AFWERX selects ACT for a Small Business Innovation Research Phase 2 contract to enable high performance small satellites for the U.S Air Force.

March 25th, 2023 – Advanced Cooling Technologies, Inc. – announces it has been selected by AFWERX for a SBIR Phase 2 in the amount of 1,2 Million USD focused on This project is a direct to Phase II SBIR program. “Rapidly Manufacturable 3D Printed Loop Heat Pipes (LHPs), Enabling High Performance Small Satellites”.

This program builds on both current and past NASA SBIR programs that initially developed the 3D printed Loop Heat Pipe (LHP) concept. ACT will develop a low-cost, rapidly manufacturable 3D printed Loop Heat Pipe (LHP) with a deployable radiator to enable high-performance Small Satellites. This program aims to:

• Bring size, weight and Power (SWaP) dexterity to the small satellite manufacturing landscape.
• Reduce susceptibility to satellites by employing many SmallSats with enhanced capabilities inplace of a few large satellites for awareness and communication.
• Reduce satellite build and launch times for a better response to a rapidly changing defense landscape.

The proposed technology leverages 3D printing to fill the void in thermal control technology that exists at the intersection of low cost, rapid manufacturability, and high power. Traditional LHPs are associated with high costs and long lead times with significant scheduling risks due to complex manufacturing. This has prohibited their adoption for thermal control on SmallSats thus far. As such, the current SmallSats operate with restricted performance, primarily due to the limited heat-transfer capacity of low-power thermal links, such as thermal straps, that are currently employed in place of traditional LHPs owing to the former’s low cost and wide availability.

Moreover, the 3D printed LHP can be manufactured in less than a week, with an actual print time of 8-15 hours (with multiple evaporators capable of being printed simultaneously), in contrast with traditional LHPs that are associated with lead times on the order of months. Given these major advantages, the proposed technology can lead to a practical realization of high-performance SmallSats with enhanced capabilities.

About Advanced Cooling Technologies, Inc.
Advanced Cooling Technologies, Inc. (ACT) is a premier thermal management solutions company, providing design and manufacturing services to meet our customers’ needs across all points of the product lifecycle. We serve our global customers’ thermal management and energy recovery needs in diverse Markets including Defense, Aerospace, Electronics, HVAC, Medical, Enclosure Cooling and Calibration Equipment. We specialize in providing innovative and performance-optimized thermal management technologies and solutions that meet the unique needs of each customer. For more information visit www.1-ACT.com.

About AFRL The Air Force Research Laboratory
The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is the primary scientific research and development center for the Department of the Air Force. AFRL plays an integral role in leading the discovery, development, and integration of affordable warfighting  technologies for our air, space, and cyberspace force. With a workforce of more than 11,000 across nine technology areas and 40 other operations across the globe, AFRL provides a diverse portfolio of science and technology ranging from fundamental to advanced
research and technology development. For more information, visit AFRL on the web.

About AFVentures
AFVentures invests in emerging technologies to scale Department of the Air Force capabilities, strengthening the US industrial base that empowers Airmen and Guardians by incentivizing private, for-profit investment in national security interests. Our success is achieved by connecting novel commercial solutions with defense problem sets, de-risking Airmen and Guardian initiatives to fill capability gaps and transition technologies. Learn more at AFWERX.

Company Press Contact: megan.ulrich@1-act.com