office of the chief technologist space technology programs

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Office of the Chief TechnologistSpace Technology Programs

Dr. Steven Meier, Director, CrosscuttingCapability Demonstration Division

February 8, 2011

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Space Technology: An Investment in Our Future

• Through NASA, America Continues to Dream Big: NASA’s future aeronautics, science and exploration missions are grand in scope and bold in stature.

• Core Competencies: NASA’s societal impact is derived from integration of its three long-standing core competencies: research and technology, flight hardware development, and mission operations.

• ARPA-Space: Pushing the boundaries and taking informed-risk, NASA’s new technology efforts will develop crosscutting, game-changing solutions to the Agency’s technological needs. NASA at the cutting-edge.

• A Technology Focus at NASA: – Is required to enable NASA’s future aeronautics, science and exploration missions.– Drives our Nation’s economic competitiveness.– Serves as a strong inspiration for young people to pursue STEM education & career

paths.– Allows application of NASA’s intellectual capital to the development of technological

solutions addressing broad needs in energy, weather & climate, health & wellness, and security.

• Technological leadership is the “Space Race” of the 21st Century

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External Input Has Driven Formulation of the NASA Space Technology Program

• NASA Authorization Act of 2008: “A robust program of long-term exploration-related research and development will be essential for the success and sustainability of any enduring initiative of human and robotic exploration of the solar system.”

• NRC report, America’s Future in Space, 2009: “NASA should revitalize its advanced technology development program by establishing a DARPA-like organization within NASA as a priority mission area to support preeminent civil, national security (if dual-use), and commercial space programs.”

• NRC report, Fostering Visions for the Future: A Review of the NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts, 2009: “To improve the manner in which advanced concepts are infused into its future systems, the committee recommends that NASA consider reestablishing an aeronautics and space systems technology development enterprise. Its purpose would be to provide maturation opportunities and agency expertise for visionary, far-reaching concepts and technologies.”

• Augustine Committee, 2009: “The Committee strongly believes it is time for NASA to reassume its crucial role of developing new technologies for space. Today, the alternatives available for exploration systems are severely limited because of the lack of a strategic investment in technology development in past decades.”

• NRC report, Capabilities for the Future: An Assessment of NASA Laboratories for Basic Research, 2010: “To restore the health of the fundamental research laboratories, including their equipment, facilities, and support services, NASA should restore a better funding and leadership balance between long-term fundamental research/technology development and short- term mission-focused applications.“

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Public Commentary on the Value of the NASA Space Technology Program

• Letter to Congress from 14 Nobel Laureates, 14 former high-level NASA officials and 2 educators, 9/1/10: “NASA has long been a critical component of American economic competitiveness, inspiring young people

to enter careers in science and engineering, ensuring American leadership in human spaceflight, and driving cutting-edge research. However, we have watched with concern in recent years as NASA’s programs for advanced technology, commercial spaceflight, student research, and robotic exploration have been scaled back or postponed. The data are sobering: since 2005, NASA’s technology program has been cut by more than 50 percent… This decline in spending should not only be reversed, but in fact, innovative technology development must once again become a high priority at NASA.”

• Letter from Coalition of 15 US Universities to Congress, 9/23/10: “There are many issues in the pending NASA appropriations … but we want to draw particular attention to

the importance of robust funding and timely initiation of NASA’s Space Technology Program in this letter. NASA has since its inception been responsible for making and taking advantage of major technology investments which have pushed the envelope of what is possible and later been adapted for many catalytic non-aerospace uses by the private sector. However, this kind of advanced technology program at the scale required has not existed for years at NASA. The Space Technology Program responds to a recognized need from the community to reinvigorate these investments to enable future advanced space systems concepts and enabling technology... Further, it focuses on developing advances across mission directorates rather than specific to each. This program is the critical element in NASA's budget to recapture the technology leadership it has been losing over recent decades, as it has shifted from a technology agency to an operational agency.”

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Office of Chief TechnologistRoles/Responsibilities

• OCT established in February 2010

• OCT has six main goals and responsibilities:1) Principal NASA advisor and advocate on matters concerning

Agency-wide technology policy and programs.2) Up and out advocacy for NASA research and technology

programs. Communication and integration with other Agency technology efforts.

