Tag: SBIRs

Tethers Unlimited to Develop Collaborative Robotics Platform with NASA Funding

News 4

Tethers Unlimited (TUI) will develop a collaborative robotics platform for use aboard the International Space Station with the assistance of NASA funding.

The space agency has selected the company’s AstroPorter proposal for funding under its Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I program. The contract is worth up to $125,000 over 13 months.

‘TUI will develop an AstroPorter payload for Astrobee to perform collaborative robotics tasks with TUI’s MANTIS – an EXPRESS Rack payload with a robotic arm for telerobotic operation of experiments on the ISS,” the proposal summary states. “AstroPorter will interface with Astrobee through the dedicated payload bay and function as a platform for transporting equipment and other stowed material around the ISS.”

(more…)

Tyvak Selected for NASA SBIR Phase 1 Award

News 0

Tyvak Nano-Satellite System plans to develop a low-cost, high-performing avionics system for use in small launch vehicles and maneuvering upper stage carriers with the help of NASA funding.

The space agency selected the Tyvak Extended Mission PlatfOrm (TEMPO) for funding under its Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase 1 program. The contract is worth up to $125,000  over 13 months.

“The system provides autonomous guidance and control and stage/deployment sequencing,” the proposal summary stated. “It also uses customizable subsystem packages to enable carrier vehicles to provide services currently unavailable to small satellites, such as delivery of multiple satellites to multiple orbital planes, long-duration carrier vehicle operations, delayed deployment of spare satellites until they are needed to replenish a constellation, hub-and-spoke rendezvous and proximity, and communication relay.”

(more…)

NASA Awards $43.5 Million to US Small Businesses for Technology Research, Development

News 0


WASHINGTON (NASA PR) — NASA has selected 304 proposals from U.S. small businesses to advance research and technology in Phase I of its 2018 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program and 44 proposals for the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program, totaling $43.5 million in awards. These selections support NASA’s future space exploration missions, while also benefiting the U.S. economy.

(more…)

A Closer Look at Astra Space

News 26

by Douglas Messier
Managing Editor

At some point in the next few weeks, the Pacific Spaceport Complex — Alaska will host its first commercial rocket launch. Officials at the Alaska Aerospace Corporation, which runs the spaceport, are hoping the suborbital test flight is the first of many commercial flights from the underused facility.

While officials have not identified the California company conducting the launch, a perusal of the corporation’s board minutes indicate it is almost certainly a small Bay Area startup named Astra Space.

(more…)

NASA Selects Smallsat Technology Projects for SBIR Funding

News 0
Credit: NASA

NASA has selected nine small satellite technology projects for funding under the space agency’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. Each contract is worth up to $750,000 over two years.

The proposals include:

Antara Teknik, LLC
Granite Bay, CA
Efficient and Secure Network and Application Communications for Small Spacecraft

Busek Company, Inc.
Natick, MA
Milliarcsecond Small Spacecraft Attitude Control System

CU Aerospace, LLC
Champaign, IL
Fiber-fed Advanced Pulsed Plasma Thruster (FPPT)

Froberg Aerospace, LLC
Rolla, MO
Multi-Mode Micropropulsion

Gener8, Inc.
Sunnyvale, CA
Integrated Waveguide Optical Gyroscope

Innoflight, Inc.
San Diego, CA
Compact Multi-Protocol Modem

Tethers Unlimited, Inc.
Bothell, WA
MakerSat

Valley Tech Systems, Inc.
Folsom, CA
Affordable Small Satellite Launch Vehicle Reaction Control System

Vector Launch Inc.
Tucson, AZ
Flight Demonstration of a Micropump-based Stage Pressurization System

Summaries of the proposals follow.

(more…)

NASA Awards $96 Million to U.S. Small Businesses for Tech Research, Development

News 0

WASHINGTON, DC (NASA PR) — NASA has selected 128 proposals from American small businesses to advance research and technology in Phase II of its 2017 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. These selections support NASA’s future space exploration missions, while also benefiting the U.S. economy.

“We look forward to working with these promising small businesses to further advance NASA’s missions,” said Jim Reuter, acting associate administrator for NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD). “NASA is proud of our investment in the success of small businesses and its long-term impact on our economy.”

(more…)

NASA Selects Over 100 Small Business Projects for Funding

News 1

WASHINGTON, DC (NASA PR) — NASA has selected 133 proposals from U.S. companies to conduct research and develop technologies that will enable NASA’s future missions into deep space and benefit the U.S. economy.

The proposals, valued at approximately $100 million total for contract negotiations, were selected under Phase II of NASA’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program.

“We are pleased to select SBIR proposals from over 112 small businesses,” said Steve Jurczyk, associate administrator for the Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “Technology drives exploration, and selection of these projects represents an investment in achieving our space exploration goals and supporting the U.S. innovation economy, as well.”

(more…)

Tethers Unlimited Signs 4 NASA SBIR Phase I Contracts

News 0

Tethers_Unlimited_LogoBothell, WA, 22 May 2013 (TUI PR) –– Tethers Unlimited, Inc. (TUI) has signed four NASA Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contracts to develop novel space technologies that could dramatically lower the cost of space exploration and development missions.

(more…)

NASA Selects 44 Proposals for SBIR Phase II Awards

News 0

NASA LOGOWASHINGTON (NASA PR) — NASA has selected 44 additional proposals from 42 small high-technology companies to enter into negotiations for Phase 2 contract awards through the agency’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program.

Valued at about $30.7 million, these selections complement 39 Phase 2 proposals announced in November.

(more…)

Firestar Selected for SBIR Contract for Green Propulsion System

News 1

On Thursday, NASA announced the selection of 39 proposals for Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II awards. Parabolic Arc will be looking at several of the proposals being undertaken by companies we have been following. This post looks at Firestar Engineering, a company based in Mojave, Calif., that is developing non-toxic propellant that will be tested at the International Space Station next year.

Firestar Engineering, LLC
Mojave, CA

PROPOSAL TITLE: Low Energy Electronic Ignition System for NOFBX Thrusters
SUBTOPIC TITLE: Propulsion Technologies

Estimated Technology Readiness Level (TRL) at beginning and end of contract:
Begin: 3
End: 5

(more…)

SBIR Selects 39 SBIR Phase II Proposals

News 0

WASHINGTON (NASA PR) — NASA has selected 39 small business proposals to enter into negotiations for Phase 2 contract awards through the agency’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program. The SBIR program partners with small businesses to catalyze efforts to develop new technologies to support NASA’s technology needs.

NASA will award contracts to 36 small high-technology firms in 17 states with a total value of approximately $27 million. These competitive, awards-based programs encourage U.S. small businesses to engage in federal research and development, and bring new technologies to the global marketplace.

(more…)

NASA Selects 85 SBIR Phase II Proposals for Contract Negotiations

News 0

NASA PR — WASHINGTON — NASA has selected 85 small business proposals to enter into negotiations for Phase II contract awards through the agency’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program.

The selected projects have a total value of approximately $63 million. NASA will award the contracts to 79 small high technology firms in 27 states. These competitive awards-based programs encourage U.S. small businesses to engage in federal research, development and commercialization. The programs also enable businesses to explore technological potential, while providing the incentive to profit from new commercial products and services.

(more…)