NASA Hallmarks of Success

Advanced Ceramics of Tucson, Arizona started out in 1989 with only $1,000 in funding. Today, the company is considered extremely successful because it works with both the private and public sectors to transfer its technologies, some of which were developed through NASA's Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program.

Aeroastro of Ashburn, VA thinks that everyone should be able to afford space, so it specializes in developing smaller, cheaper technologies. Through NASA's Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program, the company worked closely with NASA researchers to develop a communications system for nano-spacecraft. The technology was later infused into a government program and commercialized.

ATK Aerospace Systems of Santa Barabara, California knows has used Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program awards to reduce the size and weight of many of their aerospace technologies. One of their technologies, a deployable boom, flew on NASA's Shuttle Radar Topography Mission which collected global topographical data. Since then, the company has continued to work with NASA to develop technologies for future missions.

Aculight, a small company located in Bothell, WA, partnered with NASA Langley Research Center through the Small Business Innovation Research Program to build a laser set up that could be used to measure water vapor. Today, the company attributes much of its success to its ability to develop technologies for multiple applications, something they learned through the SBIR program.

It takes superb communication, organization and coordination to properly prepare a NASA mission for launch. One small company, Knowledge Based Systems Incorporated (KBSI) of College Station, Texas, has made the preparation much easier by partnering with NASA to develop software that assists NASA employees.

Integrated Sensing Systems, Inc (ISSYS) of Ypsilanti, Michigan teamed with NASA through the SBIR program to create small sensors that can be used to test the physical effects of low gravity environments. Today, the company is using the same technology to create tiny sensors that could have big impacts in the biomedical field.

Knowing how much fuel is left in the tank is important to the operator of any vehicle, especially those who fly in and out of space. Sierra Lobo, a small firm from Milan, Ohio, partnered with multiple NASA centers to develop an accurate cryogenic fuel gauge that can be incorporated into future spacecrafts.

Makel Engineering, Inc. of Chico, CA partnered with NASA through Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contracts to produce hydrogen sensing systems that are used to detect leaks in a number of NASA air and space craft.

Intelligent fiber Optic Systems, Inc. (IFOS) designs and manufactures innovative optical sensing systems, photonic modules, fiber optic sensors, and environment monitoring subsystems. The company is working with NASA to develop sensors that could one day be used in robots that help humans explore the galaxy.

Have you ever wanted to complete a task, but couldn't, because it was beyond your physical limits? Cybernet Systems Corporation, a small company in Ann Arbor, Michigan worked with NASA on a number of technologies aimed at enhancing human performance.

With the help of a NASA Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract, Technosoft Inc. of Cincinnati, Ohio greatly enhanced the company's aircraft design software.

For a NASA mission, such as a launch, to be successful, it needs a plan. And, that plan has to coordinate many unique elements that must eventually come together at the same time. A firm in California created a software that relies on mimicking human thought to make the planning possible and successful.

By reversing the process of a NASA technology that's used to produce oxygen, Bloom Energy of Sunnyvale, CA developed an extremely efficient fuel cell technology that is now being used to power the offices of major corporations.

Braiding can be used to improve the strength of different materials--even the fancases around an airplane's engines. They help protect the fuselage if there's a blade failure in an engine. One company in Ohio collaborated with NASA and GE to develop a lightweight fancase, using a braided material.

In the heat of summer, we brought you a story about how small business research for NASA led to a unique chemistry additive that could help boost the efficiency of space vehicle systems. Now, another company has licensed that technology and you can find it in products they say can bring back the cool air to your car up to 50-percent faster than conventional R-134a refrigerant.