Inflatable Capsule Recovery Raft using OTS Pontoons and Other Components

The objective of the proposed innovation is to research and study the feasibility of using pontoons (based on Off the Shelf (OTS) equipment) to make an inflatable raft that will support a water-landed space capsule. The advantages of this approach over traditional methods are: 1) Provides stable platform to open hatch for Flight Crew access/egress in less than 1 hour from the time the recovery vessel reaches the capsule, 2) Does not drive an increase in flight weight of capsule, 3) Protects the capsule during handling and loading operations, 4) Can be deployed from different types of vessels, 5) Allows for launch and recovery from support vessels with Combat Rubber Raiding Craft (CRRC) or Rigid-hull Inflatable Boat (RHIBs), 6) Minimizes operations in turbulent wake zone of ship, 7) Raft draws very little water, 8)Transports on standard commercial carriers in deflated and stowed condition, 9) Minimal pre-op set-up time on recovery vessel, 10) Based on existing technologies resulting in low technical and operational risks.

Potential customers are NASA Ground Operations, NASA Flight Crew Office, DoD groups supporting contingency landing zones

Commercial Capsule using commercial assets for the recovery. Recovery of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles

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.

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.