The Early Career Initiative (ECI) Program provides the opportunity for NASA’s early career workforce to propose and develop innovative aerospace technology projects, engage with leading industry and academic partners, and develop the skills required to manage and transition transformative concepts into future NASA missions. All NASA early career civil servants (typically defined as service within 10 years of beginning a professional career) are eligible to serve as an ECI Principal Investigator or early career team member.

FY26 ECI Call for Proposals to be released in November 2024!

The FY26 ECI Call for Proposals is anticipated to be released the second or third week of November, 2024, with final proposals and videos due from the Centers to HQ in mid-March (initial concepts and draft proposals will be due sooner). Please check back in November for more details.

Questions about the ECI program may be directed to ECI Program Executive, John Nelson.
Questions about specific ECI efforts or opportunities may be directed to the Ames Center Chief Technologist.

ECI Archives

FY25 Awards:

• Amanda Stark, LaRC: Modular Assembled Radiators for NEP VehicLes (MARVL)​
• Jorge Chong​, JSC​: Project TRON: The Next Generation of Optical Navigation​
• Holly Leopardi​, GSFC: Spaceflight Compatible Optical Atomic Strontium Ion Clock (OASIC)​
• Andrew O’Connor​, MSFC: Lunar Assembly and Service by Autonomous Robotics (LASAR)​
• Brian Holler​, GRC: ICE CHILL: Integrated Cryo-operable Electronics to Condition Hibernation for Improved Li-ion Longevity

FY24 Awards:

• Dan Sirbu, ARC: AstroPIC: Photonic Integrated Circuit High-Contrast Imaging for Space Astronomy
• Meghan Bush, GRC: MAI TAI: Mitigating Arc Inception via Transformational Array Instrumentation
• Peter Snapp, GSFC: Design of a Broad Utility, Visible-Blind, SiC, UV Spectrometer for Astrophysics, Planetary and Earth Science Applications
• Amy Felt, KSC: Advancement of Exploration Components for In-Space Servicing (AXCIS)

FY23 Awards:

• Diana Gentry/ARC: Aerosol Rapid Analysis Combined Entry Probe/sonde Technology (AERACEPT)
• Beau Compton/GRC: Carbon Utilization Technology for Lunar and Atmospheric Systems (CUTLAS)
• Berhanu Bulcha/GSFC: Terahertz Heterodyne Spectrometer for In Situ Resource Utilization (THSiRU)
• Soumyo Dutta/LaRC: Aerocapture System as an Enabling Technology for Ice Giants Missions
• Thomas Teasley/MSFC: Closing of Critical Technology Gaps for High-Efficiency Rotating Detonation Rocket Engines

FY22 Awards:

• Kennedy Space Center: CAPMAG: Capacitive Mass Gauging for Cryogenic Fluids in micro-g
• Langley Research Center: LANDO: Lightweight Surface Manipulation System (LSMS) AutoNomy Capabilities Development for Surface Operations and Construction
• Armstrong Flight Research Center: EPIC: Enhancing Parachutes by Instrumenting the Canopy
• Marshall Space Flight Center: In-Space/On-Surface 3D Printing of Sodium-Ion Batteries Using In-Situ Resource Utilization Materials

FY21 Awards:

• Armstrong Flight Research Center: Dust Tolerant Magnetic Coupler for Cryogenic Fluids
• Ames Research Center: ROAMX: Rotorcraft Optimization for Advancement of Mars Exploration
• Johnson Space Center: AM-TPS: Additive Manufacturing of TPS
• Langley Research Center: AEROFUSION-MLUQ: Mars Lander Aerodynamic Model Data Fusion with Machine Learning
• Marshall Space Flight Center: MERCRII: Metallic Environmentally Resistant Coating Rapid Innovation Initiative

FY20 Awards:

• Marshall Space Flight Center: Lunar TheRMiS — Lunar Thermal Regulation for Mission Sustainability
• Ames Research Center: Extractor for Chemical Analysis of Lipid Biomarkers in Regolith
• Glenn Research Center: In-space Assembly of Perovskite Solar Cells for Very Large Arrays – A Way to Attain Space Power at Terrestrial Costs
• Johnson Space Center: Joint Augmented Reality Visual Informatics System, an Exploration Extravehicular Mobility Unit
• Marshall Space Flight Center: KNaCK: Kinematic Navigation and Cartography Knapsack
• Langley Research Center: Modular and Reconfigurable Manipulation System for Autonomous In-space Assembly
• Kennedy Space Center: Molten Regolith Electrolysis Starter Device for Molten Regolith Electrolysis (GaLORE)

FY19 Awards:

• Goddard Space Flight Center: Autonomous Multifunctional Sensor Platform
• Langley Research Center: Electro-Optical Technology Development In Liquid Crystal Beam Steering
• Johnson Space Center: Smart Habitat Robotics: Manipulation Technology to Enable Autonomous Uncrewed Habitats

FY18 Awards:

• Ames Research Center: Autonomous Guidance and Control System for Deployable Entry Vehicles (Project Pterodactyl)
• Kennedy Space Center: Orbital Syngas Commodity Augmentation Reactor (OSCAR)

FY15 (Pilot Program) Awards :

• Stennis Space Center: High Dynamic Range Stereo-X
• Kennedy Space Center: Integrated Display and Environmental Awareness System
• Marshall Space Flight Center: Lightweight Integrated Solar Array and Transceiver
• Langley Research Center: On-Orbit Autonomous Assembly from Nanosatellites