NASA Space Technology Roadmaps and Priorities Restoring NASA's Technological Edge and Paving the Way for a New Era in Space (2012) / Chapter Skim
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Appendix M: TA10 Nanotechnology
Appendix M: TA10 Nanotechnology
Pages 267-281
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From page 267... ...
Reduce spacecraft and launch vehicle mass through the development of lightweight and/or multifunctional materials and structures enhanced by nanotechnologies. 1 The draft space technology roadmaps are available at http://www.nasa.gov/offices/oct/strategic_integration/technology_roadmap.html.
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From page 268... ...
Increase power for future space missions by developing higher efficiency, lower mass, and smaller energy systems using nanotechnologies. Energy generation and energy storage will remain a top technical challenge for all future space-related mis sions.
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From page 269... ...
Develop sensors and instrumentation with unique capabilities and better performance using nanotechnologies. The success of NASA space missions relies heavily on a variety of sensing methods and sensor technologies for numerous environments in addition to scientific data collection.
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From page 270... ...
One technology, 10.4.1 Sensors and Actuators, fell into the medium-priority rating based purely on its QFD score, but the panel chose to designate it as high priority as well; its selection is discussed below in the 10.4.1 Sensors and Actuators individual technology evaluation area. CHALLENGES VERSUS TECHNOLOGIES Figure M.3 shows the relationship between the 14 individual level 3 TA10 technologies and the top technical challenges.
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From page 271... ...
include using carbon nanotubes for cabling and tapes that are intended for near-term insertion into aircraft as a replacement for conventional copper-based wires and cables. Lightweight materials and structures enhanced by nanotechnology to reduce weight while improving mate rial performance aligns well with NASA's expertise and capabilities.
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Thermal Management: development of lightweight space missions by Improve performance of and/or multifunctional developing higher- 3. Propulsion Systems: instrumentation with unique capabilities and thermal management materials and structures efficiency, lower-mass, and Improve launch and in systems by using enhanced by smaller energy systems space propulsion systems better performance using nanotechnology.
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From page 273... ...
The technology also impacts TA14 Top Technical Challenges 1-4, Thermal Protection Systems, Zero Boil-Off Storage, Radiators, and Multifunctional Materials. Lack of research into the fabrication methodologies related to scale will slow development of lightweight materials and structures.
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The promise of nanosensors and sensor systems is the integration of nano-electronics and nano-power sources to deliver arrays of autonomous sensors suitable for structural health monitoring and other distributed sensing activities. Structural monitoring of the space vehicle and self-monitoring of the internal systems, in addition to astronaut health monitoring, will be required as vehicle complexity and mission durations increase.
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From page 275... ...
The medium-priority nanotechnology areas are: 10.3.2 Propulsion Systems, 10.4.3 Miniature Instrumentation, 10.3.3 In-Space Propulsion, 10.1.5 Thermal Protection and Control, and 10.1.2 Damage Tolerant Systems. It was determined that advances in the 10.1.3 Coatings, 10.1.4 Adhesives, 10.2.1 Energy Storage, 10.2.3 Energy Distribution, and 10.4.2 Electronics level 3 technology areas would not result in game-changing or major benefits to NASA, and thus they were rated low priority.
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From page 276... ...
These include 30 percent lighter cryogenic propellant tanks, enabling extreme environ ment operations, lighter and more efficient thermal protection and management, "smart" airframe and propulsion concepts, adaptive gossamer structures, high-efficiency flexible photovoltaics, enhanced power and energy storage, miniature instruments, enabling low-mass smart satellites capable of formation flying, low-power radiation-hard reconfigurable electronics, improved astronaut health management, and ultrasensitive selective sensing. Three different time periods were used to outline the top technical challenges facing nanotechnology: • Next 5 years -- Grand challenge: Controlled growth and stabilization of nanopropellants -- Development of long-life, reliable emission sources -- Development of characterization tools and methodologies to measure coupled properties of nano structured materials, including non-destructive and in situ techniques -- Optimization of bulk properties of nanomaterials
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From page 277... ...
The presentation concluded with some discussion of how nanotechnology crosscuts among the majority of the NASA technology roadmaps, as well as outlining how NASA is collaborating in nanotechnology research with the Department of Defense for materials and photovoltaics, and with the Department of Homeland Security for sensors. Also discussed was the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI)
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From page 278... ...
. Ghosh commented that there are opportunities in trap dynamics and in improving the engineering of thermal transistors, but also noted that there appear to be gaps in the NASA roadmap as well in thermal conductivity (e.g., significantly less range versus electrical conductivity)
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From page 279... ...
As for multifunctional capabilities, Son noted that solid rockets are multifunctional, and investigating liquids and slurries that could potentially be used for things like energy storage (e.g., fuel cell use) could be done.
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From page 280... ...
In terms of the NASA roadmap, Rubloff indicated that for the top technical challenges, he saw mechanisms for identifying defects to be lacking the most. He also identified some technology gaps, including using modeling and simulation to guide systems design and prioritization, as well as system level strategies for managing defects and reliability.
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From page 281... ...
Regarding the question on weight savings in composites, it was noted that there is the ability to use nanotubes to control morphology but that alignment requires nanometer scale control, which is something that does not exist currently. Potential gains may not be that great; i.e., potentially up to 50 percent with substantial investment.
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