NASA Supports ‘Wild’ Ideas to Bring About New Space Tech

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

“NIAC Phase III provides a really interesting opportunity for NASA,” says Jason Derleth, NIAC’s program executive at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “NIAC solicits technology breakthroughs from those who come up with incredibly innovative ideas. Sometimes, though, no matter how wonderful the end product might be, there’s just too much risk for a mission to adopt using that technology.”

That risk reduction for a specific mission use is what Phase III is all about. “Our goal in NIAC is that most of the Phase III technologies and those proposing them will work with flight project managers or external companies to move these ‘almost science fiction’ technologies solidly into the realm of science fact,” says Derleth.

Changing the Future

“Phase III is not to be viewed as a natural extension of Phase II. It is intended to be an exception for those NIAC concepts that show significant potential and have a high likelihood for transition, but just need an additional push to enable implementation. Typically, we anticipate funding one Phase III award per year, this inaugural year being an exception,” explains Ron Turner, NIAC senior science advisor.

Turner emphasizes that Phase III does not signal that NIAC is changing its focus to more near-term innovation. “The program still seeks innovation wherever it can change the future,” Turner observes.

Overwhelmingly Positive

NIAC received considerable interest in the new Phase III opportunity.

“The response has been overwhelmingly positive, with the additional time and money of Phase III regarded as a crucial next step to help transition the most promising technologies into NASA missions and other government and national industry applications,” says Katherine Reilly, NIAC’s strategic partnerships manager.

This year, the 2019 NIAC Symposium will feature NIAC fellows’ presentations on the status of the current portfolio of NIAC studies, addressing an inspiring suite of diverse research areas, including human systems and architectures for extreme environments, evolutionary exploration systems and novel propulsion concepts.

The NIAC Symposium will be held on Sept. 24-26 in Huntsville, Alabama. Stimulating and thought-provoking keynote presentations will be given from experts in aeronautics and advanced technologies and further information will be discussed regarding the latest news about NIAC's exciting progress and plans. The 2019 NIAC Symposium presentations can be viewed online.

Click for more information on attending the 2019 NIAC Symposium.

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