Advanced Materials Manufacturing Applications from Space for Earth

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration In Space Production Application (InSPA) Portfolio seeks proposals under the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Program to produce superior and advanced materials applications at commercial scales via microgravity processing and manufacturing in low-Earth orbit (LEO). Over the past five years, exceptional results from the International Space Station (ISS) InSPA and ISS National Lab projects clearly demonstrated the value of microgravity to accelerate and enable important materials advances in ways not possible on Earth. InSPA is a flight development program that supports innovative US companies to use microgravity to deliver superior products for Earth applications, rather than space. Most InSPA organizations are small, fast-moving high-tech businesses who are delivering superior materials and products from space. Most InSPA proposals begin at TRL 5, so the SBIR/STTR program is an essential player for initiating and maturing critical technologies. Many past InSPA SBIR proposals have received SBIR Phase III funding from InSPA to conduct demonstrations of space manufactured products on the ISS that exhibit superior quality and yield. A select few achieve in-space demonstrations during SBIR Phase II. The intent of this STTR is to accelerate the development of a thriving space economy through commercial scale-up of the most promising microgravity assisted advanced materials for terrestrial applications important to sensors, electronics and communication, and US competitiveness in partnership with America's leading universities and research institutions. Microgravity fundamentally alters physical processes by suppressing buoyancy-driven convection, sedimentation, and gravity-induced shear. These conditions enable significantly reduced material defects that cannot be reliably achieved on Earth. Research conducted aboard the ISS has demonstrated that microgravity can yield superior outcomes in Quantum Materials (QM) & Quantum Technologies, Semiconductors and Microelectronics, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Digital Technologies to Support In-Space Manufacturing, and High-Performance Materials NASA's InSPA Portfolio is focused on transitioning microgravity research from TRL 3 TRL 5 to achieve repeatable, scalable, and economically relevant production pathways that benefit life on Earth and US competitiveness. Priority will be given to advanced material manufacturing concepts that are designed from the outset to support commercial-scale production in orbit, including sustained operations aboard the ISS and future commercial space stations as well as appropriate autonomous commercial space platforms. Proposed efforts should address technologies that support commercial scaleup of advanced materials manufacturing applications that measurably benefit from microgravity and demonstrate a credible pathway toward terrestrial impact and commercialization, or mission relevance. Proposals must clearly articulate why the proposed advanced materials manufacturing can only be developed in space environments, such as microgravity in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and cannot achieve equivalent outcomes using terrestrial methods alone or where terrestrial approaches need to be adapted for commercial scale orbital manufacturing or production. Relevant areas of interest include, but are not limited to: Quantum Materials (QM) & Quantum Technologies: Novel materials and systems with unique quantum mechanical properties for applications in quantum devices, quantum sensors and quantum computing semimetals, and the development of hybrid systems combining QMs with other established technologies. Semiconductors and Microelectronics: Accelerating groundbreaking development in semiconductors materials and microelectronics systems produced in space including but not limited to leading-edge semiconductor materials (e.g., diamond-based semiconductors, wide band gap semiconductors, 2-D materials). Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Digital Technologies to Support In-Space Manufacturing: Development and testing of advanced algorithms (including quantum algorithms) for autonomous systems, intelligent operations, and (quantum) secure communications; complex simulations (e.g., microgravity environment, quantum simulations), digital twins, and human machine interfaces to enable remote R&D and smart manufacturing activities in space. High-Performance Materials: Advanced materials with enhanced properties that may include high-strength, high-temperature performance, high optical quality, and thermal and electrical conductivities. Cutting edge quantum applications: Exploring exotic techniques such as the use of DNA in materials for memory storage and AI coupled robotics for in-space processes of advanced materials. Computer Modelling: Multi-scale computer modelling of crystal growth processes in microgravity and Earth gravity to optimize process and protocols for flight experiments