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They want electrostatic shields against cosmic and solar ionic radiation, and it sounds like expandable habs will play a big part in the work - a wide-armed open invitation for Bigelow Aerospace to get involved.
Makes sense since Bigelow habs have the best passive shielding going, and combined with an active electrostatic shield it would be the best of both worlds & a major advanced towards manned deep space flight.
NASA solicitation....
Makes sense since Bigelow habs have the best passive shielding going, and combined with an active electrostatic shield it would be the best of both worlds & a major advanced towards manned deep space flight.
NASA solicitation....
NASA Teaming Opportunity to Develop and Validate Active Electrostatic Shielding for Human Space Missions
Synopsis - Mar 17, 2011
General Information
Solicitation Number: N/A
Reference Number: SS-RADSHIELD
Posted Date: Mar 17, 2011
FedBizOpps Posted Date: Mar 17, 2011
Recovery and Reinvestment Act Action: No
Original Response Date: Mar 31, 2011
Current Response Date: Mar 31, 2011
Classification Code: A -- Research and Development
NAICS Code: 541712 - Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
Contracting Office Address
NASA/Langley Research Center, Mail Stop 144, Industry Assistance Office, Hampton, VA 23681-0001
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>bureaucratic flotsom....
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Current conventional radiation protection strategy based on materials shielding alone, referred to as passive radiation shielding, is maturing (has been worked on for about three decades) and any progress using the materials radiation shielding would only be evolutionary (incremental) at best. The overall situation is further augmented by the nonexistence of in vivo or in vitro data or studies about continuous long duration tissues exposure to a radiation and concomitant biological uncertainties. Material shielding would have only limited or no potential for avoiding continuous exposure to radiation. In addition, current material shielding alone for radiation protection for long duration/deep space safe human space missions is prohibitive due to pay load and cost penalties and is not a viable option. Out-of-the-box revolutionary technologies, while taking full advantage of advances in the state-of-the-art evolutionary material shielding are sought. Active radiation shielding has a tremendous benefit of stopping and diverting space radiation from the spacecraft.
Primary candidates for active shielding include but are not limited to: confined and unconfined magnetic fields requiring super-conducting magnets, plasma shields, and electrostatic shields. Recently, a journal publication (Adv. Space Res. 42 (2008) 1043) made a critical analysis and demonstrated why previous approaches of using electrostatic and magnetic radiation shielding were not feasible. Further it clearly established the feasibility proof-of-concept of electrostatic active shielding using the novel approach of quadruple configuration. The biggest advantage of active electrostatic radiation shielding is that by preventing ions from hitting the spacecraft, the unknown harmful biological effects of continuous long duration exposure to space radiation is significantly reduced (~ 70 %) for galactic cosmic rays (GCR) and for solar particle events (SPE), of great concern for radiation exposure, it is practically eliminated. It is believed that the best strategy for radiation protection and shielding for long duration human missions is to use electrostatic active radiation shielding while, in concert, taking the full advantage of the state-of-the-art evolutionary passive (material) shielding technologies for the much reduced and weaken radiation that may escape and hit the spacecraft.
In particular, NASA LaRC is seeking potential partners having demonstrated experience and expertise in; 1) modeling and simulation (physics and electricity and magnetism background is desired), 2) assessments of radiation exposure dose, 3) fabrication of expandable structures for space needs, and 4) working with charged ions and electrons accelerators. NASAs intended applications include but are not limited to radiation protection and shielding, radiation dose exposures, sensors, medical applications. Potential partners are requested to indicate which specific opportunity they are interested in partnering with NASA LaRC, the NIAC NRA or the Unique and Innovative Space Technology BAA Teaming with providers of and leveraging emerging technologies, such as current and recent Small Business Innovative Research awards (http://sbir.gsfc.nasa.fov/SBIR/awards.htm ), is of special interest.
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Synopsis - Mar 17, 2011
General Information
Solicitation Number: N/A
Reference Number: SS-RADSHIELD
Posted Date: Mar 17, 2011
FedBizOpps Posted Date: Mar 17, 2011
Recovery and Reinvestment Act Action: No
Original Response Date: Mar 31, 2011
Current Response Date: Mar 31, 2011
Classification Code: A -- Research and Development
NAICS Code: 541712 - Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
Contracting Office Address
NASA/Langley Research Center, Mail Stop 144, Industry Assistance Office, Hampton, VA 23681-0001
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>bureaucratic flotsom....
>
Current conventional radiation protection strategy based on materials shielding alone, referred to as passive radiation shielding, is maturing (has been worked on for about three decades) and any progress using the materials radiation shielding would only be evolutionary (incremental) at best. The overall situation is further augmented by the nonexistence of in vivo or in vitro data or studies about continuous long duration tissues exposure to a radiation and concomitant biological uncertainties. Material shielding would have only limited or no potential for avoiding continuous exposure to radiation. In addition, current material shielding alone for radiation protection for long duration/deep space safe human space missions is prohibitive due to pay load and cost penalties and is not a viable option. Out-of-the-box revolutionary technologies, while taking full advantage of advances in the state-of-the-art evolutionary material shielding are sought. Active radiation shielding has a tremendous benefit of stopping and diverting space radiation from the spacecraft.
Primary candidates for active shielding include but are not limited to: confined and unconfined magnetic fields requiring super-conducting magnets, plasma shields, and electrostatic shields. Recently, a journal publication (Adv. Space Res. 42 (2008) 1043) made a critical analysis and demonstrated why previous approaches of using electrostatic and magnetic radiation shielding were not feasible. Further it clearly established the feasibility proof-of-concept of electrostatic active shielding using the novel approach of quadruple configuration. The biggest advantage of active electrostatic radiation shielding is that by preventing ions from hitting the spacecraft, the unknown harmful biological effects of continuous long duration exposure to space radiation is significantly reduced (~ 70 %) for galactic cosmic rays (GCR) and for solar particle events (SPE), of great concern for radiation exposure, it is practically eliminated. It is believed that the best strategy for radiation protection and shielding for long duration human missions is to use electrostatic active radiation shielding while, in concert, taking the full advantage of the state-of-the-art evolutionary passive (material) shielding technologies for the much reduced and weaken radiation that may escape and hit the spacecraft.
In particular, NASA LaRC is seeking potential partners having demonstrated experience and expertise in; 1) modeling and simulation (physics and electricity and magnetism background is desired), 2) assessments of radiation exposure dose, 3) fabrication of expandable structures for space needs, and 4) working with charged ions and electrons accelerators. NASAs intended applications include but are not limited to radiation protection and shielding, radiation dose exposures, sensors, medical applications. Potential partners are requested to indicate which specific opportunity they are interested in partnering with NASA LaRC, the NIAC NRA or the Unique and Innovative Space Technology BAA Teaming with providers of and leveraging emerging technologies, such as current and recent Small Business Innovative Research awards (http://sbir.gsfc.nasa.fov/SBIR/awards.htm ), is of special interest.
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