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Completed TRL 4 (started at 2, targeting 4)
A pyro-less valve was developed by ER14 a few years ago and the valve part was a huge success, however, the actuator portion of the valve was problematic. The actuator would stick as the release mechanism was loaded too high at higher operation pressures. This effort will redesign the actuator and allow for a valve that has improved reliability.
Use of this will be for potential space craft applications but also for ground testing of waterhammer and fill surge testing to allow higher fidelity testing without the danger of using pyrotechnics in a lab environment. A successful outcome could transform the way spacecraft systems are processed on the ground and the way we test those systems in the lab.
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This is early/mid-stage (TRL 4) — 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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