Top

Advanced Multipollutant Trace Contaminant Sorbents for the Exploration Portable Life Support System

Active

NASA-SBIR-158754SBIR / STTR

Contract Overview

Solicitation details, issuing organization, response deadlines, documents, and interested companies for this government contract opportunity.

AI Contract Overview

This NASA SBIR/STTR program solicitation focuses on the development of an advanced multipollutant trace contaminant control system for the Exploration Portable Life Support System used during extravehicular activities. The project aims to replace non-regenerable activated carbon with 3D-printed, monolithic carbon-based sorbents that are rapidly vacuum-regenerable. The primary technical objective is to achieve a minimum 50 percent reduction in weight and volume compared to current state-of-the-art systems while maintaining the ability to control trace contaminants at the 7-day Spacecraft Maximum Allowable Concentration. The current Phase 2E effort involves optimizing sorbent properties in a 1/6 scale model and integrating a redesigned full-scale twin-monolith TCCS prototype with the Rapid-Cycle Amine twin bed for carbon dioxide control. Key deliverables include the delivery of the next-generation full-scale prototype and comprehensive final reports. While primarily designed for spacesuits, the technology has broader potential applications in cabin air revitalization for spacecraft, US Navy submarines, commercial and military aircraft, advanced scuba-diving systems, and green building air-conditioning.

General Info

NASA SBIR project developing lightweight, vacuum-regenerable 3D-printed carbon sorbents for life support systems.

Agency

National Aeronautics and Space Administration → NASA SBIR/STTR Program

NAICS

541715 - Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)

Place of Performance

Houston, CT, 77058, USA

Set-Aside

SBA

Documents

H4.01-5668 - Advanced Multipollutant Trace Contaminant Sorbents

briefing-chart

Low

AI Contract Breakdown

Uniform Contract Format

Timeline

PhaseSolicitation

PostedJul 1

Solicitation

Ready to pursue this opportunity?

Start your free trial to track this contract, build proposals with AI assistance, and manage your pipeline.

Organization & Contact Information

AgencyNational Aeronautics and Space Administration → NASA SBIR/STTR Program

Contacts5 people available

OfficeUSA

Organization / AgencyNational Aeronautics and Space Administration → NASA SBIR/STTR Program

Office AddressUSA

Contacts

Michael A SerioPrimary Point of Contact

Cinda ChullenProject Manager

contact@example.gov

Marek WojtowiczPrincipal Investigator

Jason L KesslerProgram Director

contact@example.gov

Carlos TorrezProgram Manager

contact@example.gov

Interested Companies (1)

Advanced Fuel ResearchEast Hartford, CT

Full Description

This proposal addresses the fabrication testing of monolithic, carbon-based multipollutant trace-contaminant (TC) sorbents for the spacesuit Exploration Portable Life Support System (xPLSS) used in Extravehicular Activities (EVAs). The innovations: (1) multipollutant TC control at the 7-day Spacecraft Maximum Allowable Concentration (SMAC); (2) thin-walled, vacuum-regenerable TC sorbents fabricated using 3D-printing; (3) pre-oxidation of polymer monoliths to prevent monolith melting during carbonization activation; (4) the patented oxidation/activation step used to improve ammonia removal. Overall objective: to develop a multipollutant TC Control System (TCCS) that is rapidly vacuum-regenerable that possesses weight, size, power-requirement advantages over the state of the art. Phase 2 results: (1) demonstrated TC-removal efficiency sufficient to keep the TC concentration in the ventilation loop below 50% of 7-day SMAC; (2) 2 full-scale TC sorbent-monolith prototypes integrated with the Rapid-Cycle Amine (RCA) twin bed, NH3-removal efficiency exceeded 80%; (3) synergy between the TCCS and the RCA unit discovered, thanks to which TC sorbent performance improved. Phase 2E objectives: (1) to optimize with respect to minimum sorbent weight volume, in 1/6 scale, properties and performance of TC sorbent monoliths produced by carbonization activation of 3D-printed polymer monoliths; (2) to implement complete integration of the redesigned full-scale TCCS with the Rapid-RCA twin bed; (3) to deliver a next-generation full-scale twin-monolith TCCS prototype to NASA. Phase 2E tasks: (1) TC Sorbent Monolith Fabrication Optimization for Maximum Performance Minimum Volume Weight in 1/6 Scale; (2) 1/6-Scale and Full-Scale TCCS Twin-Monolith Prototype Design Fabrication; (3) Full-Scale TCCS Prototype Integration with the RCA; (4) Long-Term Testing of the 1/6-Scale TCCS; (5) Testing of the Full-Scale Integrated TCCS/RCA System; (6) Technology Evaluation.
Benefits: The main application of the proposed technology would be in spacecraft life-support systems, mainly in extravehicular activities (space suit), but after modifications also in cabin-air revitalization. The developed technology may find applications in air-revitalization on board US Navy submarines, in commercial and military aircraft, in the future air-conditioning systems for green buildings, and in advanced scuba-diving systems.