Nasa is inviting proposals to develop and demonstrate scalable and cost-effective ultra-lightweight materials for use on future aerospace vehicles and structures.

The programme aims to create a manufacturing process to produce ultra-lightweight core materials as flat panels and curved structures, which will have less the area density of conventional honeycomb cores.

Nasa Space Technology associate administrator Michael Gazarik said: "Technology drives exploration and ultra-lightweight materials will play a key role in our future missions.

"A common use for these sorts of composites is the shrouds for launch vehicles and other key technology components that will enable our journey to Mars."

"This call for proposals continues a cadence of solicitations that touch on a specific set of thrust areas needed to push human and robotic exploration farther in the solar system."

The proposals will demonstrate lower-mass alternatives to honeycomb or foam cores, which are used in composite sandwich structures.

Nasa said: "A common use for these sorts of composites is the shrouds for launch vehicles and other key technology components that will enable our journey to Mars."

In addition to increasing mission capability, the lower-mass components help decrease mission costs.

The proposed project will focus on in-space propulsion and advanced solar arrays, robotics and avionics for outer planetary exploration, advanced materials and space observatory systems.

Nasa plans to award two contracts worth around $550,000 each as part of the first phase of development.

The development programme is managed by Nasa’s Langley Research Center in Virginia, US.

Defence Technology