NASA Invites QuesTek Innovations to Build Toolkit in ICMD Software

NASA selected QuesTek Innovations for an Ignite SBIR Phase I award to develop computational tools that design new materials, processes, and products optimized for the microgravity environment of space.

The SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) award supports QuesTek's development of ASTRO-Grav (Alloy Simulation Toolkit for Robust Optimization in Low Gravity), a new modeling and optimization framework that integrates multi-fidelity simulations with high-throughput experiments.

"Being selected for this NASA Ignite award is an exciting opportunity to help shape the future of in-space manufacturing," says Jason Sebastian, executive vice president at QuesTek Innovations. "ASTRO-Grav will advance NASA's long-term vision for sustainable operations in orbit, on the Moon, and eventually on Mars."

Building on QuesTek's ICMD materials simulation software platform, ASTRO-Grav will identify optimal alloy compositions and manufacturing parameters tailored for low-gravity conditions. As NASA prepares for longer duration space missions, the toolkit will help determine how to produce strong parts in orbit and on the lunar surface, according to QuesTek.

Learn more about NASA's SBIR/STTR program here.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.