National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Small Business Innovation Research 2001 Program Solicitation

TOPIC H4 Habitation and Bioastronautics

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H4.01 Extravehicular Activity Productivity
H4.02 Advanced Habitation Systems

Technologies developed under this Topic are needed for the Advanced Human Support Technology Program (and other programs) to assure robust and reliable capabilities to support health and safety of human explorers during long-duration space missions. In addition, it is the goal of this topic to drive down the cost of human exploration missions and campaigns beyond Earth orbit and to develop and demonstrate critically needed capabilities for human activities in space. Some selected objectives of this topic include: (1) Developing innovative, affordable and highly operable new technologies for extravehicular activity (EVA) systems and advanced space habitation systems, and (2) Establishing a foundation for profitable commercial development of space applications of these technologies in the mid- to far-term.

H4.01 Extravehicular Activity Productivity
Lead Center: JSC
Participating Center(s): None

Advanced extravehicular activity (EVA) systems are necessary for the successful human exploration of all destinations beyond low Earth orbit. Complex missions to the Moon, Mars, L2, and other remote sites require innovative approaches for maximizing human productivity and for providing the capability to perform useful work tasks. Requirements include reduction of system hardware weight and volume; increased hardware reliability, durability, and operating lifetime (before resupply, recharge and maintenance, or replacement is necessary); reduced hardware and software costs; increased human comfort; and less-restrictive work performance capability in the space environment, in hazardous ground-level contaminated atmospheres, or in extreme ambient thermal environments. All proposed Phase I research must lead to specific Phase II experimental development that could be integrated into a functional EVA system. Areas in which innovations are solicited include the following:

Environmental Protection

• Passive and active radiation protection technologies that protect the suited crewmember from radiation particles.
• Dust and abrasion protection materials to exclude dust and withstand abrasion.

EVA Mobility

• Nonmetallic low profile space suit bearings that maximize rotation and mobility and are also lightweight and low cost.

Life Support System

• High-capacity oxygen storage, supply and recharge systems for normal and emergency supply of oxygen for breathing.
• Low-venting or non-venting regenerable individual life support subsystem(s) concepts for crewmember cooling, heat rejection, and removal of expired water vapor and carbon dioxide.
• Fuel cell technology that can provide compact high-energy power to a space suit.
• Convection and freezable radiators that will be low cost and weight for thermal control.
• Space water membrane evaporators for a space suit.
• Variable conductance flexible external suit garment that can function as a radiator for high metabolic loads and as an insulator for low metabolic loads.
• Extremely thermal conductive fibers or other alternatives to water-cooling loop tubing.

Sensors/Communications/Cameras

• Space suit mounted displays for use both inside and outside of the spacesuit. Outside mounted displays must be low profile and compatible with space environment. Internal displays must be 100 percent O₂ safe, unobtrusive and ultimately project onto the helmet visor.
• IR camera that displays temperature of environment for safe handling of objects, geology science support and are integratible onto a spacesuit or rover.
  

Integration

• Robotics and display interface software that permit autonomous voice control via suited EVA crew.
• Minimum gas loss and low power airlock providing quick exit and entry, and can accommodate an incapacitated crewmember.
• Light weight, non-metallic; environmentally harden manual or powered tools for driving fasteners.
• Innovative self-locking, multi-use captive fasteners. Tether hooks for equipment or crewmembers.
• Low profile, low power and flexible body/limb mobility sensors, signal conditioners and software for immediate data analysis display. Will be used internally or externally for space suit garment quantitative mobility testing.

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H4.02 Advanced Habitation Systems
Lead Center: JSC
Participating Center(s): None

Advanced habitation technology is sought to enable Human Exploration and Development of Space Enterprise future orbital, planetary and deep space applications. Space and planetary habitation, pressure structures and unpressurized shelters are being sought out to provide innovative structural solutions that combine high strength and light weight materials along with the reliability, durability, reparability, radiation protection, packaging efficiency and life-cycle cost effectiveness. Advances in material developments and manufacturing techniques that enable the structure to "self-heal" and the emplacement, erection, deployment or manufacturing of habitats in space or on the Moon and Mars are considered enabling technologies for the evolution of humans into space and the eventual settlement on Mars. Integration of sensors, circuitry and automated components to enable self-deployment and "smart" structures are considered necessary for the habitat to operate autonomously. The objective is to create an advanced habitat that becomes a "living" structure that not only runs autonomously, but also has self-healing capability. A number of technologies and techniques have been proposed that allow the delivery of deployable habitats to space and planet surfaces or the manufacturing and construction of habitats on planet surfaces. These include:

• Underground development of habitable structures that meet human space flight requirements.
• Design, manufacturing and testing of inflatable structures that meet human space flight requirements.
• Manufacturing in situ (Moon and Mars) structures for autonomously developing habitats that meet human space flight requirements.
• Techniques for fully integrated skin and sensors/circuitry that enables "smart" structures that autonomously detect, analyze, and correct (repair) structural failure.
• Integrating miniaturization technology into the habitat skin, thus reducing weight and increasing self-autonomy.

Quantitative assessments require innovative, space flight compatible habitat structures that meet the needs for human space flight and structural integrity. The Moon and Mars are of the most interest. Consideration of flight-testing in space or at the Moon should be considered. Areas in which innovations are solicited include the following technologies for use in space (zero gravity) and/or the planetary surfaces:

Habitat Structures

• Advanced metal alloy structures
• Advanced composite structures
• Advanced inflatable structures
• Advanced planetary in situ derived structures

External Environment Protection

• Radiation
• Micrometeroid / Orbital Debris / Blast Ejecta
• Vibration and Noise
• UV, AO, Thermal
• Dust, chemical contamination, self-healing

Integrated Habitation Systems

• Smart Habitats
• Integrated Detection, Monitoring and Control
• Internal Systems and Outfitting
• Advanced Habitat Evolution

Logistics, Maintenance and Repair

• Logistics Supply, Storage and Recycling
• Automated Servicing and Repair
• Contamination Control and Housekeeping
  

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