High-Capacity, High-Speed, Solid-State Hydrogen Gas Generator

Deployable aerodynamic decelerators are an enabling technology for missions to planets and moons with atmospheres as well as for returning payloads to Earth. These decelerators require a gas source to inflate them, and the objective is to provide an improvement over existing pressurized cold gas inflation systems. A solid-state hydrogen gas generator is proposed which is based on the thermal decomposition of a metal hydride in a controlled manner. Anasphere has successfully demonstrated this technology in Air Force and DARPA projects. Volume and flow specifications for the DARPA generator were within a factor of 10 of what is required for a Phase II demonstration. Advances to be demonstrated in Phase I relate to adapting the generator technology for space operation and optimizing the system from a mass perspective. Phase I work will include thermal reservoir design and optimization for the space environment, gas generation vessel design and optimization for the space environment, heat transfer optimization, physical testing of subscale elements followed by subscale generator testing, and finally the completion of scaled-up designs.

The primary NASA application is deployable aerodynamic decelerators as used for exploration of planets and moons with atmospheres as well as returning payloads to Earth. An additional application could be the inflation of planetary balloons.

Unattended inflation of balloons in difficult environments, such as airborne or at-sea applications, will be facilitated by this hydrogen generator. The generator can also be used to supply hydrogen in logistics-constrained areas for balloon inflation and other purposes such as operating fuel cells.

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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