Detection of Hypergolic Fuels and Oxidizers

May 2008 - Makel Engineering has been awarded a Phase II Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) research contract with the Department of Defense Missile Defense Agency. MEI has initiated work on the development of a system for the detection of hypergolic fuels and oxidizers in missile canisters. This system is designed to be directly integrated into, for example, the All Up Round (AUR) container for an interceptor missile.

Micro-Plasma Based Explosives Detection

May 2008 - Makel Engineering has been awarded a Phase II Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) research contract with the US Navy's Naval Air Systems Command. This research program will develop a micro-plasma based explosives detection system for use in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that will allow stand-off inspection of approaching vessels at sea. The system incorporates a novel plasma source within a miniaturized spectrometer to detect extremely low levels of explosive compounds.

New Oxygen Generation System Activated

July 2007 - Astronauts at the International Space Station activated and tested the second Oxygen Generation System (OGS) ( NASA Press Release). The system will be crucial add to the existing Russian Elektron oxygen generation capacity, enabling future expansion of the station crew to six people in 2009. The OGS is based on the electrolysis of water to produce oxygen. Since hydrogen is produced as a byproduct, the safety system includes triple redundancy hydrogen sensors, which were supplied by Makel Engineering.