by Michelle Cometa, Jan. 9, 2009
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration has awarded Rochester Institute of Technology a contract for $101,237 for a six-month study to develop new polymer foam packaging materials for protecting life support systems on lunar missions. The project will be led by Changfeng Ge, professor in the RIT College of Applied Science and Technology and director of the American Packaging Corp. Center for Packaging Innovation, based in the college.
NASA scientists have been working on the project ‘Portable Life Support System Packaging Phase’ for some time. This award to RIT is part of Phase III. Ge will develop several new types of polymer packaging materials, specifically single uniform foam, layer-structured foam, composite foam and closed cell foam filled with light gas. He’ll also develop the manufacturing plan to produce the materials. The new materials will protect the astronaut’s life support system from the impact while working outside of lunar vehicles, taking soil samples on the moon, for example.
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