3) Direct management of OCT Space Technology Programs.4) Coordination of technology investments across the Agency,

including the mission-focused investments made by the NASA mission directorates. Perform strategic technology integration.

5) Change culture towards creativity and innovation at NASA Centers, particularly in regard to workforce development.

6) Document/demonstrate/communicate societal impact of NASA technology investments. Lead technology transfer and commercialization opportunities across Agency.

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Space Technology Program Background

• Space Technology is a budget line in the FY11 request for NASA– Consists of 10 technology development and innovation programs that are

broadly applicable to the Agency’s aeronautics, science and exploration enterprises

– Managed by Office of the Chief Technologist (OCT)• OCT has chosen to manage these 10 programs through the

formation of 3 Divisions– Early Stage Innovation– Game Changing Technology– Crosscutting Capability Demonstrations

• Formulation of the Space Technology program is complete– Formally approved by Administrator at July 29 Acquisition Strategy Planning

meeting

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Space Technology Formulation Principles

Space Technology shall:

• Advance broadly-applicable technology.

• Produce technology products for which there are multiple customers.

• Meet the Nation’s needs for new technologies to support future NASA missions in science and exploration, as well as the needs of other government agencies and the Nation’s space industry in a manner similar to the way NACA aided the early aeronautics industry.

• Employ a portfolio approach over the Technology Readiness Level spectrum.

• Competitively select research by academia, industry, and the NASA Centers based on merit.

• Leverage the technology investments of our international, other government agency, academic and industrial partners.

• Establish a deliberative panel of internal and external stakeholders, including industry and other government agencies, to review and advise OCT on technology development priorities through a transparent and balanced process.

• Result in new inventions, new capabilities and the creation of a pipeline of innovators trained to serve future National needs.

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Space Technology: A Different Approach

• Full spectrum of technology programs that provide an infusion path to advance innovative ideas from concept to flight

• Competitive peer-review and selection– Competition of ideas building an open community of innovators for the Nation

• Projectized approach to technology development– Defined start and end dates– Project Managers with full authority and responsibility– Project focus in selected set of strategically defined capability areas

• Overarching goal is to reposition NASA on the cutting-edge– Technical rigor– Pushing the boundaries– Take informed risk and when we fail, fail fast and learn in the process – Seek disruptive innovation such that with success the future will no longer be a straight line– Foster an emerging commercial space industry

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Management of OCT Space Technology Programs

• NASA Chief Technologist: The NASA Chief Technologist is the final authority of the OCT Space Technology Programs.

• OCT Management Reporting: Management of the OCT Space Technology Programs will report through the equivalent of Directorate Program Management Council (DPMC) within the Office of the Chief Technologist.

• Agency Reporting and Management: As flight projects, the Technology Demonstration Missions will report through the Baseline Performance Reporting (BPR) and the Agency level PMC. – These flight projects will be subject to tailored versions of NASA 7120.5– All OCT Programs will be subject to tailored versions of 7120.8

• Division and Program Management: The Space Technology Programs (with exception of NIAC and Center Innovation Fund) will all have Level 2 Program Offices at the Centers. The Center Program Offices will report to Level 1 Program Executives (PEs) at HQ who will report through the OCT Division Directors to the NASA Chief Technologist.

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OCT Space Technology Program Guidance

The following general guidance applies across all OCT Programs:• NASA Headquarters OCT will make award selections (e.g., from NRAs,

AOs, fellowships) or have oversight of the selections for all program elements.

• Headquarters NASA OCT will determine “what” goals (number of awards, TRLs, demonstrations, etc) are to be achieved under each Program, along with an agreed upon milestone schedule.

• Centers will manage the provided program element procurement funds to determine “how” to achieve the goals and milestone schedule utilizing FTEs across the Center(s) and procuring WYEs or other labor.

• Centers are expected to provide OCT with their Program Management Plans and reach agreement with OCT prior to execution.

• Centers are responsible for working with NASA Shared Service Center for awarding grants and cooperative agreements.

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• Goal of making awards as early as possible in FY11 – Schedule: Competitive acquisition strategy requires approximately 6 months from solicitation

release to award initiation to support the maturation of technology products in time to demonstrate value as part of FY12 and FY13 budget deliberations.

