[meteorite-list] NASA Invites Universities to Submit Innovative Early-Stage Technology Proposals

[Ron Baalke]

May 21, 2015

RELEASE 15-100

NASA Invites Universities to Submit Innovative Early-Stage Technology Proposals

NASA is seeking proposals from universities for early stage technology 
development that will support the agency's long-term plans for human 
exploration of Mars and scientific study of our solar system and beyond.

The Early Stage Innovations NASA Research Announcement calls for innovative 
space technology proposals that could benefit NASA's space program, other 
government agencies and the greater aerospace community.

"We are looking for innovative ideas where top researchers from U.S. 
universities can help solve the toughest space technology challenges as we 
look to begin our journey to pioneer our solar system," said Steve Jurczyk, 
associate administrator for the Space Technology Mission Directorate at NASA 
Headquarters in Washington. "The areas of focus we selected align with our 
Space Technology Roadmaps, which reflect the National Research Council's 
review of these roadmaps."

Only accredited U.S. universities may submit proposals under this 
solicitation. Notices of intent to submit proposals to the Early Stage 
Innovations Appendix of NASA's Research Announcement, "Space Technology 
Research, Development, Demonstration and Infusion 2015," are due June 12. The 
deadline for submitting final proposals is July 10.

The proposals may cover transformative space technologies in different 
fields, including planetary exploration capabilities, such as payload 
technologies for assistive free-flyers and robotic mobility technologies for 
the surfaces of icy moons. They may also cover material science, such as 
discrete cellular materials assembly, repair and reconfiguration, and 
computationally guided structural nanomaterials design.

Other topics could include optical communication for space using integrated 
photonics, atmospheric entry modeling development using data from the first 
flight test of NASA's Orion spacecraft in December 2014, and high voltage 
power management and distribution electronics for space applications.

The agency expects to make approximately 12 awards this fall, with total 
award amounts of as much as to $500,000. Research and development efforts 
will take place over two to three years.

To view the announcement and information for submitting proposals, visit:

http://go.nasa.gov/1FtZeTk

For more information about NASA's investments in space technology, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/spacetech

-end-