Bio-inspired Thermal Exchange System for Spacecraft

Completed TRL 2 (started at 1, targeting 2)

Description

Establish the heat capacity, thermal conductivity and thermal expansion of melanin. Fabricate a thermal sensing platform coated with melanin and test its performance relative to an unmodified control under vacuum using both thermocouple and thermography detection.The melanin will be isolated from a scalable environmental yeast known to absorb the entire solar irradiance.

Benefits

Spacecrafts must be able to resist abrupt and extreme temperatures. Failure to do so, may result in loss of data, reduction of lifespan, malfunctions and a risk of loss of vehicle. A primitive biological mechanism of thermoregulation uses melanin biopigments to sense heat. The objective of this project is to describe melanin's thermal properties and capacity to capture and dissipate heat from a surface under vacuum. To accomplish these objectives a simple thermal sensor of interdigitated fingers coated with melanin will be used to conduct the evaluation.

Details

Technology area	Thermal Management Systems > Thermal Protection Components and Systems > Thermal Protection Materials
Program	Center Innovation Fund: GRC CIF (GRC CIF)
Lead organization	Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, OH
Start date	2020-10-01
End date	2021-09-30

Project contacts

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

Andrew J Trunek — andrew.j.trunek@nasa.gov

How to get involved

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 2) — 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.

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