PROJECT PITCH

Space (SP) — 00010426

13. Briefly Describe the Technology Innovation

Up to 500 words describing the technical innovation that would be the focus of a Phase One project, including a brief discussion of the origins of the innovation as well as an explanation as to why it meets the program’s mandate to focus on supporting research and development (R&D) of unproven, high-impact innovations:

13. My innovation constitutes the complete physical basis of the first ever, revolutionary breakthrough electromagnetic propellantless space propulsion method, which has originated from my scientific research in the fundamentals of quantum gravity. The nature of quantum gravity is yet to be discovered and experimentally verified in mainstream physics. This Phase One project could not only experimentally validate the complete physical basis of my space propulsion invention, but at the same time it could also contribute to partial experimental verification of the nature of quantum gravity in general.

14. Briefly Describe the Technical Objectives and Challenges

Up to 500 words describing the R&D or technical work to be done in a Phase One project, including a discussion of how and why the proposed work will help prove that the product or service is technically feasible and/or significantly reduce technical risk. Discuss how, ultimately, this work could contribute to making the new product, service, or process commercially viable and impactful. This section should also convey that the proposed work meets definition of R&D, rather than straightforward engineering or incremental product development tasks:

14. The essence of this Phase One R&D would be a simple, easy, and inexpensive experiment in a form of a table-top electromechanical device composed of two basic parts: a custom-made tubular high-voltage electric capacitor, and a custom-made tubular electromagnet, both being spun by electric motor on the same axis. The device, being sealed air-tight, should produce conclusive lift. The same magnitude of lift should also be reproduced in a high vacuum chamber. If so, this in essence would constitute an experimental proof-of-concept of my space propulsion method, as commercial implementations of such engine (spacedrive) would scale-up the same principles and essential component parts. The physical existence of such electromagnetic lift in a vacuum is presently unknown, and therefore it would be a highly disruptive technological breakthrough.

15. Briefly Describe the Market Opportunity

Up to 250 words describing the customer profile and pain point(s) that will be the near-term commercial focus related to this technical project:

15. Market opportunity would be in the following general areas: SP1, SP3, SP8, SP9. Specifically, depending on its size, the engine (spacedrive) can be used to propel long-term reusable unmanned spacecraft, and also Naval aircraft carrier-size manned nuclear-powered spaceships. Smaller spacecraft could be used for the purpose of ground launch site independent short notice orbital missions (ideal for the U.S. Space Force). Larger spaceships would establish economic, frequent X-Large cargo & crew shuttle services to the Moon and Mars, ultimately allowing for planetary defense, space junk collection, industrial-scale asteroid belt mining, and other large-scale extraterrestrial commercial ventures.

On the 4th of February 2020, Murali Nair wrote:

Project Pitch: 00010426

SBIR/STTR Topic Area: SBIR Space (SP)

(SP) Invite Date: 2/4/2020 ; Expiration Date: 2/4/2021

Dear Zbigniew Modrzejewski,

Upon reviewing your submitted Project Pitch (SBIR Space 00010426), I am pleased to inform you that you are invited to submit a full proposal to the NSF SBIR/STTR Phase One program.

Please comply with all guidelines and instructions for preparation of your invited full proposal as specified in the NSF SBIR/STTR Phase One program solicitation (see links below), paying close attention to the necessary registrations, required documents and merit review criteria. You will also need to affirm that you meet the eligibility criteria for a small business concern (see section IV of the solicitation document for details). Proposals that do not comply with the guidelines or do not meet the listed eligibility requirements outlined in the solicitation may be returned without review.

NSF SBIR Phase One Solicitation.

NSF STTR Phase One.

When preparing your proposal for submission via the NSF Fastlane System, please upload this email as confirmation of your invitation to submit a full proposal using the ‘Single Copy Documents’ section in Fastlane, as an ‘Additional Single Copy Document’. Please also make sure to select the following topic area from the drop down menu when completing the NSF SBIR ‘Phase One Cover Page’ for your proposal: SBIR: Space (SP). For a list of sub-topic areas, please review our most recent solicitation topic and subtopic document here.

Additional Guidance or Feedback (if applicable): Zbigniew, in preparing your proposal for submission, please carefully consider the following:

Technical:

What are the key technology risks/problems? The proposal should not be a systems integration or straightforward development project. What is the proposed innovation, what are the technical risks and how does the proposal mitigate these risks? The feasibility project plan that clearly describes the research objectives. What set of metrics will you use to assess the outcome of the innovation research described in the plan? What are the range of values or specific values for target specifications that will establish proof of concept in Phase One? What are the detailed tasks for creating the proof of concept? How will the measurements be made? What skills, capabilities and resources will be needed to successfully build the prototype? If the skills are not present, how will they be acquired? How will the PI know that Phase One goals have been met?

Innovation and risk aspects:

Where is and/or what is the innovation contained in this proposal? What are the riskiest aspects of the development? What steps should be taken to mitigate the risk?

Commercial:

What is the background of the team, why is this the right team to execute the commercialization of the proposed innovation? What is the size and scope of the market opportunity? You must identify how you plan to make a scalable, sustainable business from this effort. Who is the customer for the innovation? What is the value proposition for your customer? What does the competitive landscape look like? Which group of customers want the product/technology being proposed? What customer(s) needs or requirements will be satisfied by the proposed product? How are the needs and requirement(s) being satisfied now? Why will the customer choose the proposed product over existing solutions?

I highly recommend starting the system for Award Management (SAM) registration process immediately. The SAM registration process is free, but can take up to a month to complete. You must have an active SAM registration number to register with NSF and submit an invited full proposal through FastLane. Registration expires after one year.

For additional details regarding proposal preparation and upcoming informational webinars, please visit our program webpage.

Please be aware that this invitation to submit a full proposal (based off of the project proposed in the associated Pitch above) is valid for one year, and can only be used once for one full proposal submission (i.e. cannot be used for multiple full proposal submissions).

Thank you,

Murali Nair, NSF SBIR/STTR Program Director,

Division of Industrial Innovation & Partnerships,

National Science Foundation, Alexandria, VA 22314

Space (SP)

The Space topic will seek revolutionary technologies to be deployed outside Earth’s atmosphere to enhance the commercial use of space. Technologies could include innovations that provide cheaper, safer, and more frequent products and solutions to commercial space customers. This topic particularly seeks to support growth-oriented small businesses who have not previously received significant SBIR/STTR funding and are seeking to contribute to economic growth by developing innovative technologies supporting the overall emerging space economy.

Proposals should be addressing real capability gaps or enabling technologies for the space industry, anchored with a solid understanding of the challenges of working in space, including launch, mass and volume restrictions, radiation and thermal environment, communications and latency, power and energy, etc. NSF encourages proposals with revolutionary satellite and vehicle hardware or systems innovations involving propulsion systems, navigation systems, and energy collection and power generation systems unique to space environments, in-space manufacturing systems and services; Earth imaging and sensing; planetary (other than Earth) physical surveying, mapping, and prospecting services; extraction and processes of water and volatiles (not on Earth); and analytic algorithms based on data collected extensively from spacebased systems, either alone or in combination with terrestrial systems.

SP1. Extra-terrestrial Resource Extraction

SP2. Geological and Geoclimatic Science Data Technologies

SP3. Ground Launch Sites and Satellite Operations Technologies

SP4. In-space Manufacturing Technologies

SP5. Navigation and Positioning Technologies

SP6. On-Orbit Technologies

SP7. Remote Sensing Technologies

SP8. Space Transportation and Access

SP9. Spacecraft Development and Manufacturing

SP10. Telecommunications Technologies

SP11. Other Space-related Technologies