New projects funded by NASA will take place in the bid to improve space exploration and they include some rather futuristic ideas.
The NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) is an annual program that welcomes ideas and concepts from today’s forward-thinking scientists and NASA have announced they have chosen eight out of 13 first-phase concepts. The projects underwent a peer-reviewed process and were decided upon due to their unique future contribution to NASA’s space exploration projects.
Amongst the eight chosen ideas, one is a deep sleep chamber that could be used by crew on the next mission to Mars and the moon. Other concepts include, Growth-Adapted Tensegrity Structures that will create habitats that are equipped with robotic systems, Magnetoshell Aerocapture that will enable long-term studies of other planets and their satellites, and a Flight Demonstration of Novel Atmospheric Satellite Concept which is designed to use both wind and solar energy for atmospheric satellites.
NASA is planning to give out $500,000 to each project over the next two years in order to develop them further. Jason Derleth, the NIAC program executive at NASA Headquarters in Washington stated that they are thrilled with the range of concepts presented to them this year.
“Phase II decisions are always challenging, but we were especially challenged this year with so many successful Phase I studies applying to move forward with their cutting-edge technologies. Whether it’s tensegrity habitats in space, new ways to get humans to Mars, delicate photonic propulsion, or any one of the other amazing Phase II studies NIAC is funding, I’m thrilled to welcome these innovations and their innovators back to the program. Hopefully, they will all go on to do what NIAC does best – change the possible.”