Low Cost Divert and Attitude Control System

OUSD (R&E) CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Hypersonics; Advanced Materials The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120-130, which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services, including export of sensitive technical data, or the Export Administration Regulation (EAR), 15 CFR Parts 730-774, which controls dual use items. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals (FNs), their country(ies) of origin, the type of visa or work permit possessed, and the statement of work (SOW) tasks intended for accomplishment by the FN(s) in accordance with the Announcement. Offerors are advised foreign nationals proposed to perform on this topic may be restricted due to the technical data under US Export Control Laws. OBJECTIVE: Develop affordable divert and attitude control system technologies. DESCRIPTION: Divert and attitude control systems (DACS) utilize rockets to control a vehicle's path and orientation. Recent advances in manufacturing processes could reduce the cost of DACS utilizing moderate chamber pressures and combustion temperatures. This topic seeks technologies to minimize the cost of DACS with a target system cost of less than $100,000 per DACS using 1.3 hazard class propellants. Proposed solutions may be individual components for DACS, but must show awareness of entire DACS system. DACS must have 10:1 ratio of divert thrust to weight of DACS. Solutions must allow 20 year shelf life, for simple transportation, and logistics, and maintain a constant ready status. PHASE I: Phase I-like proposals will not be evaluated and will be rejected as nonresponsive. For this topic, the Government expects the small business would have accomplished the following in a Phase I-like effort via some other means, e.g., independent research and development (IRAD) or other source, a concept for a workable prototype or design to address, at a minimum, the basic capabilities of the stated objective above. Proposal must show, as appropriate, a demonstrated technical feasibility or nascent capability. The documentation provided must substantiate the proposer's development of a preliminary understanding of the technology to be applied in their Phase II proposal in meeting topic objectives. Documentation should comprise all relevant information including, but not limited to, technical reports, test data, prototype designs/models, and performance goals/results. Feasibility = maturity and what have you already done/validated. Proposers interested in participating in Direct to Phase II must include in their responses to this topic Phase I feasibility documentation that substantiates the scientific and technical merit and Phase I feasibility described in Phase I above has been met. (i.e., the small business must have performed a proof of concept like Phase I component and/or other validation in a relevant environment, and/or at a much higher TRL level (5 or higher) and describe the potential commercialization applications. The documentation provided must validate that the proposer has completed development of technology in previous work or research completed.) IRAD work, previous Phase I/Phase II work: Documentation should include the most relevant information including, but not limited to: technical reports, test data, prototype designs/models, and/or performance goals/results. Work submitted within the feasibility documentation must have been substantially performed by the proposer and/or the principal investigator (PI). PHASE II: Conduct DACS system level trades to identify requirements of components. Demonstrate performance of DACS and/or components in relevant environment. Proposers must demonstrate scalability of the proposed manufacturing process to achieve cost requirements at high production rates and survivability of the components in a relevant environments. PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Produce a DACS by processes which minimize cost when scaled to full production rate, and test the developed system in a simulated environment. REFERENCES: 1. G. Sutton, Rocket Propulsion Elements, Danvers, Maine: John Wiley & Sons, 2017. 2. K. Wooten, Additive Manufacturing of Silicon Carbide (SiC) Ceramic Rocket Nozzles, Monterey, California: Naval Postgratuate School, 2020. KEYWORDS: Hypersonics, Propulsion