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To Ensure the Integrity of the Cryogenic Propellant Depot Tank Within the Expected Radiation and Space Debris Environment

Award Information
Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Branch: N/A
Contract: NNM06AA15C
Agency Tracking Number: 042156
Amount: $50,000.00
Phase: Phase II
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: X2.04
Solicitation Number: N/A
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2004
Award Year: 2006
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2005-12-02
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2007-11-30
Small Business Information
P.O. Box 505
Brigham City, UT 84302-0505
United States
DUNS: 95632
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 James Patterson
 Principal Investigator
 (435) 734-1166
 jamesp@hypercompeng.com
Business Contact
 James Patterson
Title: Business Official
Phone: (435) 734-1166
Email: jamesp@hypercompeng.com
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

HyPerComp Engineering, Inc. (HEI) proposes to develop well characterized, structurally reliable filament wound composite pressure vessels for use in both cryogenic and radiation environment applications. The intent of the proposed effort is to develop the detailed pressure vessel performance characteristics that will result in "off the shelf' technology for high performance cryogenic/ radiation environment composite pressure vessels.

This intent will be achieved via empirical characterization of composite raw materials subsequent to exposure to the aforementioned environments. Phase I of this effort (NASA contract #NNM05AA45C) demonstrated a significant reduction in structural performance subsequent to exposure to cryogenic/radiation environments. This reduction in structural performance would seriously compromise the structural performance of any composite structure.

The aerospace and the commercial communities have shown significant interest in using filament wound composite pressure vessels for cryogenic applications. In addition there is serious consideration for using composite vessels in deep space exploration which would sustain significant radiation exposure. The Phase I investigation has shown that these environments significantly degrade the structural capability of these vessels. Constituent raw materials and existing pressure vessel designs have not been characterized for these applications and as such the safety margins for these applications are undefined. Therefore, the reliability of such usage is unknown.

HEI has recently completed a Phase I SBIR through NASA/MSFC. This successful effort demonstrated a significant degradation in composite pressure vessel cryogenic/radiation performance. The effort proposed herein builds upon that knowledge, significantly expands it, and will result in statistically meaningful and, therefore, reliable "off the shelf" technology for composite pressure vessels in cryogenic/radiation applications.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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