TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER LICENSING OPPORTUNITY: Additively Manufactured Propulsion Catalysts (MFS-TOPS-120)
Open Special Notice Posted
- Solicitation number
- T2P-MSFC-00056
- Agency
-
Marshall Space Flight Center
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Responses due
- Set-aside
- No set-aside
Opportunity facts
- NAICS code
- 927110 Space Research and Technology
- PSC
- 9999 Miscellaneous Items
- Points of contact
-
- NASA's Technology Transfer Program agency-patent-licensing@mail.nasa.gov
Notice details come from SAM.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center has published a Special Notice soliciting inquiries from companies interested in obtaining license rights to commercialize additively manufactured propulsion catalysts under the designation MFS-TOPS-120. This Technology Transfer Licensing Opportunity was posted on March 24, 2026, with a deadline for license applications on March 2, 2027. The technology represents a collaborative development between NASA and EOS aimed at improving propulsion systems for aerospace applications. License rights may be issued on either an exclusive or nonexclusive basis with specific fields of use potentially designated. No federal funding is provided in conjunction with these potential licenses, and the opportunity is categorized under Space Research and Technology.
The underlying objective is to address significant limitations in conventional propulsion catalyst manufacturing by introducing an innovative additive manufacturing method that produces ultra-fine lattice structure catalysts with improved repeatability, reactivity, and tailorability while reducing costs and manufacturing lead times. Interested companies must submit license applications through NASA's Automated Technology Licensing Application System (ATLAS) at https://technology.nasa.gov/patent/MFS-TOPS-120 by the March 2, 2027 deadline. There are no specific set-asides or stated eligibility restrictions, indicating that all companies capable of commercializing the technology may participate in this licensing opportunity. The new manufacturing approach addresses deficiencies inherent in existing methods, including the variability and damage-prone installation processes of traditional metal and graphite foam catalysts. Inquiries and questions regarding the opportunity should be directed to NASA's Technology Transfer Program at Agency-Patent-Licensing@mail.nasa.gov.
Notice text
NASA’s Technology Transfer Program solicits inquiries from companies interested in obtaining license rights to commercialize, manufacture and market the following technology. License rights may be issued on an exclusive or nonexclusive basis and may include specific fields of use. NASA provides no funding in conjunction with these potential licenses.
THE TECHNOLOGY:
In mono-propulsion systems, a propellant is flowed across a catalyst to promote a chemical reaction and generate thrust. Conventional catalyst manufacturing methods entail (a) coating the inner walls of the thruster nozzle with a catalyst (generally undesirable due to limited catalyst-propellant contact), or (b) inserting a metal or graphite foam coated with a catalyst material into the thruster chamber. Method (b), while superior in terms of thrust generation, also possesses several limitations. Metal/graphite foams are difficult and expensive to procure, stochastic/random in nature (e.g., possess high variability in terms of geometric and other properties), and must be jammed into the thruster chamber using a compression plunger during installation – a process that often leads to catalyst damage. A new manufacturing method that improves repeatability, thruster reactivity, and tailorability (e.g., mechanical, chemical, and fluid flow) while reducing cost and lead time is thus highly desirable. To address this need, NASA and EOS developed methods to additively manufacture (AM) ultra-fine lattice structure propulsion catalysts.
To express interest in this licensing opportunity, please submit a license application through NASA’s Automated Technology Licensing Application System (ATLAS) by visiting https://technology.nasa.gov/patent/MFS-TOPS-120
If you have any questions, please e-mail NASA’s Technology Transfer Program at Agency-Patent-Licensing@mail.nasa.gov with the title of this Technology Transfer Opportunity as listed in this SAM.gov notice and your preferred contact information. For more information about licensing other NASA-developed technologies, please visit the NASA Technology Transfer Portal at https://technology.nasa.gov/
These responses are provided to members of NASA’s Technology Transfer Program for the purpose of promoting public awareness of NASA-developed technology products, and conducting preliminary market research to determine public interest in and potential for future licensing opportunities. No follow-on procurement is expected to result from responses to this Notice.
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