3D Printed Loop Heat Pipe

This effort is to produce and test three flight-like spacecraft thermal control systems enabled by the 3D Printed Loop Heat Pipe (3DP-LHP). Each system is a significant advancement over the baseline from the current programs, expanding the performance envelope of the 3DP-LHP and providing a path to achieving TRL 6 for future commercialization. Furthermore, these systems span a very diverse and disparate set of requirements covering both LEO/GEO and lunar environments, highlighting the versatility and near-indispensable relevance of the 3DP-LHP to both NASA and non-NASA missions. The proposed effort also has a significant amplifying impact on the investment due to the development of three relevant thermal control systems in a single program.

NASA has expressed strong interest in LHPs for various applications, including miniaturized satellites such as SmallSat/CubeSat, traditional large satellites, planetary rovers, and landers. The proposed technology provides an attractive low-cost, DMLS-based LHP evaporator as an alternative to the traditionally-manufactured evaporator, which involves a series of high-skill, labor-intensive processes. An order of magnitude savings in the evaporator cost is obtained by eliminating complex processes such as wick insertion and the knife-edge seal. The DMLS-based LHP evaporators are also applicable to DOD and other government satellites. With the rapid proliferation of cost-sensitive commercial satellites, there is an ever-increasing demand for low-cost thermal management solutions, which can also be addressed through further development of the proposed technology.  Current LHPs cost more than a University CubeSat.

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.

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.