• Over 70% of OCT budget is competed– Select best ideas from NASA Centers, industry and academia. Peer-reviewed approach

driven by Strategic Roadmapping process is objective and defensible. DARPA-like approach for Game-Changing Development Projects.

• Approximately 30% reserved for guided investment based on Agency strategic needs.– Programmatic flexibility allows for Agency investments in critical strategic technology areas

• Employ range of approaches to simplify process and reduce burden on proposers– For example, Game Changing Development and Technology Demonstration Missions employ

a multiple-step award process where proposal length/depth is scaled to the award size• To retain a level playing field with external organizations, no OCT funding will be

allocated toward Center proposal development activities• All OCT solicitations will be posted through NSPIRES and the OCT website

http://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/solicitations/solicitations.do?method=open&stack=push and http://www.nasa.gov/offices/oct/home/index.html

Competitive Acquisition Strategy

http://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/solicitations/solicitations.do?method=open&stack=push

http://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/solicitations/solicitations.do?method=open&stack=push

http://www.nasa.gov/offices/oct/home/index.html

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Office of the Chief Technologist Organization

Chief Technologist

Deputy CT

Space Technology Research Grants (GRC)NIAC

SBIR/STTR (ARC)Centennial Challenges (MSFC)

Center Innovation Fund

Early StageInnovation

Grants / Activities

Game Changing Technology

Activities

Tech Demonstration Missions (MSFC)

Edison Small Satellite Missions (ARC)

Flight Opportunities (DFRC)

Crosscutting Capability Demonstration

Projects / Activities

Financial Management Partnership, Innovation and Commercial Space

Strategic IntegrationCommunications & Outreach

Game Changing Development (LaRC)

Franklin Small Satellite Subsystem Technology (ARC)

Cross Agency SupportCenter Chief Technologists

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Office of the Chief Technologist Organization

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OCT Divisions & Programs

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1) Early-Stage Innovation (ESI) Division: Creative ideas regarding future NASA systems and/or solutions to national needs.

• Space Technology Research Grants (STRG) Program (includes Graduate Fellowships)• NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Program• Center Innovation Fund (CIF) Program• SBIR/STTR Program• Centennial Challenges Prize (CCP) Program

2) Game Changing Technology (GCT) Division: Prove feasibility of novel, early-stage ideas that have potential to revolutionize future NASA missions and/or fulfill national needs.

• Game Changing Development (GCD) Program• Small Satellite Subsystem Technology (SSST) Program

3) Crosscutting Capability Demonstrations (CCD) Division: Maturation to flight readiness of cross-cutting capabilities that advance multiple future space missions, including flight test projects where in-space demonstration is needed before the capability can transition to direct mission application.

• Technology Demonstrations Missions (TDM) Program• Edison Small Satellite Demonstration Missions (SSDM) Program• Flight Opportunities (FO) Program

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Prove feasibility of novel, early-stage ideas with potential to revolutionize a future NASA mission and/or fulfill national need.

Mature crosscutting capabilities that advance multiple future space missions to flight readiness status

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Infusion Opportunities for NASA Mission Directorates, Other Govt. Agencies, and Industry

Space Technology Development Approach

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Creative ideas regarding future NASA systems or solutions to national needs.

Industry

Academia

Gov’t

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TRL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

• System Concepts and Analyses• Concept and Technology Assessment• Foundational Disciplinary Advances• Technology and Innovation Incentives and Prizes

• New Capabilities• Proof of concept • Measurable Performance Advantages & Hardware

Validation• Balanced Risks with Moderate Expected Failure Rate• Partnerships with Other Govt. Agencies, Industry &

Academia

• Relevant Environment Testing• Tailored 7120 Flight Processes• Not Mission Specific Technology• 25% Cost Share Req. for Flight

Tests

Crosscutting Capability Demo.

