NASA Innovation Pro- Pro-grammes and Initiatives

242 “About the General Support Technology Programme (GSTP)” 28 Apr. 2009. European Space Agency 28 Feb.

2012

<http://www.esa.int/esaMI/Technology/SEMEU4WPXPF_0 .html>.

243 Ibid.

244 Ibid.

A.2 NASA Innovation Pro-grammes and Initiatives

From a functional point of view, many similar innovation and technology development pro-grammes exist within NASA. Compared to ESA’s innovation processes and their formali-sation, however, NASA’s approach towards innovation seems to be more linear. Obvi-ously, this difference in approach can be brought back to the path dependency in or-ganisational structure of both space agencies.

The internal NASA Space Technology Devel-opment Approach consists of three different divisions. In terms of innovation, the first, Early Innovation Division, is most relevant. It includes the forming of creative ideas regard-ing future NASA systems or solutions to na-tional needs. Programs that are part of this division are the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC), Space Technology Research Grants (GRC), Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) & Small Business Technol-ogy Transfer (STTR), the Center Innovation Fund and the Centennial Challenges. The consecutive phases, the Game Changing Technology Division and the Crosscutting Capability Demonstration Division are aimed at maturing and infusion of newly developed technologies. All NASA technology develop-ment divisions and their respective pro-grammes are briefly described in the tables below.²⁴⁵

245 “Office of the Chief Technologist” NASA 20 Dec. 2011

<http://www.nasa.gov/offices/oct/about_us/index.html>.

Name of the program Mission NASA Innovative Advanced

Concepts (NIAC) Fund early studies of visionary, long term concepts - aerospace architectures, systems, or missions (not focused technologies).

The intended scope is very early concepts: Technology Readiness Level 1-2 or early 3; 10+ years out.

Space Technology Research

Grants (GRC) Focus on innovative research in advanced space technology and fellowships for graduate student research in space technology.

Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR)

Engage small businesses in aerospace research and development for infusion into NASA missions and the nation’s economy.

Center Innovation Fund Stimulate and encourage creativity and innovation within the NASA Centres in addressing the technology needs of NASA and the nation. Funds will be distributed to each NASA Centre to sup-port emerging technologies and creative initiatives that leverage Centre talent and capabilities. NASA scientists and engineers will lead projects but partnerships among Centres and with other agencies, research laboratories, academia and private industry are encouraged. The individual Centres will have full discretion on the use of the funds and the Center Chief Technologists will coor-dinate a competitive process at their Centre for the selection of projects. Centres will report on progress periodically and the pro-gramme office at NASA Headquarters will evaluate the Centre’s efforts on an annual basis.

Centennial Challenges (6): Incentive prizes to stimulate innovative solutions by citizen in-ventors and independent teams outside of the traditional aero-space community. Over time, some topics have been closed and others have been introduced. Currently there are six different challenges being addressed.

Green Flight Bring forth aircraft that maximise fuel efficiency, reduce noise and improve safety--features that can be applied in the full range of private, commercial and military aircraft of the future.

Strong Tether Driving material science technologies to create long, very strong cables (known as tethers) with the exceptionally high strength-to-weight ratio. Such tethers will enable advances in aerospace capabilities including reduction in rocket mass, habitable space structures, tether-based propulsion systems, solar sails, and even space elevators.

Power Beaming Practical demonstration of wireless power transmission. Practical systems employing power beaming would have a wide range of applications from lunar rovers and space propulsion systems to airships above the Earth. Another future application of power beaming would be the space elevator concept.

Sample Return Robot An autonomous capability to locate and retrieve specific sample types from various locations over a wide and varied terrain and return those samples to a designated zone in a reasonable amount of time with limited mapping data.

Nanosatellite Launch Aims: Safe, low-cost, small payload delivery system for frequent access to Earth orbit. Innovations in propulsion and other tech-nologies as well as operations and management for broader ap-plications in future launch systems. A commercial capability for dedicated launches of small satellites at a cost comparable to secondary payload launches--a potential new market with Gov-ernment, commercial, and academic customers.

Night Rover Foster the development of mobile systems to collect solar energy, store that energy, and later use it productively. Innovations in energy storage technology for space operations and, in particu-lar, to meet the demands imposed by the daylight/darkness cycle on the Moon. Energy system innovations to benefit terrestrial applications, including vehicles and renewable energy generation systems.

Table 4: Early Innovation Division (5 Programmes).²⁴⁶

Name of the program Mission Game Changing Development

Program

The Game Changing Development Program seeks to identify and rapidly mature innovative/high impact capabilities and technolo-gies for infusion in a broad array of future NASA missions. Multi-ple performing teams using varied approaches will attempt to achieve selected high impact challenge goals. Performing teams are held accountable for ensuring that discoveries move rapidly from the laboratory to application. The Game Changing Develop-ment Program portfolio will produce both subsystem/system level multidisciplinary innovations and component/discipline innova-tions. While advances in discipline and core knowledge are by-products of the Game Changing development Program, the ob-jective is to mature transformational innovations for future space systems in preparation for flight demonstration.

Franklin Small Satellite

Sub-system Technology Program Technologies that enable small satellites to provide game chang-ing capabilities for the government and commercial sectors will be supported under a competed Small Satellite Subsystem Tech-nologies Program. In this program, ground testing of promising transformational small satellite capabilities are sought. The se-lected small satellite subsystem technology development projects may provide subsystem advances for the Edison Small Satellite Demonstration Program and other small satellite demonstration opportunities.

Table 5: Game Changing Technology Division (2 Programmes).²⁴⁷

Name of the program Mission Technology Demonstration

Missions Program

Matures, through flight demonstrations, a small number of Agency crosscutting technologies in partnerships with the Mission Directorates, industry, and other government agencies

Edison Small Satellite

Demon-stration Missions Program Develops and operates a series of NASA-focused small satellite demonstration missions in collaboration with academia and small business

Flight Opportunities Program. Provides flight opportunities of reduced-gravity environments, brief periods of weightlessness, and high-altitude atmospheric research

Table 6: Crosscutting Capability Demonstrations Division (3 Programmes).²⁴⁸

246 Ibid.

247 Ibid.

248 Ibid.