Nasa

Nasa has chosen 399 research and technology proposals from 259 small businesses and 42 research institutions in the US for helping the agency’s future missions into deep space.

Part of Nasa’s small business innovation research (SBIR) and small business technology transfer (STTR) programmes, the awards have a total value of roughly $49.7m.

Nasa received 1,278 proposals in response to its this year’s solicitation for SBIR and STTR programmes, as well as selected 341 SBIR and 58 STTR Phase I proposals for contract negotiations.

The proposals were selected according to their technical merit and feasibility, along with the experience, qualifications and facilities of the submitting organisation.

Other criteria included efficiency of the work plan and commercial potential of the proposals.

The agency noted that selected proposals will support the development of technologies in several areas, including aeronautics, science, human exploration and operations, and space technology.

The awards will fund innovative and feasible aeronautics concepts and technologies to facilitate efficiency of the next-generation air transportation system, while maintaining or improving safety and environmental acceptability.

"Selected proposals will support the development of technologies in several areas, including aeronautics, science, human exploration and operations, and space technology."

It will also provide financial assistance to life support and habitation technologies, as well as necessary equipment to provide and maintain a livable environment within the pressurised cabin of crewed spacecraft.

This research category includes environmental monitoring, solid waste management, crew accommodations and water recovery systems.

The SBIR and 58 STTR Phase I project will also fund the new technologies to enable robotic exploration of the planets, their moons and other small bodies in our solar system, including technologies for atmospheric entry, descent and landing; mobility systems; extreme environments technology; sample acquisition and preparation for in-situ experiments; and in-situ planetary science instruments.

The awards further aim to provide fund for advanced systems that generate power and store energy in space.

Nasa noted that SBIR Phase I projects provide the opportunity to set up the scientific, technical and commercial merit and feasibility of a proposed innovation in fulfillment of the agency’s needs.

Phase I projects receive six-month contracts valued at up to $125,000.

SBIR Phase II projects focus on the development, demonstration and delivery of the proposed Phase I innovation, last no more than two years and are valued at up to $750,000 each.

Nasa’s Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, California, US, manages the SBIR and STTR programmes under Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD).

Image: Nasa received 1,278 proposals in response to its this year’s solicitation for SBIR and STTR programmes. Photo: courtesy of Nasa.