ASTROPORT SPACE TECHNOLOGIES, INC. — National Aeronautics and Space Administration STTR Phase I: T7
ASTROPORT SPACE TECHNOLOGIES, INC. — STTR Phase I award from National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
- Amount
- $131,416
- Agency
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Program / Phase
- STTR · Phase I
- Topic
- T7
- Solicitation
- STTR_21_P1
- NAICS
- —
- Place of performance
- TX
- Period
- 2021-05-19 → 2022-06-19
Description
Proposednbsp;is an integrated induction furnace and nozzle for in-situ 3D printing and landing pad construction using lunar regolith. Through applied research, we combine two elements into one quot;innovationquot;:The furnace element uses an induction heater for reducing regolith feedstock into a fluid melt, which can be applied to a variety of solidification applications.Inductin heater advancements include automatic frequency tuning to the composition and properties of the feedstock.The nozzle element enables single-step lunar regolith melting, brick production and placement for landing pad creation or any flat hardened surface area such as roads or foundations.Our proposed solution is based on the principles of additive construction processing in-situ materials (regolith) into construction bricks. At the system level, basic components include a 3D printer using an Induction Furnace-Nozzle mounted onto a mobility platform for single step brick production and placement. The applied research focus for this proposal is on integration of the induction furnace and nozzle (an Induction Furnace-Nozzle) for regolith brick production.