SAM #T2P-MSFC-00056

This opportunity is a NASA technology transfer licensing announcement for additively manufactured propulsion catalysts: - NASA Marshall Space Flight Center is offering a license for a technology titled 'Additively Manufactured Propulsion Catalysts (MFS-TOPS-120)'. - The technology was developed by NASA in collaboration with EOS, focusing on ultra-fine lattice structure catalysts for mono-propulsion systems. - This is a licensing opportunity only; no procurement, supply contract, or funding is provided by NASA. - Companies can apply to obtain license rights to commercialize, manufacture, and market the technology. - No specific products, part numbers, or quantities are requested. - No follow-on procurement is expected from responses to this notice. - The primary technology developers (OEMs) are NASA and EOS. - The location associated with this opportunity is NASA Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, AL.

NASA’s Technology Transfer Program solicits inquiries from companies interested in obtaining license rights to commercialize, manufacture and market the following technology. License rights may be issued on an exclusive or nonexclusive basis and may include specific fields of use. NASA provides no funding in conjunction with these potential licenses.

THE TECHNOLOGY:  

In mono-propulsion systems, a propellant is flowed across a catalyst to promote a chemical reaction and generate thrust. Conventional catalyst manufacturing methods entail (a) coating the inner walls of the thruster nozzle with a catalyst (generally undesirable due to limited catalyst-propellant contact), or (b) inserting a metal or graphite foam coated with a catalyst material into the thruster chamber. Method (b), while superior in terms of thrust generation, also possesses several limitations. Metal/graphite foams are difficult and expensive to procure, stochastic/random in nature (e.g., possess high variability in terms of geometric and other properties), and must be jammed into the thruster chamber using a compression plunger during installation – a process that often leads to catalyst damage. A new manufacturing method that improves repeatability, thruster reactivity, and tailorability (e.g., mechanical, chemical, and fluid flow) while reducing cost and lead time is thus highly desirable. To address this need, NASA and EOS developed methods to additively manufacture (AM) ultra-fine lattice structure propulsion catalysts. 

To express interest in this licensing opportunity, please submit a license application through NASA’s Automated Technology Licensing Application System (ATLAS) by visiting https://technology.nasa.gov/patent/MFS-TOPS-120  

If you have any questions, please e-mail NASA’s Technology Transfer Program at Agency-Patent-Licensing@mail.nasa.gov with the title of this Technology Transfer Opportunity as listed in this SAM.gov notice and your preferred contact information. For more information about licensing other NASA-developed technologies, please visit the NASA Technology Transfer Portal at https://technology.nasa.gov/ 

These responses are provided to members of NASA’s Technology Transfer Program for the purpose of promoting public awareness of NASA-developed technology products, and conducting preliminary market research to determine public interest in and potential for future licensing opportunities. No follow-on procurement is expected to result from responses to this Notice.