NASA Hallmarks of Success

EM4, a small company based in Bedford, MA, utilized the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program to develop advanced hardware for a future NASA science mission that will collect carbon dioxide and oxygen data in ways that have never been done before.

Shortly after REI Systems, Inc. of Annandale, VA was formed, the company was awarded a Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) contract to develop information management software for the NASA SBIR and STTR programs. The development of that software laid the ground work for a variety of computer programs being used in both the public and private sectors.

Systems and Processes Engineering Corp of Austin, TX utilized the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program early in its history to partner with NASA. Many of the technologies they've developed with SBIR funds have strongly benefited NASA programs and missions and were eventually used in commercial applications.

In the early 1980s, a researcher at California's Scripps Institute of Oceanography started a company called SeaSpace Corporation. Since then, SeaSpace has worked with NASA on many science programs by developing technologies that help scientists access satellite data.

Vexcel Corporation of Boulder, CO has a long history of working with NASA through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. Those partnerships have led to a variety of innovations that have been infused into multiple NASA programs and missions.

What began with an idea for a water heater for spacecraft has grown Starsys, a small company in Boulder, Co, into a successful designer and manufacturer of products for NASA's space systems and vehicles.

Scientific Materials Corp. of Bozeman, Montana has maintained a close working relationship with NASA Langley by developing crystals through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. The crystals they've provided can be used in lasers to take measurements of ozone, water vapor and wind speed. One of their crystals was even used in a laser device that flew on a spacecraft that surveyed Mars.

NASA Langley Research Center partners with many small companies in Virginia. The partnerships contribute to Virginia's economy and lead to the creation of products that benefit us all.

NASA Glenn Research Center partners with many small companies in Ohio. The partnerships contribute to Ohio's economy and lead to the creation of products that benefit us all.

In the mid 1990s, Science & Technology Corporation of Hampton, Virginia won multiple Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contracts from NASA Langley Research Center to build a small, powerful laser system. Since then, the technology has flown on a number of NASA atmospheric science missions and it is still being used by NASA today.

With funding from SBIR awards and other contracts, Collier Research has teamed with Langley and several other NASA Centers to help design and develop all the components of the next generation spacecraft.

NASA and Barrett Technology used the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program to team up and develop an adaptable, dexterous robotic arm for use in space. Since then, the technology has found many uses on earth as well.

During the 1990's, Materials Resources International of Lansdale, PA worked with multiple NASA Centers on material joining technologies that addressed thermal management issues in avionics. During the collaboration, the company advanced one of their joining technologies to a point where a spinoff company was formed around it.

Marotta Controls Inc. of Montville, NJ was founded to design equipment that could aid American forces during WWII. When the war ended, the company established itself as a leader in valve technology. Today, their products can be found just about everywhere.

Polatomic, Inc. of Richardson, Texas, worked with NASA to create a self calibrating helium magnetometer that can be used to collect information about Earth's magnetic field and unlock secrets about the history of our planet and the rest of the solar system.