SBIR-STTR Award

RCS Tank Operations Using Cryocoolers
Award last edited on: 9/10/22

Sponsored Program
SBIR
Awarding Agency
NASA : JSC
Total Award Amount
$124,955
Award Phase
1
Solicitation Topic Code
Z10.01
Principal Investigator
Antony Skaff

Company Information

Sierra Lobo Inc

102 Pinnacle Drive
Fremont, OH 43420
   (419) 332-7101
   howl@sierralobo.com
   www.sierralobo.com
Location: Multiple
Congr. District: 04
County: Sandusky

Phase I

Contract Number: 80NSSC21C0245
Start Date: 4/29/21    Completed: 11/19/21
Phase I year
2021
Phase I Amount
$124,955
The proposed RCS gas generation system integrates with existing active CFM hardware to manage temperature and pressure for the propellant, vaporizer, and RCS tanks. Innovative integration with the waste heat and cooling power of the cryocoolers, an essential part of CFM hardware for long duration, cryogenically propelled missions, enables the propellant to be vaporized and heated to the required 300K and 3000psi at the necessary rates (0.1g/s for hydrogen, 0.3g/s for methane, and 0.5g/s for oxygen). Utilizing the cooling power of the cryocooler means any remaining gaseous propellant in the vaporizer tank after transfer to the RCS accumulator can be chilled and condensed. Chilling and condensing the propellant prepares the vaporizer tank for the next transfer from the propellant tank and reduces the need to vent the vaporizer tank between fill events. This limits propellant loss by reducing the number of venting events throughout the mission. Managing RCS gas generation through an on-board cryocooler reduces the mass and power requirements of the gas generation system and reduces the mass of needed propellant by reducing the number of propellant venting events. Potential NASA Applications (Limit 1500 characters, approximately 150 words): Extended cryogenically propelled lunar and Mars missions ISRU systems High-pressure gas filling for long-term, cryogenic propellant storage in space Potential Non-NASA Applications (Limit 1500 characters, approximately 150 words): cryogenic storage dewars for medical systems pressure and temperature control of storage dewars used to transport cryogens Duration: 6

Phase II

Contract Number: ----------
Start Date: 00/00/00    Completed: 00/00/00
Phase II year
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Phase II Amount
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