NASA Looks to the Future, Seeks Next Level Visionary Aerospace Concepts

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NASA is looking for trailblazing ideas that could one day change what’s possible in space. The NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program is seeking Phase II proposals for the continuation of Phase I research studies.

NIAC helps NASA look to the future by funding far reaching, early stage space technology concepts with the potential of transforming exploration and science missions. This research may one day enable new capabilities or significantly alter approaches for operating, building and landing structures in space.

"NIAC studies are exciting, and in the initial phase we see a lot of brand-new ideas,” said NIAC Program Executive Jason Derleth. “Phase II is where our fellows can dig into the engineering details of their creative ideas, utilizing more time and resources. We can’t wait to see how the next round of selected proposals progress.”

NIAC Phase II awards can be up to $500,000 for two years, allowing researchers to further develop Phase I concepts. NASA will accept NIAC Phase II proposals of no more than 15 pages in length through Feb. 14, 2019 (a notice of interest is due by Dec. 17, 2018). The solicitation is only open to current or previously awarded NIAC Phase I fellows who have successfully completed a Phase I study but have not yet been awarded a Phase II study. NIAC Phase I final reports must be received before submitting to Phase II.