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Active TRL 4 (started at 3, targeting 6)
The food system currently requires two layers of packaging on freeze-dried and low moisture foods to provide adequate barrier to oxygen and moisture and maintain vacuum integrity through the required 3-5 year shelf life. A new package has been identified with the potential to replace the two-layer package currently used for freeze-dried and low moisture foods, which if successful could reduce packaging mass and eliminate cumbersome layers of trash from these foods. This project will validate representative food sets stored in the new packaging system for quality and acceptability, as well as packaging depress-repress survivability.
This project has the potential to reduce packaging up-mass and eliminate cumbersome layers of trash for all vehicle foods systems.
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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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