASA’s future missions in science and exploration while proving the capabilities and lowering the cost for other government agencies and commercial space activities,” Gazarik said. “It was a growing year…with more to build, test and fly in 2014!”

To fully appreciate the ongoing work of NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD), please visit:

https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/spacetech/home/