Space Exploration Hydrogen Boost Pump

Concepts NREC proposes an electrically driven, boost pump, with an integrated motor to deliver liquid hydrogen saturated at 20 psia, at an increase in pressure of between 25 and 45 psid, and a flow rate of at least 0.6 kg/s. The target life will be 7500 hours with 3000 start/stop cycles. The boost pump can be used in conjunction with a high-pressure ratio pump for a variety of space exploration missions of interest to NASA. Because of differences in density, the hydrogen boost pump can be used for other fluids, such as LOX and methane, and satisfy are good portion of the flow and pressure rise needs for these propellants in launch and in-space applications. The pump will be designed with the intent to operate with other fluids to maximize its usefulness. The hydrogen pump development will enable more rapid development of other motor driven aerospace pumps for a variety of propellants and purposes for lower long term development costs.

Electrically powered hydrogen boost pump and potential derivates for oxygen and methane to deliver cryogenic propellant at saturation pressures to an increased pressure for use by high pressure ratio pumps or other purposed for a variety of NASA space exploration missions. These include upper stages, ascent and descent stages, refueling elements or aggregation stages, nuclear thermal propulsion, and in situ resource utilization. The hydrogen boost pump can be used by private industry for the various space activities including small rocket booster stages and all the various uses that NASA would use it for. In addition, variations of the pump with some changes to materials could be used for military applications such as liquid propellant delivery in hybrid missile propulsion.

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.

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.