How NASA's STTR Program Fuels Space Innovation Through Earthly Partnerships
When universities and startups collide, the results can launch humanity toward the stars.
The year 2016 marked a pivotal moment for space technology development. NASA's Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I Solicitation offered a unique pathway for transforming laboratory breakthroughs into mission-critical systems. Unlike traditional grants, the STTR program—established by Congress in 1992—compels small businesses to partner with research institutions, creating a powerful synergy between entrepreneurial agility and academic expertise 4 6 . For 2016, this meant $150,000 awards per project to test the feasibility of innovations spanning deep-space communications, propulsion, and life support 1 4 .
Contracts moved from solicitation to launch in 130 days—among the fastest in government .
With programs like Artemis gaining momentum, translating theoretical research into flight-ready hardware had never been more critical.
At its core, STTR Phase I is a three-way marriage:
(<500 employees) provided commercialization expertise.
(universities, nonprofits) contributed scientific rigor.
Defined mission-aligned challenges through solicitations.
Unlike SBIR, which allows only 33% subcontracting to research institutions, STTR mandates a minimum 30% work share for the research partner, with the small business handling 40% 4 6 . This structure ensured deep integration—not just transactional contracting.
| Feature | STTR | SBIR |
|---|---|---|
| Research Partner | Required (nonprofit institution) | Optional (≤33% work share) |
| Principal Investigator | Can be employed by partner or business | Must be primarily employed by business |
| Agencies | 5 (NASA, DoD, NIH, NSF, DoE) | 11 |
| Phase I Funding | Up to $150,000 | Up to $150,000 |
The solicitation targeted technologies essential for overcoming cosmic hurdles:
Laser-based systems to replace radio waves, enabling 100x faster data transmission from Mars 2 .
Microchips surviving Jupiter's lethal belts.
Oxygen recycling for multi-year crewed missions.
NASA's competitive edge was evident: 26% of applicants secured Phase I awards—double the success rate of agencies like Health and Human Services (12%) .
Traditional chemical rockets are too powerful—and dangerous—for delicate CubeSat maneuvers. A 2016 STTR team proposed a radical alternative: green hybrid thrusters using non-toxic fuels and compact design.
Researchers synthesized hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB), a rubber-like solid fuel, doped with catalytic additives 6 .
A gimbal mechanism from the university partner enabled 5-axis steering.
Engineers developed a piezoelectric injector to precisely spray nitrous oxide oxidizer into the combustion chamber.
Scaled prototypes underwent vacuum chamber trials mimicking space conditions.
| Parameter | Result | NASA Requirement | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thrust Control | ±0.1 Newtons | ±0.5 Newtons | Unprecedented precision |
| Specific Impulse | 285 seconds | 250 seconds | 14% fuel efficiency gain |
| Ignition Reliability | 99.8% | 95% | Critical for deep-space missions |
| Mass | 420 grams | 600 grams | Ideal for CubeSats |
The thruster achieved mission-ready performance in just 8 months. Its throttleability allowed CubeSats to adjust thrust mid-maneuver—a first for hybrids. The partnership proved vital: the university's combustion diagnostics identified instability modes, while the startup refined injectors for mass production. This project exemplified STTR's power to compress Technology Readiness Level (TRL) advancement from years to months 5 .
Critical materials enabling 2016 STTR innovations:
| Reagent/Material | Function | Mission Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Erbium-Doped Fiber Amplifiers | Boosts laser signal strength | Enables high-bandwidth Mars-Earth links 2 |
| Perovskite Solar Cells | Lightweight, radiation-tolerant photovoltaics | Powers deep-space probes |
| Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) | Absorbs COâ‚‚; releases oxygen via electrolysis | Life support for Moon bases |
| Bismuth Telluride Alloys | Converts heat to electricity (thermoelectrics) | Powers probes in shadowed lunar craters |
Phase I was merely the ignition sequence. Successful projects could unlock:
Non-STTR funding (e.g., NASA contracts) for flight testing 4 .
Additional funding to refine business models 1 .
The 2016 cohort faced commercialization hurdles. Only 8% of STTR firms were woman-owned, and minority participation languished below 2% 4 . Yet successes emerged. NASA's Electronic Handbook (EHB)—a Phase II SBIR innovation itself—tracked infusion into programs like Artemis, proving STTR's ROI 5 .
NASA's 2016 STTR Phase I Solicitation wasn't just about funding—it was about orchestrating collisions between disparate genius. Universities provided the "what if"; businesses asked "what's next." Together, they turned quantum dots into deep-space sensors and lab polymers into Martian habitats. As we race toward the Moon and Mars, STTR remains humanity's quietest—yet most transformative—rocket fuel.
"Alone, we navigate a room. Together, we navigate the Kuiper Belt."