NASA Funds Alternative Fuels Research

Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program by NASA, has announced the phase II awards of $850,000 each for 21 small businesses. The funds will go toward developing, demonstrating, and delivering innovative technologies in alternative fuels over the next 24 months.

What is STTR

The NASA SBIR/STTR program funds the research, development, and demonstration of innovative technologies that fulfill NASA needs as described in the annual solicitations and have significant potential for successful commercialization. If you are a small business concern (SBC) with 500 or fewer employees or a non-profit research institution (RI) such as a university or a research laboratory, we encourage you to learn more about the program as a potential source of seed funding for the development of your innovations.

Who are the beneficiaries of this grant

SSS Optical Technologies, LLC:
- Location: Huntsville, Alabama
- Partnership: Collaborating with Oakwood University, a Historically Black Colleges and University in Huntsville.
- Project: Developing an innovative protective coating that absorbs UV radiation and converts it into energy to power solar cells.
- Awards:
  - Phase II award: Used for optimizing coating factors (composition, structure, and application method) for better efficiency and operational lifetime.
  - Phase I award: Demonstrated a 5% gain in efficiency while reducing radiation damage by 400%.
- Potential Applications: Advanced Solar Sailing Technologies at NASA or commercial solar panels.
Air Company Holdings:
- Location: Brooklyn, New York
- Partnership: Collaborating with New York University.
- Project: Developing an alternative to fossil fuels using carbon dioxide hydrogenation technology for sustainable rocket fuel.
- Awards:
  - Phase II award: To expand on the process model created in Phase I and optimize fuel production and downstream processing.
- Potential Applications:
  - Rocket fuel for NASA.
  - On Earth: Addressing greenhouse gas emissions in the aviation industry.
  - On Mars: Producing stable and storable fuel in situ using local resources for habitats and more.

Both companies have received Phase II awards from the NASA SBIR/STTR program, highlighting their innovative projects and contributions to space technology.