Early-Stage Innovation

Game-Changing Technology

OCT Space Technology Program Elements

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OCT Space Technology Divisions

Early-Stage Innovation Game-Changing Technology Crosscutting Capability Demos

Development Stage Concept Validation (TRL 1-2) Tech Demonstration (TRL 3-4/5) System Qualification (TRL 6)

Programs

Space Tech Research GrantsNIACCenter Innovation FundSBIR/STTRCentennial Challenges

Game Changing Development

Small Satellite Subsystem Technology

Technology Demonstration MissionsEdison Small Satellite MissionsFlight Opportunities

Number of Projects 100+ 10-20 TDM: 3-8ESSM: 1-3FO: 20-40

Typical Project Cost $50K-$800KGCD: Large: $25M; Small: $6MSSST: $6M

TDM: $150M from OCTESSM: $10MFO: < $5M

Project Duration 6 months – 2 years 2 yrs w/potential 1 yr extensionTDM: < 3 yearsESSM: < 2 yearsFO: 6 months – 2 years

Performer Selection 100% Competed > 70% Competed > 70% Competed

Typical Performers Academia, NASA, Industry NASA, Fed Labs, Industry, Academia Industry, NASA

Acquisition Strategy Grants, Contracts, Cooperative Agreements, Prize Competitions BAAs, Contracts Contracts, Space Act Agreements

Cost-Sharing Encouraged Preferred Required, 25% min for TDM

Partners

AcademiaFederal: NASA MDs, DARPA, DOD, DOE, NOAA, NSF, OtherIndustry: Aerospace, Non-AerospaceInternational Partners

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FY11 Accelerated Activities

• Worked with Mission Directorates to identify eight high-priority Accelerated Technology Projects– Deep Space Optical Communications– Hypersonic Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator– Supersonic Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator– Large-Scale Composite Cryotank– Nano-energetic Propellants– Horizontal Launch Access to Space– Human GEO Servicing– Beamed Power Propulsion

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Early-Stage Innovation

Space Tech Research GrantsNIAC

SBIR/STTRCentennial Challenges


Early-StageInnovation

Select Programs / Projects / Activities


Programs/Projects / Activities

Technology Demonstration Missions

Edison Small Sat MissionsFlight Opportunities

Crosscutting Capability Demonstrations

Programs / Flight Demos/Projects / Activities

Game-Changing DevelopmentsSmall Satellite Subsystem

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Chief Technologist (CT)

Deputy CT

Financial ManagementPartnerships, Innovation & Commercial Space

Strategic IntegrationCommunications

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Early Stage Innovation Division

The Early Stage Innovation Division sponsors a wide range of low TRL efforts for advanced space system concept and initial technology development across academia, industry and at the NASA field Centers.

Early Stage Innovation includes: • Space Technology Research Grants Program focuses on innovative

research in advanced space technology grants & graduate fellowships for student research in space technology

• NIAC Program focuses on innovative aeronautics and space system concepts for future NASA missions

• Center Innovation Fund Program stimulates aerospace creativity and innovation at the NASA field Centers

• SBIR/STTR Program engages small businesses in our Nation’s space enterprise and infuse these products across NASA missions

• Centennial Challenges Prize Program addresses key technology needs with new sources of innovation outside the traditional aerospace community

All Early Stage Innovation selections will be made competitively

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Space Technology Research Grants

Level II Program Office: GRC

Acquisition Strategy

• Grants: NRA calls anticipated once or twice annually

• Fellowships: Selected candidates will perform graduate student research on their respective campuses, at NASA Centers and not-for-profit Research and Development (R&D) labs. Each student matched with a technically relevant and community engaged researcher who will serve as the student’s professional advisor.

Awards

• Grants: Typical 12 months awards at $250K. 100+ per year

• Fellowships: Building up to 500 active students per year.

Collaboration

• Grants: Academia, not-for-profit R&D labs & NASA Centers lead proposals; others team.

• Fellowships: Strong collaboration is anticipated between NASA Centers/R&D Labs & Academia

Objective: Accelerate the development of push technologies through innovative projects with high risk/high payoff

• Grants: Low TRL technology portfolio for foundational research in advanced space systems; Space Technology equivalent to ARMD Fundamental Aeronautics Program.

• Fellowships: Competitive selection of U.S Citizen / permanent resident graduate student that shows promise for future application toward NASA missions and strategic goals

http://ims.ivv.nasa.gov/mission_pages/constellation/stars/profiles/cuip_purdue.html

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NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC)

Managed at NASA Headquarters


• Phase 1: Examine the overall viability of an innovative system or concept

• Phase 2: Study major feasibility aspects (cost, performance, development time, key issues) and potential infusion path; competitively selected from successful Phase I

• Selections will be based on independent peer review of all qualified proposals; competition of ideas

*NRC report, Fostering Visions for the Future: A Review of the NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts, 2009

Awards

• Phase 1: Up to 1 year, $100K; 15-20 per year

• Phase 2: up to 2 years, $500K; 3-8 per year

Collaboration

• Proposals welcome from all sources, including academia, industry, all US government agencies (including NASA and JPL), and partnerships.

