Insider Brief
- Whisper Aero has received a Small Business Innovation Research grant from NASA to develop quieter and more efficient ventilation fans for spacecraft cabins.
- The goal is to develop a fan that operates at a sound pressure level of 61 decibels from 2 feet away while achieving 75 percent efficiency.
- If successful, Whisper Aero will proceed with testing a prototype in 2025 to validate the fan’s performance. These tests could pave the way for the technology’s use in future NASA missions and commercial spacecraft.
Whisper Aero, a start-up based in Crossville, Tennessee, has reportedly received a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from NASA to develop quieter, more efficient ventilation fans for spacecraft cabins. This collaboration follows the recent opening of Whisper’s $1.2 million flight test center at Crossville Memorial Airport.
The project, which spans six months, aims to address a longstanding issue in crewed space missions: excessive noise from ventilation systems. In the Apollo era, astronauts often had to turn off the noisy cabin fans in favour of backup systems to maintain clear communication. Despite efforts to redesign ventilation systems, such as adding mufflers on the Space Shuttle, noise levels remained high. Today’s spacecraft cabin fans still operate at sound levels of around 80 decibels, which disrupts communications and adds to crew discomfort.
Whisper Aero, known for its work in low-noise propulsion, is now tasked with creating a fan that reduces noise and increases efficiency. The goal is to develop a fan that operates at a sound pressure level of 61 decibels from 2 feet away while achieving 75 percent efficiency—significantly quieter and more efficient than current models.
Whisper Aero’s Chief Operations Officer, Ian Villa, expressed the company’s confidence in meeting these objectives, stating, “Whisper is now designing the quietest, most efficient fans on Earth and in space. This program will further cement Whisper as the definitive next-generation propulsion provider of choice and accelerate Whisper’s commercialization flywheel.”
The start-up plans to leverage its previous work with NASA and the US Department of Defense to ensure the new fan design meets the stringent requirements of space missions. According to Whisper’s Chief Engineer, Devon Jedamski, the team is well-prepared for the technical challenges ahead, thanks to their investment in advanced design frameworks and extensive test data.
If successful, Whisper Aero will proceed with testing a prototype in 2025 to validate the fan’s performance. These tests could pave the way for the technology’s use in future NASA missions and commercial spacecraft, potentially offering a quieter and more comfortable environment for astronauts.
Whisper Aero’s leadership team, including CEO Mark Moore, brings decades of experience from NASA, further enhancing the company’s capability to deliver innovative solutions for space exploration.
Image credit: Whisper Aero
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