This proposal requests SBIR Phase II support to further develop Theseus, an unmanned aircraft for very high-altitude scientific missions. During Phase II, the PI proposes the following activities: (1) assemble a scientific advisory group; (2) complete the design and construct an engineering mock-up of a multispecies sampling payload; (3) validate the proposed powerplant through subscale tests; (4) verify weight projections for cryogenic fuel tanks; (5) develop methods to reduce structural fabrication costs by 25%; and (6) complete a preliminary design.
