Mainstream Engineering Awarded Contract from the NASA for Developing a Passive Thermal Management System for Extreme Environments
ROCKLEDGE, FL – April 29, 2011 – Mainstream Engineering Corporation, a 25-year-old Brevard County manufacturer with a history of leading-edge research and development has been awarded a contract from NASA to develop an advanced, compact, passive, thermal management system for spacecraft exposed to extremely high temperatures and pressures.
Robotic exploration on the surface of planets like Venus means that techniques to cool system electronics to room temperature while the ambient temperature is over 880ºF must be developed and demonstrated. Mainstream has developed an innovative, patent-pending, passive, thermal management system that is actually capable of providing electronic system cooling at 86°F while rejecting heat to ambient temperatures above 880°F. This effort includes performance demonstration experiments in this high-temperature environment and will demonstrate a cooling system with a mass of less than 0.22 kg/W/day.
While many employers in Brevard County are discussing reductions in force, Mainstream has seen its staff increase by 14% in the last year alone. This new NASA contract will allow Mainstream to create additional engineering positions.
“This new NASA contract award is another step in a series of ongoing job-creating new contracts at Mainstream. We are very excited about the potential of this technology for future robotic exploration,” stated Dr. Robert Scaringe, President of Mainstream.
About Mainstream Engineering Corporation
Mainstream Engineering Corporation is a solutions-oriented research, development, and manufacturing small business founded in 1986. Our primary mission is to transition advanced thermal control, energy storage, and energy conversion technology into high-quality, cost-effective, environmentally-safe green, commercial products. Products include lightweight diesel/JP8-fueled engines (including generators and hybrid vehicle drive trains), advanced thermal control units, advanced biomass conversion technologies, refrigerators/freezers for shipping containers, and the QwikProductTM line of heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC/R) products. Areas of advanced research include thermal control, energy conversion, engine and emissions research, turbomachinery, chemical technology, and materials science.
Robotic exploration on the surface of planets like Venus means that techniques to cool system electronics to room temperature while the ambient temperature is over 880ºF must be developed and demonstrated. Mainstream has developed an innovative, patent-pending, passive, thermal management system that is actually capable of providing electronic system cooling at 86°F while rejecting heat to ambient temperatures above 880°F. This effort includes performance demonstration experiments in this high-temperature environment and will demonstrate a cooling system with a mass of less than 0.22 kg/W/day.
While many employers in Brevard County are discussing reductions in force, Mainstream has seen its staff increase by 14% in the last year alone. This new NASA contract will allow Mainstream to create additional engineering positions.
“This new NASA contract award is another step in a series of ongoing job-creating new contracts at Mainstream. We are very excited about the potential of this technology for future robotic exploration,” stated Dr. Robert Scaringe, President of Mainstream.
About Mainstream Engineering Corporation
Mainstream Engineering Corporation is a solutions-oriented research, development, and manufacturing small business founded in 1986. Our primary mission is to transition advanced thermal control, energy storage, and energy conversion technology into high-quality, cost-effective, environmentally-safe green, commercial products. Products include lightweight diesel/JP8-fueled engines (including generators and hybrid vehicle drive trains), advanced thermal control units, advanced biomass conversion technologies, refrigerators/freezers for shipping containers, and the QwikProductTM line of heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC/R) products. Areas of advanced research include thermal control, energy conversion, engine and emissions research, turbomachinery, chemical technology, and materials science.