Boron Nitride Nanotube (BNNT) and BNNT Composite: Synthesis and Applications

Vehicle weight is a primary driver for most NASA missions. Reducing vehicle weight can:
- Expand mission capability
- Reduce launch costs
- Reduce fuel consumption
- Systems analysis shows that reducing materials mass by 20% leads to a 30% reduction in launch vehicle gross weight
- Same study indicates a 50% reduction in materials mass reduces launch vehicle gross weight by >60%, enables potential single stage to orbit designs
- Additional multifunctionality: thermal, radiation protection, sensing capabilities, no corrosion

Potential Impact: Produce advanced lightweight structural BNNT composites with higher thermal stability, no corrosion, high toughness, sensing/actuation, and radiation shielding effectiveness.