NASA has announced the selection of 13 proposals for the 2024 Phase I awards under its NIAC (NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts) program. These awards aim to fund early-stage technology concept studies that could lead to innovations benefiting future space agency missions. The chosen concepts cover a range of ideas, from exploring low Earth orbit to venturing into interstellar space.
The NIAC program provides a maximum of $175,000 in grants for technology concept studies that could play a crucial role in shaping future space missions. While not all concepts selected may materialize into actual missions, NIAC has a track record of inspiring ideas that have contributed to successful NASA endeavors.
Some notable proposals include:
MAGGIE on Mars: Ge-Cheng Zha of Coflow Jet LLC in Florida proposed a fixed-wing, electric vertical takeoff, and landing craft for Mars exploration, named “MAGGIE.” This vehicle could enhance humanity’s ability to explore and conduct scientific research on the Red Planet.
Interstellar Swarm: Thomas Eubanks from Space Initiatives Inc. in Florida suggested a swarm of tiny spacecraft that could travel to Proxima Centauri within this century. The swarm, equipped with a novel laser sailcraft and laser communications, would send back data about our Sun’s nearest interstellar neighbor.
Venus Sample Return: Geoff Landis of NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland proposed a spacecraft designed to survive Venus’ harsh environment and return a sample from its surface. The concept involves innovations in high-temperature technology and solar aircraft.
The diverse range of concepts, from quantum sensors observing Earth’s atmosphere to interstellar communication through a coordinated swarm of spacecraft, showcases the innovative spirit of the NIAC community. The selected researchers, known as fellows, will utilize their NIAC grants to delve into the fundamental aspects of their concepts, map out necessary technology development, identify potential challenges, and explore opportunities for bringing their ideas to fruition.
Read Now:Chinese Surveillance Balloons Detected Over Taiwan for Second Consecutive Day
