GLOYER-TAYLOR LABORATORIES INC — National Aeronautics and Space Administration STTR Phase I: T2
GLOYER-TAYLOR LABORATORIES INC — STTR Phase I award from National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
Phase I STTR feasibility signal
- Phase I awards fund proof-of-concept work. For capture teams, they mark early interest from National Aeronautics and Space Administration in a technical approach.
- Watch for Phase II follow-ons from the same firm/topic family — that conversion path is where budgets and transition pressure rise.
- Obligated amount $124,995. Cross-check similar awards in the same agency and technology tags for going-rate context.
- Topic code T2 links this award to a solicitation family — search the same topic stem for incumbents and recompete timing.
- Amount
- $124,995
- Agency
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Program / Phase
- STTR · Phase I
- Topic
- T2
- Solicitation
- STTR_20_P1
- NAICS
- —
- Place of performance
- TN
- Period
- 2020-08-18 → 2021-09-30
Description
In Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) is at the forefront of near-term lunar and Martian missions.nbsp; While many technologies and program strategies focus in ISRU, propellant production substantially impacts the scope and duration of these missions.nbsp; Through ISRU, missions can benefit from substantial mass savings, and size reduction which, in turn, result in longer durations and larger payloads.nbsp; Moreover, reusable landers within situ propellant production can reduce cost and benefit critical functions such as life support, energy storage, and scientific payloads.With the potential benefit comes certain technical challenges.nbsp; While pure methane is a well-characterized propellant, impurities that may be present in in situ production can cause a variety of issues.nbsp; Beginning in the manufacturing process, the presence of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and water can affect the success of liquefaction processes.nbsp; Carbon dioxide and water both have freezing points above the saturation temperature of methane that could cause the build up of solids in liquefaction plumbing.nbsp; Moreover, carbon monoxide has a lower saturated temperature so it may either, not condense and cause gas pocket, or condense and boil off later.nbsp; It may require a conditioning stage to separate carbon monoxide from methane or maintaining temperatures low enough to keep it from boiling.nbsp;In this effort GTL proposes to determine the effect of impure propellant on mission critical systems, including storage, pressurization systems, thermal management systems, and combustion instability.