Special Notice: New Conformal Thermal Protection Materials at NASA Ames Research Center
Synopsis – Oct 11, 2012
General Information
Solicitation Number: NEWCONFORMALTPS
Posted Date: Oct 11, 2012
FedBizOpps Posted Date: Oct 11, 2012
Recovery and Reinvestment Act Action: No
Original Response Date: Oct 26, 2012
Current Response Date: Oct 26, 2012
Classification Code: A — Research and Development
NAICS Code: 541712
Set-Aside Code:
Contracting Office Address
NASA/Ames Research Center, JA:M/S 241-1, Moffett Field, CA 94035-0001
Description
You are invited to learn about the new conformal ablative thermal protection materials under development at NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California.
DESCRIPTION The Conformal Ablator TPS (CA250) Project Element funded through the NASA Game Changing Division of the Space Technology Programs Office and precursor programs have supported the development of new, conformal high strain-to-failure thermal protection materials at NASA Ames Research Center. There are several classes of these materials: flexible, silica-based, RF transparent materials capable of withstanding heat fluxes up to 115 W/cm2 and formable carbon-based materials with demonstrated capability up to 540 W/cm2. Due to the nature of these materials, they should be easier to apply to spacecraft than current thermal protection systems (TPS). Further, they should be manufacturable in large (~1-m2 or larger) pieces and bonded directly to an aeroshell with no need for uncoupled gap fillers. The silica-based materials may be reusable if exposed to low heating environments or refurbished by spraying silicone on the surface post-flight. Based on Shuttle experience, it is believed that the life cycle cost of these new materials will be roughly 1/10 that of tiled TPS solutions.
EVENT DATE AND LOCATION Friday, November 2, 2012 at NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California and via WebEx
TIMES Presentation: 8:30-11:30am PDT One-on-one appointments available: 1:00pm, 2:00pm, 3:00pm, and 4:00pm
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/REGISTRATION Please register for all attendees from your company, even if attending via WebEx and sign up for one-on-one (vendor-to-NASA) appointments, if attending in person and desired. Seating space is limited and NASA Ames reserves the right to limit the number of attendees.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND? Commercial Orbital Space Transportation Services contractors and other spacecraft and mission designers. Potential material suppliers are welcome as well. Visitors are required to be U.S. citizens. ITAR information may be presented.
POINT OF CONTACT For more information and to register, contact Robin Beck at 650-604-2581 or robin.a.beck@nasa.gov. R.S.V.P. by October 26, 2012.
Point of Contact
Name: Marianne Shelley
Title: Contracting Officer
Phone: 650-604-4179
Fax: 650-604-3020
Email: marianne.shelley@nasa.gov
