Entry and Decent System Technology – Phase I SBIR

NASA is advancing inflatable aerodynamic decelerators (IAD) to deliver payloads to Mars, Venus, and Titan, as well as payload return to Earth from low Earth orbit. Current IAD gas inflation technologies are typically high pressure stored cold gas architectures. These systems are large, bulky, and have life-cycle downsides such as inherent shipping complications, deployment reliability, and safety concerns. To address these deficiencies Valley Tech Systems has developed a comprehensive IAD mission scalable solid propellant proportional gas generator system design that applies our new DOD and NASA SBIR developed lightweight long duration hot gas valve technology. During this Phase I SBIR we are proposing continuing of our technology development to better meet the IAD mission with a new miniaturized rotational valve architecture. The resulting SBIR development technology will reduce System Weight and Power (SWaP) by 2x while capable of scaling across all future NASA and commercial applications. The phase I program will conduct technology trades, engineering design and analyses, life cycle risk planning with a hot fire demonstration of the new rotational hot gas valve materials and manufacturing technology.

•NASA Planetary IAD Applications: Mars, Venus, Titan •NASA and Commercial Earth Launch System Component Recovery

•Advanced Missile Defense Exo Payload control for interceptor and booster ACS

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 5) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.