Objective: NIAC is focused on early studies of visionary, long-term concepts

• Aerospace architecture, system, or mission concepts (TRL 1-2, 10+ years from application)

• OCT is re-establishing this effort as the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts program

o Guided by NRC findings and recommendations*o Run internally from HQ, and allowing internal

NASA/JPL participation

Studies exploring future space missions

Involve industry, academia & NASA to revolutionize space access, operations & utilization

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Level II Program Office: MSFC


• In selecting topics for prize competitions, NASA consults widely within and outside of the Federal Government.

• Awards are only made for successful demonstrations of design solutions

• NASA provides the Prize Purse and the competitions are managed at no cost to NASA by external non-profit organizations.

Awards

• Typical Prize amount is $1-5M

• 100% of funds identified is for prizes. No funding for labor or travel

• FY 2011 PBR will allow NASA to pursue new and more ambitious prize competitions.

Collaboration

• Proposals welcome from the public for participation in NASA’s research and development efforts . http://www.nasa.gov/offices/ipp/innovation_incubator/centennial_challenges/index.html

Objective: Seek innovative solutions to technical problems that can drive progress in aerospace technology of value to NASA’s missions in space operations, science, exploration and aeronautics.

• Opportunity for direct public participation in NASA’s research and development efforts with cash prizes as incentives

• Achieve breakthrough tech development via prizes & non-traditional aerospace

Centennial Challenges

Since 2005, 19 competitions held in six Challenge areas, $4.5M in prizes awarded to 13 different teams

http://www.nasa.gov/offices/ipp/innovation_incubator/centennial_challenges/index.html

http://www.nasa.gov/offices/ipp/innovation_incubator/centennial_challenges/regolith/index.html

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

Level II Program Office: ARC


• Current Authorization provides for SBIR funding at a minimum of 2.5 percent of NASA’s extramural research and development expenditures

• Modeled after SBIR, STTR is a separately funded activity; with funding set at a minimum of 0.3 percent of extramural research and development expenditures

Awards

•Phase 1: Up to 400 awards per year

• Phase 2: Up to 200 awards per year

Collaboration • Proposals welcome from small business concerns, in

partnership with non-profit research institutions; such as a university.

• The percentage of new firms participating in NASA's SBIR/STTR programs each year has been in the 30-50% range, yielding new applicants each year. New participants have submitted between 20-35% of the total number of proposals in any given year. http://sbir.gsfc.nasa.gov/SBIR/SBIR.html

Objective: To engage and provide opportunity to small businesses to participate in Federal Research activities and encourage cooperative research and development with non-profit research institutions, such as a university; with a primary objective of developing and facilitating the transfer of technology from research institutions through the entrepreneurship of small business contracts that result in technology to meet NASA's needs.

• Provide opportunities to participate in Federal Research activities

• Encourage cooperative research and development with non-profit research institutions

2009 NASA SBIR grant for an advanced Lunar Surface Navigation system

Inflatable Technology to develop a rigidized thin film antenna for large aperture ground-based antenna; i.e. lunar ground station

http://sbir.gsfc.nasa.gov/SBIR/SBIR.html

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Managed at each NASA Center


• Through the Center Chief Technologist, Centers will conduct competitions to select ideas/projects and provide appropriate oversight. Detailed feedback on these activities will be required before the end of each FY.

• Center activities will be scored and will affect funding distribution in subsequent years

Awards

• The funds will be distributed among the ten NASA centers to allow Centers to support low TRL innovative technology initiatives that leverage Center talent and capability.

Collaboration

• Partners will be sought out by the Centers for the pursuit of innovation that is of common interest to leverage these resources

• Partners will include other NASA Centers, private sector firms, universities, other government agencies and FFRDCs.

Objective

To stimulate and encourage creativity and innovation within the NASA Centers. The activities are envisioned to fall within the scope of NASA Space Technology or technology addressing a significant National need.

