Blumenthal, Murphy Visit Glastonbury Innovator, Announce Nine Connecticut Awards To Advance Nasa Space Exploration And Aerospace Technology

(Hartford, CT) –At a visit Friday, May 2, 2014 to Thoughtventions Unlimited in Glastonbury, U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) announced seven Connecticut businesses were awarded nine research and technology proposals to advance space exploration and aerospace innovations at NASA. The seven firms from Glastonbury, East Hartford, Guilford, Monroe, North Haven and Wallingford were among 383 proposals accepted nationwide as part of NASA’s Small Business Innovation Research Program and Small Business Technology Transfer Program. Contracts are expected to be approximately $125,000 each for feasibility studies of technologies that could eventually lead to new innovations and advancements in space exploration, including human and robotic missions.

The successful Connecticut proposals are:

• Thoughtventions Unlimited of Glastonbury (two proposals) to develop a fiberoptic thermal imaging system to map the temperature inside a jet engine turbine, and to develop extreme heat resistant windows for use on a Venus lander.  

• Sustainable Innovations of Glastonbury for highly efficient, solid state hydrogen purification for resource recovery.

• Qualtech Systems of East Hartford (two proposals) for diagnosis-driven prognosis for decision making and fault management technologies.

• Flightware, Inc. of Guilford, for automated ply inspection.

• Materials Technologies Corporation of Monroe for morphing wing design with an innovative three-dimensional warping actuation.

• Precision Combustion of North Haven for an energy saving high-capacity moderate pressure carbon dioxide storage system.

• Proton Energy Systems of Wallingford for high pressure oxygen generation for future exploration missions.

“Connecticut scientists, engineers and manufacturers are once again leading the nation in developing cutting-edge technology to advance aerospace capabilities here on Earth and in space. I applaud NASA for these wise investments, and look forward to seeing these proposals develop from brilliant ideas to feasible, workable products and systems that grow jobs here and advance our ability to explore and understand our solar system,” Blumenthal said.

“These seven companies should be proud of their hard work in developing technologies that will bring NASA’s missions to the next level. Connecticut has always led the way in revolutionary research and exploration efforts, and these grants will allow NASA to take advantage of the great innovations  that our state’s small businesses produce. I’m thrilled that NASA recognizes the value of our state’s small businesses to scientific research and I look forward to following the research’s progress,” Murphy said.

“These awards reflect Connecticut’s legacy of innovation,” said Congressman John Larson (D-1). “I am pleased to see NASA recognize some of the small businesses—particularly in East Hartford and Glastonbury—that make up Connecticut’s aerospace hub. These innovators are on the forefront of science and technology and I look forward to seeing how this funding will impact both their research and the local economy.”

“Connecticut has always been on the cutting edge of research, technology and manufacturing, and I am proud of the dedicated employees at these great companies for continuing that tradition. Through federal funding, the SBIR allows cutting-edge small businesses to participate in federal research programs, strengthening America’s economy and creating good jobs. This is a great program that has helped support economic growth in Connecticut and across the country. Small businesses are the engine of our economy, and are an important part of Federal government research and development. I look forward to seeing great things as a result of this award,” said Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-3).

“I am pleased that Materials Technologies Corporation of Monroe has received this grant to develop new wing technology for NASA,” said Congressman Jim Himes (D-4). “The Small Business Innovation Research program is a great example of the kind of smart, targeted investments the federal government should be making into the research and development of new technologies, which will help bring new products to market, expand small businesses, and create jobs.”

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