Innovative Research
Sensing the Future — A Technology Evolves
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| The Flight Hydrogen Sensor Orbital Replaceable Unit was built for the Oxygen Generating System on the International Space Station. |
MEI’s motto is “Sensing the Future,” and based on the technology they have designed and developed for NASA, that motto is right on target.
For about 10 years, MEI has partnered with NASA through the Agency’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer Programs (STTR) at several of NASA’s 10 Centers. Most of the SBIR and STTR awards have focused on leak-detection systems for major missions and programs.
In the mid-1990s, NASA was interested in hydrogen-sensing technology for a number of its future aerospace programs. Under an SBIR contract from Kennedy Space Center, MEI built a sensor technology for detecting hydrogen leaks. The original research for the system had actually started with an earlier STTR contract at Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC), with Case Western University in Ohio as MEI’s partner. These programs led to the development of a system that flew onboard the space shuttle and eventually contributed to several other NASA programs. Around the same time, the firm also designed and built a 40-sensor detection system for NASA’s X-33 program. Although the X-33 never left the ground, the MEI system was space-qualified.
For its next project, MEI worked on the development of safety sensors for NASA’s X-43 vehicle, under an SBIR contract from MSFC. The company had to take a new approach to meet the unique requirements of the very space-limited vehicle. President and founder Darby Makel says, “There was an evolution over time. If you look at the X-33 systems they were relatively large sensors that were connected back to a central-processing unit. There are different specs for each vehicle because they have different requirements and different missions. Even though you have a core technology, it requires some retooling.”
The evolution was a result of the shuttle work and the X-33. It led to what the firm now calls its “smart hydrogen sensors.”
Makel believes that the sensor technology industry, in recent years, has had a second revolution. Today’s microscale and nanoscale technology developments have enabled much smaller sensor systems that are more sensitive and much more efficient, making it possible to tailor systems to very specific chemicals. These technology developments also have made it possible for firms like MEI to produce much smaller systems, such as the one on the X-43.
Currently, NASA is putting an Oxygen Generation System (OGS) on board the International Space Station. The system uses water to create breathable oxygen for the crew by separating oxygen and hydrogen from the water. While the oxygen will add crew capacity, the hydrogen will be vented to the outside. A critical part of the system is a triple-redundant sensor package, designed and built by MEI. The sensors will work in parallel to monitor hydrogen levels. Periodically, the package will be returned to the firm for recalibration to ensure accuracy and reliability.
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| The International Space Station. |
According to Makel, “We went through a small engineering phase, where we took what we had, and we stripped it down and made it as light and low-power as possible to meet their needs, and that sort of evolved a new product for us.”
A piece of spaceflight hardware was transformed into a commercial product now being tested by several major auto manufacturers on their prototype cars that use hydrogen in an internal combustion engine. More recently, MEI received a STTR Phase 3 contract from Glenn Research Center to further the work originally done for Marshall.
“The work we’ve done for Glenn has focused on basically taking the sensors both for hydrogen and also for oxygen, and now we’re branching into other species, but primarily those two, and making very miniaturized leak detection systems,” says Makel.
The new systems will be wireless, will use low power and will be small enough to be placed in any location. MEI hopes to integrate the new systems into exploration vehicles for NASA.
Today, as the company continues to “sense the future,” it is developing a chemical system for a new generation of self-powered rovers and vehicles for planetary exploration through an SBIR award from Johnson Space Flight Center.
For more information, contact Dr. Kumar Krishen, (281) 483-1348, Kumar.Krishen-1@nasa.gov.
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An interesting fact to stimulate the mind
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Wilson Sporting Goods
Wilson Sporting Goods incorporated a design on their golf balls that uses NASA aerodynamics research to create its Ultra™ 500 Series. The 500 dimples on the ball are arranged in a pattern of 60 spherical triangles of different sizes, shapes and depths. Earlier golf balls had about 20 triangular faces. Research showed that the size and placement of these patterns made a difference in how well the golf ball soared through the air.
NASA Official: Janelle Turner • Web Design: Printing
& Design Office, NASA Headquarters • Credits