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Mobile Electric Energy Rover for Comprehensive Architecture Trades (MEERCAT)

Completed TRL 3 (started at 1, targeting 3)

Description

Compare overall efficiencies of competing cabled connection methods for lunar surface power grids by quantitatively measuring the tractive performance of tethered power delivery rovers.

Benefits

Technology for evaluating alternative approaches for lunar surface power grid deployment of cabling will provide a powerful tool for surface architecture studies, mission planners and lunar surface asset developers including power production systems and a variety of power consumers such as ISRU and Habitation assets. Early flight validations of this technology may occure in nearer term CLPS missions, and provide key in situ data for more detailed surface architecture designs.

Details

Technology areaAerospace Power and Energy Storage > Power Management and Distribution > Distribution and Transmission
ProgramCenter Innovation Fund: GRC CIF (GRC CIF)
Lead organizationGlenn Research Center, Cleveland, OH
Start date2021-10-01
End date2022-09-30

Project contacts

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How to get involved

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 3) — 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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