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Technology


Deputy CT



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Game Changing Technology Division

Game Changing Technology Division includes: • Game Changing Development Program focuses on innovative ideas enabling

new capabilities or radically altering our current approaches to space systems

• Franklin Small Satellite Subsystem Technology Program enables small satellites to provide game changing capabilities for the space sectors

Greater than 70% of GCT funds (FY11-FY15) will applied to competitive selections

• The Game Changing Technology Division focuses on maturing advanced space technologies that may lead to entirely new approaches for the Agency's future space missions and solutions to significant national needs.

• Through significant ground-based testing and/or laboratory experimentation, the Game Changing Technology Division matures technologies in preparation for potential system level flight demonstration. Success is not assured with each investment; however, on the whole and over time, dramatic advances in technology, enabling entirely new NASA missions and potential solutions for a variety of society's technological challenges are expected.

• A broad spectrum of space system technologies will be developed ranging from launch vehicle subsystems, spacecraft technologies, in-space capabilities, and surface systems that support robotic and human exploration.

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Game Changing Development

Level II Program Office: LaRC


• Concept Studies will be competed to flesh out idea(s), quantify their challenges and identify approaches to overcome them

• A subject matter expert Project Manager (PM) may recommend the idea for a new project start. If game changing, the Chief Technologist may authorize the PM to release a BAA o The BAA asks for many ideas to achieve the project

goals from the community. The PM and a committee of experts assess and award multiple elements per project.

* NRC report, America’s Future in Space, 2009

Awards

• Concept Studies: $300K-$500K; ~120/year (~60 in FY11)

• Small Projects: 2 - 3 years, ~$3M/year; ~12 new project starts/ year (~6 in FY11)

• Large Projects: 2 - 3 years, ~$12M/year; ~12 new project starts/ year (~6 in FY11)

Collaboration

• Teams will include Govt Agencies, academia and industry.

Objective: Solicit innovative ideas enabling new capabilities or radically altering current approaches to launch, build, and operate space systems.

• Matures technologies through the mid-TRL regime to enable useful game changing capabilities for scientific discovery, and human and robotic exploration

• Projects are intended to be capability-oriented and to move ideas from discovery to use.

• GCD emulates the outcomes of the DARPA approach at technology development

• Guided by NRC’s Findings and Recommendations*

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Franklin Small Satellite Subsystem Technology



• Annual BAAs • At least 2-8 new competitively selected awards. • These two year activities with a possible third

year will be regularly assessed using planned review gates (possible early cessation of projects due to high risk/high payoff)

Awards

• ~2-8 new awards/year

• One-year base activity with two, one-year options

• Estimate $1-3 million per year.

Collaboration

• Competitions for technology maturation will be open to NASA Centers, Govt. Agencies, Industry and Academia, with partnership strongly encouraged

Objective• Matures technologies that enable small

satellites to provide game changing capabilities for the government and commercial. At completion, the subsystem deliverables should be ready for demonstration in space within the Edison Program under Crosscutting Capability Demonstrations Division.

• TRL Maturation: From TRL 3-4 to TRL 5-6

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Technology


Deputy CT



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Crosscutting Capability Demonstrations Division

Crosscutting Capability Demonstrations Division includes: • 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 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

• The Cross-Cutting Capability Demonstrations Division focuses on maturation to flight readiness of cross-cutting capabilities that advance multiple future space missions, including flight test projects where in-space demonstration is needed before the capability can transition to direct mission application.

• Matures a small number of technologies that benefit multiple customers to flight readiness status (TRL 7) through Projects that perform relevant environment testing.

Greater than 70% of CCD funds (FY11-FY15) will be applied to competitive selections

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Edison Small Satellite Demonstration Missions



• Annual BAAs • At least 1-2 new competitively selected awards. • Two years to launch readiness with development

and launch gates.

Awards

• ~1-2 new awards/year at $1-10 million per year.

Collaboration

• Competitions for technology maturation will be open to NASA Centers, Govt. Agencies, Industry and Academia, with partnership strongly encouraged

o Significant emphasis on NASA-university collaborative efforts to enable university students to gain hands-on experience within these project activities.

