Abstract: A system is designed to increase diver safety in a high-risk environment containing one or more hazardous materials. The system includes chemically-hardened surface-supplied diving equipment designed to provide full environment isolation for the diver. The system also includes a dive helmet and a surface-return exhaust system, where the surface-return exhaust system includes a demand exhaust regulator that serves as a pressure-actuated valve to enable exhausting to a breathable atmosphere outside of a dive helmet instead of exhausting into the environment containing one or more hazardous materials. The system also includes retrofittable kits enabling the upgrading of contaminant-vulnerable materials of an existing dive helmet. The system also includes fluoroelastomeric materials and components to implement in a closed circuit dive system.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a protective diving system for isolating a diver from a hazardous diving environment. The protective diving system can include a dry suit system including a dry suit and a surface exhaust valve coupled to the dry suit, and a return-surface exhaust assembly configured to exhaust gas from the dry suit system to a breathable atmosphere outside of the diving environment of the diver. The surface exhaust valve is configured to receive gas from the dry suit and exhaust gas to the return-surface exhaust assembly without exhausting to the surrounding diving environment. The protective diving system can further include one or more chemically-resistant components, where the chemically-resistant components include a fluoroelastomer.

Abstract: A portable thermal-control system adapted to support space-related research and exploration. Embodiments of the present invention assist in preventing overheating of small payloads being transported from an orbiting space vehicle to a planetary surface by small atmospheric-entry vehicles. Other embodiments of the present invention provide thermal control within an extra-vehicular activity (EVA) suit. Each embodiment utilizes at least one phase-change material, cooled significantly below the freezing temperature, to absorb heat.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a protective diving system for isolating a diver from a hazardous diving environment. The protective diving system can include a dry suit system including a dry suit and a surface exhaust valve coupled to the dry suit, and a return-surface exhaust assembly configured to exhaust gas from the dry suit system to a breathable atmosphere outside of the diving environment of the diver. The surface exhaust valve is configured to receive gas from the dry suit and exhaust gas to the return-surface exhaust assembly without exhausting to the surrounding diving environment. The protective diving system can further include one or more chemically-resistant components, where the chemically-resistant components include a fluoroelastomer.

Abstract: A system designed to increase diver safety in high-risk environments containing one or more hazardous materials. The system comprises one or more retrofittable kits enabling the upgrading of contaminate-vulnerable materials of an existing dive helmet to provide full environment isolation for the diver. The system preferably utilizes fluoroelastomeric replacement materials and components to convert an open circuit dive system to a closed circuit dive system. Methods of system development are also disclosed.

Abstract: A portable thermal-control system adapted to support space-related research and exploration. Embodiments of the present invention assist in preventing overheating of small payloads being transported from an orbiting space vehicle to a planetary surface by small atmospheric-entry vehicles. Other embodiments of the present invention provide thermal control within an extra-vehicular activity (EVA) suit. Each embodiment utilizes at least one phase-change material, cooled significantly below the freezing temperature, to absorb heat.

Abstract: A spacecraft radiator system designed to provide structural support to the spacecraft. Structural support is provided by the geometric “crescent” form of the panels of the spacecraft radiator. This integration of radiator and structural support provides spacecraft with a semi-monocoque design.

Abstract: A system designed to increase diver safety in high-risk environments containing one or more hazardous materials. The system comprises one or more retrofittable kits enabling the upgrading of contaminate-vulnerable materials of an existing dive helmet to provide full environment isolation for the diver. The system preferably utilizes fluoroelastomeric replacement materials and components to convert an open circuit dive system to a closed circuit dive system. Methods of system development are also disclosed.

Abstract: A ground-based system for simulating dynamic suborbital-flight environments occurring during substantially complete suborbital-flights by a flight vehicle.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for establishing a sealed ecological system that is self-sustaining, remains in dynamic equilibrium over successive generations of organisms. The wastes generated by one set of organisms are consumed entirely by other organisms as nutrients. This nutrient-waste balance is achieved by limiting the amounts of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium present at the start-up of the system. Further stability and water clarity is achieved by the use of aquatic plants.