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

[Ron Baalke]

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:Â  
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