Nasa

ATK Space Systems, HRL Laboratories and Dynetics have secured contracts from Nasa to develop and ultra-lightweight materials (ULW) for future aerospace vehicles.

With the proposed advanced technologies, the agency will be able to reduce the spacecraft weight by up to 40% for deep space exploration.

Nasa space technology mission directorate associate administrator Steve Jurczyk said: "Lightweight and multifunctional materials and structures are one of Nasa’s top focus areas capable of having the greatest impact on future Nasa missions in human and robotic exploration.

"These advanced technologies are necessary for us to be able to launch stronger, yet lighter, spacecraft and components as we look to explore an asteroid and eventually Mars."

"These advanced technologies are necessary for us to be able to launch stronger, yet lighter, spacecraft and components as we look to explore an asteroid and eventually Mars."

HRL Laboratories will develop ultra-light micro-truss cores for space launch systems, while ATK Space Systems and Dynetics will produce ultra-lightweight core materials for efficient load bearing composite sandwich structures.

The companies will be granted up to $550,000 as part of phase one awards of the solicitation, to produce 12ft x 12ft x 1in ULW core panels.

Selected technologies will be transitioned to phase two to upgrade to 2ft x 2ft x 1in, gradually to produce 10ft x 11ft x 1in ULW core panels.

Nasa will support the development with $2m per award for up to 18 months.

Composite sandwich structures incorporate honeycomb or foam cores, and are widely used in aerospace industry and other applications.

Nasa’s proposed ULW materials vary from traditional cores, and could offer significant decrease in mass.

Image: The proposed technologies will allow Nasa to reduce the weight of aerospace vehicles by up to 40% for deep space exploration. Photo: courtesy of Nasa.