NASA Hallmarks of Success

Lambda Technologies of Cincinnati, Ohio developed a process that increases the fatigue performance of metals. NASA used the process to improve aerospace components made from alloys and Exactech, a medical device manufacturer, used it to upgrade their orthopedic implant devices.

Invocon, Inc. of Conroe, TX worked with NASA to build sensor systems that monitor a variety of spacecraft, including the International Space Station and space shuttles.

IPIX of Oak Ridge, TN uses a technology originally developed for NASA through an SBIR contract in their creation of online virtual environments.

Sentel of Dahlgren, Virginia started out in 1987 with only three employees working a single government contract. Since then, the company has grown to over 300 hundred employees. Through SBIR contracts, the company helped NASA's Kennedy Research Center eliminate the paper intensive method used for the space shuttle's procedure system and payload processing operations.

In the late 1980's Ultramet, Inc. of Pacoima, California began developing a ceramic foam material with funding from NASA's SBIR program. Later, the technology was further developed into a material used for bone replacement and repair applications. Throughout the years, the company has continued to develop advanced materials for a variety of NASA projects and missions.

For many years, Lynntech Inc. of College Station, Texas has used NASA Small Business Innovation Research contracts to develop technology and establish itself as a leader in technology transfer. Today, the company is utilizing the SBIR program to develop a fuel cell for NASA's Helios aircraft in hopes that they can continue that tradition.

Sunpower Inc. of Athens, Ohio specializes in Sterling engines, an 18th century design that the company's founder made modifications to. In order to expand its work into different areas, the company began teaming with NASA through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. Today, one of the company's SBIR funded technologies is flying on NASA's HESSI satellite, which monitors solar activity.

In the early 1990's SEAKR Engineering, Inc. of Englewood, Colorado worked with NASA through a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) award to develop a solid state recorder to replace the tape recorder that stores data on NASA's SPARTAN satellite. That partnership resulted in the development of a flash memory unit. Since then, many of the company's technologies have flown on other NASA spacecraft.

Astronauts need water to live and work in space, lots of water. For more than three decades, NASA has been partnering with a small company in Oregon to work on water systems for NASA's space shuttle and the International Space Station. Today, the technology is also being used on Earth.

Rapid Imaging Software (RIS) of Albuquerque, NM is such a small company that most days the employees work from home, but this hasn't stopped the team from achieving great things, including a partnership with NASA.

Cullimore & Ring of Littleton, Colorado has worked with NASA through SBIR contracts to create a tool box for engineers. Today, the software is used by NASA for thermal hydraulic analysis, but it is also flexible enough that it has been used to analyze things like windshield wipers, a model of a human heart and a pig trachea.

Using SBIR contracts, Command & Control Technologies of Titusville, Florida worked with NASA Kennedy Space Center and Wallops Flight Facility to develop software that helps the centers prepare for launches.

By working on space related projects that flew on shuttles and space stations, AZ Technology of Huntsville, Alabama has discovered new way ways of using their unique set of tools.

Cornerstone Research Group, Inc. of Dayton, Ohio has greatly advanced their Shape Memory Polymers by working with NASA through the SBIR and STTR Programs. Today, the company's spin off business, CRG Industries, manufactures materials that can be used to quickly repair structures like canoes and racecars.

Rocket test stands and portable toilets are in some ways very similar. Both items use piping, plumbing, pressure and flow to work properly. AJT & Associates, Inc. of Port Canaveral, FL was funded by the NASA SBIR Program to create a rocket test stand for Stennis Space Center. Later, some of the technology created for the project was incorporated into portable toilets that recycle water.