Lightweight Materials and Structures

Completed TRL 5 (started at 3, targeting 5)

Description

Current inflatable structures are designed on the restraint layer's short term properties with a Factor of Safety of 4 due to lack of long-term data on structural fabrics. Long-term (5-years) end of life properties of restraint layer materials under loads, are unknown.

Details

Program	Game Changing Development (GCD)
Lead organization	Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA
Start date	2011-10-01
End date	2014-03-31

Project contacts

Listed on TechPort itself — the most direct way to ask about this specific project.

Lynn M Bowman — lynn.m.bowman@nasa.gov

How to get involved

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.