CATEGORY #2

Innovations for Long-Term Cryogenic Stowage & Transportation

In addition to holistic approaches as described in category #1, NASA also has considerable interest in step wise or component solutions with the potential to enable future cryogenic systems for one or more stages of the process. Challenge category #2, therefore, seeks to identify those technologies which can either provide incremental cryogenic solutions or which may have significant value in developing and enabling future small, low-power cryogenic systems.

PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATIONS:

Entries for Challenge category #2 should seek to highlight the unique performance benefits that the proposed technology could provide for use in a future NASA cryogenic stowage and transportation system, including but not limited to any or all of the following:

Ability to deliver cryogenic temperatures of -150° C or colder.
Ability to maintain long-term cryogenic temperatures of -150° C or colder.
Ability to reduce or miniaturize the mass, volume or form factors of a cryogenic system.
Ability to lower or eliminate power requirements of a cryogenic system.
Ability to replace active cooling systems with passive cooling systems.
Ability to increase the duration of time that cooling systems can sustain cryogenic temperatures up to 14 days or beyond.
Ability to enhance the efficiency or performance of existing cryogenic systems.

Participants are encouraged to discuss the nature and uniqueness of their approach and, wherever possible, to include any (non-confidential) references, product information, scientific rationale, calculations, graphics or drawings in support of their proposal.

DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS:

Participants in Challenge category #2 should consider the following when submitting their entry:

All solutions must:
- Not include hazardous materials or components
- Be operational within 3-5 years
For any active solutions,
- Maximum available power at point of use: 75 Watts, or 150W if solution applies only to Gateway
For any containment units or system-based solutions (active, passive or otherwise),
- Internal dimensions to accommodate lunar sample container:
  - Assume sample container will be a cylinder, 20cm diameter, 30 cm long
Must support at least 1 kg of internal mass
Total system / unit mass must be less than 20 kg
- 20 kg does not include mass of any lunar samples or sample containers
For all enabling solutions, technologies, components, materials, etc.
- Be safe for human use
- Be safe for use in an interior, enclosed, crewed environment
- Enable one or more stages of cryogenic containment, stowage and/or transportation within NASA’s specifications
- Provide supporting documentation, calculations, graphics, etc.

POSSIBLE APPROACHES:

Potential solutions for Challenge category #2 are wide-ranging and may include, but are in no way limited to:

Next-generation cooling, freezing, or cold stowage systems
Advanced cryogenic materials
Novel insulating technologies
Miniaturization solutions
High-efficiency cooling systems and controls
Nanotechnology solutions
Any other relevant solutions

EVALUATION

NASA anticipates that potential solutions for Challenge category #2 will vary considerably based on the nature, scope and maturity of the technologies proposed. All systems, designs, approaches, components and/or materials proposed for this category should strive to provide a clear indication of their unique value for NASA’s cryogenic application, with an emphasis on the overall novelty of the intended approach.

Scoring by the judging panel has been calibrated for the above criteria according to the descriptions provided in the category 2 evaluation criteria.

AWARD

Awards include:

Total prize pool of US$20,000 available in the form of four (4) US$5,000 winners.
Winners recognized through published announcements and individual profiles.
A virtual conference with one or more members of the NASA Challenge team to discuss your winning solution.

Winners may also have the opportunity for future collaboration with NASA.