Self-Deploying, Composite Habitats

Cornerstone Research Group, Inc. (CRG), proposes to develop self-deploying, composite structures for lunar habitats, based on CRG's Veritex(TM) materials. These structures will provide a rigid, durable habitat that will reduce the risk of mechanical failure due to crew or environmentally induced damage compared with inflatable structures that are more susceptible to punctures and damage from micrometeoroid impacts. Veritex is a composite material consisting of common reinforcement fibers, such as e-glass, carbon, Kevlar(R), or high-strain capable fabrics, and one of CRG's shape memory polymers (SMP). Veritex materials will return to a memorized shape when raised above a specific activation temperature. This unique feature enables the use of Veritex(TM) as a primary lunar structure for its predictability and repeatability, which will offer quick, self-deploying lunar habitat that can return to a rigid enclosure after the deployment process. The development of expanding composite habitats will offer increased packing efficiency compared with fully rigid structures that lack expandable characteristics and waste valuable cargo space. This habitation structures technology will achieved Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4 during Phase 1 with proof-of-concept feasibility studies and will achieve a TRL of 5 during Phase II.

This project's technologies developed for NASA systems would directly apply to systems operated by other government and commercial enterprises. In addition to space applications, the self-deployable structures could be used in various terrestrial commercial markets such as for semi-permanent shelters, emergency and relief shelters, deployable research facilities in extreme environments and mothballing and long-term storage of naval vessels and military equipment, such as aircraft, and potentially armor and artillery. Government systems that would derive the same benefits would include, but not be limited to, uninhabited space structures, barracks, mess halls, and operation centers operated by the Department of Defense.

Supporting NASA's Exploration Systems Mission Directorate, this project's technologies directly address requirements for expanding habitation systems for multi-gravity environments (micro and reduced gravity), multi-use work stations, and long duration, deep-space habitats. This project's technologies offer significant volume reduction potential that will utilize storage volume more efficiently in transit to its destination. The self-deploying habitat will also minimize manual labor required by astronauts during the deployment process.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 5) — 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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