Lithium-Ion Battery Solid Rocket Motor for Deorbit Applications

Our proposed innovation is the Lithium-Ion Thruster (LIT) system, a multi-use device capable of both electrical energy storage and thrust generation using the same hardware. The LIT system is an ideal candidate for a NASA Phase I SBIR grant because proving its feasibility will introduce a new propulsion and battery technology that provides distinct advantages over all other deorbiting technologies. It will do this by creating a massless battery within the propulsion system, using the stored energy inside the battery to power the spacecraft during normal operations, and then converting that same energy into thrust when the mission is complete. This unique coupling of systems reduces the overall size, weight, and power draw of the propulsion and battery system while also increasing the energy storage available. This allows spacecraft designers to dedicate more resources to the payloads they need to accomplish their science, commercial, and defense objectives while including a system to effectively deorbit spacecraft to reduce crowding and collision risk in low Earth orbit (LEO). This novel technology improves on traditional propulsion systems in the following ways: ● Combining the battery and propulsion system into a single device creates massless hardware by using the same mass for two distinct purposes. Volume, power draw, and cost will also be reduced, allowing more resources to be dedicated to the spacecraft payloads. ● Electrical energy storage capacity of the spacecraft will be increased, reducing pressure on mission designers with tight power budgets. ● The thrust of a burn can be controlled by altering the charge state of the battery cell. ● System safety will be increased during high-risk activities, such as handling, transportation, or launch, by putting the batteries into a low energy state (effectively unfueling the system). The battery cells can then be charged to the appropriate level on orbit before a propulsive event.

The rise in small spacecraft launches and spacecraft swarms is contributing to congestion in low Earth orbit (LEO). If congestion is not managed, access to critical orbits in LEO could be lost due to the dangerous density of debris. To respond to this threat, US Orbital Debris Mitigation Standard Practices dictates the US shall limit the creation of new debris. The LIT system can be used on all LEO NASA missions that require low SWaP-C devices to provide deorbit abilities which will allow more resources to be dedicated to payloads.

To comply with US Orbital Debris Mitigation Standard Practices, the LIT system can be used on commercial and defense missions that require low SWaP-C devices which will allow more resources to be dedicated to payloads.

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.

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.