FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
October 13, 2006
For more information contact:

Eugene (Gene) Watson, Program Manager
Wyoming SBIR/STTR Initiative
Phone: 307.742.7162, 307.760.0456 cell

John Wickman, Wickman Spacecraft and Propulsion
3745A Studer
Casper, Wyoming 82604
Phone: 307.265.5895

Wickman Spacecraft and Propulsion wins SBIR Phase II award

CHEYENNE – Casper scientist John Wickman has been awarded a $730,000, two-year contract from the United States Army through the Small Business Innovation Research Program. Wickman’s award was earned through his efforts to develop and demonstrate a new solid rocket motor with an innovative pintle rocket nozzle.

The nozzle not only controls the thrust level of the missile, but also provides steering controls as well. According to Wickman, the U.S. military is seeking more capable tactical missiles to hit more sophisticated enemy aircraft and fast-moving ground targets. This new motor is being developed for expressly that purpose.

“Basically, this is a solid rocket motor with a pintle nozzle, where you can control the thrust level of a missile in real-time like you would a gas pedal on a car,” Wickman said. “It also controls steering and that has never been done before.”

Wickman said this project is a high-priority with the priority rating coming directly from the Secretary of Defense.

In winning a Phase I grant, the granting agency offers money for the firm proposing the technology to do a feasibility study. In Phase II a prototype is built. For his Phase II grant, Wickman will demonstrate the nozzle through cold flow testing, solid rocket motor tests and demonstration motor firing at Army facilities. Wickman will also be constructing a high-pressure cold flow facility for this test. The University of Wyoming will also benefit from this award as they will receive a $226,000 subcontract to conduct low-pressure cold flow tests, upgrade the wind tunnel and provide computational fluid dynamic analysis.

The SBIR Phase 0 Program helps Wyoming companies develop competitive proposals for the federal SBIR and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. The SBIR Phase 0 program is a project of the Wyoming SBIR/STTR Initiative (WSSI). The WSSI initiative is funded by the Wyoming Business Council and gives out $120,000 in Phase 0 grants each year.

Wickman won a Phase 0 award for his effort with pintle rocket nozzle in June of 2004. He used the grant money to conduct some preliminary design analyses, which was included in the Phase I proposal to give it credibility.

The federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs make up the WSSI alliance and provide more than $2 billion annually in Research and Development (R&D) grants and contracts to qualified small businesses.

Eleven federal agencies are required by law to provide these funds by setting aside 2.5 percent of their annual extra-mural R&D budgets for use exclusively by U.S. small businesses for new product R&D. Hence, these programs provide a unique source of start-up and seed capital for small businesses to develop new innovative product concepts.

The mission of the Wyoming Business Council is to facilitate the economic growth of Wyoming. For more information, please visit the Web site at www.wyomingbusiness.org.

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