NASA Selects Early Stage Innovation Proposals From 10 Universities

Oct. 24, 2012

David E. Steitz
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1730
david.steitz@nasa.gov


RELEASE: 12-373

NASA SELECTS EARLY STAGE INNOVATION PROPOSALS FROM 10 UNIVERSITIES

WASHINGTON -- NASA has selected 10 university-led proposals for study
of innovative, early-stage space technologies designed to improve
shielding from space radiation, spacecraft thermal management and
optical systems. The 1-year grants are worth approximately $250,000
each, with an additional year of research possible.

Each of these technology areas requires dramatic improvements over
existing capabilities for future science and human exploration
missions. Early stage, or low technology readiness level concepts,
could mature into tools that solve the difficult challenges facing
future NASA missions. The selected areas address the high-priority
technical needs as identified by the National Research Council in its
recent report "NASA Space Technology Roadmaps and Priorities:
Restoring NASA's Technological Edge and Paving the Way for a New Era
in Space."

"NASA's Space Technology Program is moving out on solving the
cross-cutting technology challenges we face as we move beyond
low-Earth orbit and head to an asteroid, Mars and beyond," said
Michael Gazarik the program's director at NASA Headquarters in
Washington. "Our science and human deep space missions need
advancements in these technology areas to enable exploration of
space. We're excited and proud to partner with the best minds from
American universities to take on these tough technical challenges."

Universities selected for early stage innovation grants and the names
of their proposals are:

---Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland; "Heat rejection system
for thermal management in space utilizing a planar
variable-conductance heat pipe"
---Colorado State University, Fort Collins; "Computational approaches
for developing active radiation dosimeters for space applications
based on new paradigms for risk assessment"
---Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta; "Design and development
of a next generation high capacity, light weight, 20-K pulse tube
cryocooler for active thermal control on future space exploration
missions"
---Pennsylvania State University, University Park; "Integrated control
electronics for adjustable X-ray optics"
---Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind.; "Adaptable single active
loop thermal control system (TCS) for future space missions"
---University of Alabama in Huntsville; "Advanced scintillating fiber
technology in high energy neutron spectrometers for exploration"
---University of Arizona, Tucson; "Wavefront control for high
performance coronagraphy on segmented and centrally obscured
telescopes"
---University of Houston; "High hydrogen content nanostructured
polymer radiation protection system"
---University of New Hampshire, Durham; "Small active readout device
for dose spectra from energetic particles and neutrons (DoSEN)"
---Oregon State University, Corvallis; "Enabling self-propelled
condensate flow during phase-change heat rejection using surface
texturing"

The selected efforts will explore new approaches to protect crews from
ionizing space radiation and develop new technologies to measure and
characterize the ionizing particle environment wherever humans may
travel beyond Earth orbit.

Researchers also will explore technologies to greatly increase the
capability to store cryogenic fluids and investigate heat rejection
technologies capable of operating reliably and efficiently through a
wide range of thermal conditions.

In addition, researchers will develop technologies that could lead to
new classes of X-ray telescopes and explore techniques aimed at
direct imaging and characterization of Earth-like planets orbiting
other stars.

Second year funding for these grants will be contingent on technical
progress and the availability of appropriated funds. The selections
are part of NASA's Space Technology Research Grants Program. The
program is designed to accelerate the development of technologies
originating from academia that support the future science and
exploration needs of NASA, other government agencies and American
industry. The program is part of NASA's Space Technology Program,
which is innovating, developing, testing, and flying technology for
use in NASA's future missions and the greater aerospace community.

For more information about NASA's Space Technology Research Grants and
Space Technology Programs, and a complete list of selected proposals,
including principal investigators, visit:


http://go.usa.gov/YnNT


-end-



To subscribe to the list, send a message to:
hqnews-subscribe@mediaservices.nasa.gov
To remove your address from the list, send a message to:
hqnews-unsubscribe@mediaservices.nasa.gov