A document proposes self-deploying storage tanks, based on the cold elastic hibernated memory (CHEM) concept, to be used on remote planets. The CHEM concept, described in previous NASA Tech Briefs articles, involves the use of open-cell shape-memory-polymer (SMP) foam sandwich structures to make lightweight, space-deployable structures that can be compressed for storage and can later be expanded, then rigidified for use.
A tank according to the proposal would be made of multiple SMP layers (of which at least one could be an SMP foam). The tank would be fabricated at full size in the rigid, deployed condition at ambient temperature, the SMP material(s) having been chosen so that ambient temperature would be below the SMP glass-transition temperature (Tg). The tank would then be warmed to a temperature above Tg, where it would be compacted and packaged, then cooled to below Tg and kept there during launch and transport to a distant planet.
At the assigned position on the planet, the compacted tank would be heated above Tg by the solar radiation making it rebound to its original size and shape. Finally, the tank would be rigidified through natural cooling to below Tg in the planetary ambient environment.
This work was done by Witold Sokolowski and Kaushik Bhattacharya of Caltech for NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
This Brief includes a Technical Support Package (TSP).
CHEM-Based Self-Deploying Planetary Storage Tanks
(reference NPO-43479) is currently available for download from the TSP library.
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Overview
The document outlines NASA's innovative approach to developing self-deploying storage tanks for propellants and consumables, utilizing shape memory polymer (SMP) materials and cold hibernated elastic memory (CHEM) processing. The primary objective is to create ultra-lightweight, compact tanks suitable for future robotic and human exploration of the Moon, Mars, and other celestial bodies.
Current space tanks are characterized by their heavy and bulky nature, which makes them impractical for in-situ production and storage of essential resources like propellants, water, air, and food. The proposed solution involves constructing tanks from SMP sandwich systems that can be compactly packaged for launch. The tanks are fabricated in a hard condition at ambient temperatures, then warmed, compacted, and cooled to induce a hibernation state before being installed on a spacecraft. Upon exposure to solar heat in a planetary environment, the tanks will revert to their original shape and size, followed by cooling to rigidize the structure.
The development process includes exploratory research, environmental and functional requirements studies, and conceptual design of the tank models. Structural and thermal analyses will optimize the design, and various structural models will be fabricated and tested to understand the mechanisms of compaction, deployment, and rigidization. Additionally, computer modeling will predict the behavior of these tanks under different thermo-mechanical conditions.
The culmination of this research and development effort will be a proof-of-concept demonstration of the structural model, utilizing infrared heat for deployment, aiming to achieve Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 3. This innovative approach promises a simple end-to-end process for creating self-deploying tank structures that are lightweight, cost-effective, reliable, and easy to use.
The document emphasizes the importance of these advancements for future space missions, as they address the critical need for efficient storage solutions in extraterrestrial environments. By leveraging SMP and CHEM technologies, NASA aims to enhance the feasibility of long-duration space exploration missions, ultimately contributing to the sustainability of human presence on other planets.
For further inquiries, the document provides contact information for the Innovative Technology Assets Management at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