Objective• Develop and operate a series of small satellite

technology demonstration missions with NASA applications. Provide science and educational missions of opportunities as secondary objectives. Improve secondary payload space access.

• TRL Maturation: From TRL 5-6 to TRL 6-7

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Level II Program Office: MSFC


• Annual BAAs; mandatory 25% cost sharing of Total Life Cycle Mission Cost to facilitate infusion

• BAA - Flight Demo Proposalo Full flight demonstration proposal; < 30 pages o Three months for full proposal submissiono Three years from ATP to launch readiness

Awards

• Maximum three years development schedule. Typical project life cycle cost (from OCT): $150M

Collaboration

• Minimum 25% partner contribution to demonstrate infusion interest. Proposal teams may include NASA Centers, Govt. Agencies, Industry and Academia, with partnerships strongly encouraged

Objective• Matures a small number of crosscutting

technologies that benefit multiple customers to flight readiness status (TRL 7) through Projects that perform relevant environment testing.

• The primary objective is to help “bridge the gap” by maturing system-level space technologies through flight readiness and mission infusion.

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Potential Space Technology Demonstrations

Electrodynamic Tether PropulsionArtist Concept of ISS Reboost

Optical CommunicationsAerocapture

Solar Sail Propulsion

25-40 m Class Telescopes

“Rigidized” Membrane

Inflatable Decelerators

Space Solar Power:In-Space Power Transmission

http://spacefellowship.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/SPAC_SBIRS-High_lg.jpg

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Flight Opportunities

Level II Program Office: DFRC


• CRuSR – RFP for payload accommodation on operational and developmental suborbital platforms (FY11 is unmanned)

• FAST – RFQ for payload accommodation on commercial and governmental parabolic flights

• Semi Annual BAA for researchers to gain access to CRuSR and FAST platforms to test technologies in a relevant space environment

Awards

• Parabolic flights: FY11 4 flight weeks/year with 15 payloads/flight week

• Suborbital flights: Releasing RFP in FY11

Collaboration

• Industry, Government labs, and emerging commercial suborbital platform providers for access to simulated space environment

• Industry, Academia, Government researchers encourages to apply to Flight Opportunities platforms

Objective: Provide flight opportunities for technology development, science and education efforts in reduced-gravity environments, brief periods of weightlessness, and high-altitude atmospheric research. The Flight Opportunities Program combines the FY10 FAST and CRuSR efforts previously managed by NASA’s Innovative Partnership Program. Goal of expanding program to other platforms and test environments in FY12.

• CRuSR will procure sub-orbital space transportation services to provide 3-4 minutes of microgravity environment for tech development, scientific and university research

• The FAST will procure parabolic flights to test technologies in a space environment that could simulate microgravity and the reduced gravity environments of the Moon or Mars

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NASA: Part of a Broader National Strategy

• Through its FY11 budget request, the Obama administration is committed to a research, technology and innovation agenda for the Nation as a means of stimulating the economy and building our Nation’s global economic competitiveness through the creation of new products and services, new business and industries, and high-quality, sustainable jobs

• The NASA budget request is aligned with this National strategy.– The renewed emphasis on technology in the President’s FY11 budget request balances the

long-standing NASA core competencies of R&T, spaceflight hardware development, and mission operations.

• In addition to providing a more more vital and productive aerospace future than our country has today, a NASA focused on technology and innovation,

– Drives our Nation’s economic competitiveness.– Serves as a strong inspiration for young people to pursue STEM education and career

paths.– Allows NASA to apply its intellectual capital to the develop technological solutions

addressing broader National needs in energy, weather & climate, Earth science, health & wellness, and National security.

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I am 100 percent committed to the mission of NASA and its future. Because broadening our capabilities in space will continue to serve our society in ways we can scarcely imagine. Because exploration will once more inspire wonder in a new generation: sparking passions, launching careers. And because, ultimately, if we fail to press forward in the pursuit of discovery, we are ceding our future. President Obama, April 15, 2010.

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Contact Info

• Steven Meier, Ph.D., PMP, Director, Crosscutting Capability Demonstration Division. [email protected]

• OCT Website: http://www.nasa.gov/offices/oct/home/index.html

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mailto:[email protected]

http://www.nasa.gov/offices/oct/home/index.html

office of the chief technologist space technology programs

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