[meteorite-list] 2014 NASA Advanced Technology Phase I Concepts Selected For Study

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Fri, 6 Jun 2014 12:01:42 -0700 (PDT)
Message-ID: <201406061901.s56J1gxD004282_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

June 5, 2014
     
2014 NASA Advanced Technology Phase I Concepts Selected For Study

NASA has selected 12 proposals for study under Phase I of the NASA Innovative
Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Program, which aims to turn science fiction into
fact through pioneering technology development.

The selected proposals cover a wide range of imaginative concepts, including:
-- a submarine to explore the methane lakes of Titan;
-- using neutrinos to perform measurements for the icy moons of the outer
planets; and,
-- a concept to safely capture a tumbling asteroid, space debris, and other
applications.

Seedling investments may provide the breakthrough technologies needed to
support NASA's plans for exploration beyond low-Earth orbit, into deep
space and to Mars, as outlined in the Evolvable Mars Campaign.

"The latest NIAC selections include a number of exciting concepts for
planetary exploration," said Michael Gazarik, NASA's associate administrator
for the Space Technology Mission Directorate in Washington. "We are working
with innovators around the nation to transform the future of aerospace, while
also focusing our investments on concepts to address challenges of current
interests both in space and here on Earth."

NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate chose this year's Phase I
proposals based on their potential to transform future aerospace missions by
enabling either entirely new missions or breakthroughs in future aerospace
capabilities that could accelerate progress toward NASA's goals.

NIAC Phase I awards are approximately $100,000, providing awardees the
funding needed to conduct a nine-month initial definition and analysis study
of their concepts. If the basic feasibility studies are successful, proposers
can apply for Phase II awards, which provide up to $500,000 for two more
years of concept development.

"The 2014 NIAC Phase I candidates were outstanding, which made final
selections decisions particularly difficult," said NIAC Program Executive Jay
Falker. "So we considered various kinds of potential benefit and risk, and
developed this portfolio to really push boundaries and explore new
approaches, which is what makes NIAC unique."

NASA solicits visionary, long-term concepts for technological maturation
based on their potential value to future agency space missions and
operational needs. The projects are chosen through a peer-review process that
evaluates their potential, technical approach, and benefits for study in a
timely manner. All concepts are very early in the development cycle, years
from implementation.

NASA's early investments and partnerships with creative scientists,
engineers, and citizen inventors from across the nation will provide
technological dividends and help maintain America's leadership in the global
technology economy.

The portfolio of diverse and pioneering ideas selected for NIAC awards
represent multiple technology areas, including space propulsion, human
habitation, science instruments, materials for use in space, and exploring
other diverse technology paths needed to meet NASA's strategic goals.??

NIAC is part of NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate, which is
innovating, developing, testing, and flying hardware for use in NASA's future
missions. Over the next 18 months, the directorate will make significant new
investments to address several high-priority challenges in achieving safe and
affordable deep-space exploration. These focused technology thrust areas are
tightly aligned with NASA's Space Technology Roadmaps, the Space Technology
Investment Plan, and National Research Council recommendations.

The selections support three of eight key STMD technology thrust areas:??
advanced life support and resource utilization, space robotic systems, and
space observatory systems. Additionally the concepts selected here support
our broader investments efforts in NASA's Asteroid Initiative and outer
planetary missions.

For a complete list of the selected proposals and more information about the
NIAC, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/niac

For more information about NASA's investments in space technology and the
agency???s Space Technology Mission Directorate, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/spacetech

-end-

David E. Steitz
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1730
david.steitz at nasa.gov
Received on Fri 06 Jun 2014 03:01:42 PM PDT