Partnering with the Exploration Technology Directorate at Ames
Creators and facilitators of innovative, intelligent, high-performance and reliable exploration technologies that enable current and future NASA missions.
Partnering Overview
The Exploration Technology Directorate has conducted hundreds of formal partnerships with commercial entities and other agencies over the years. These collaborations have enabled NASA and our partners to conduct research and develop technologies more rapidly than would otherwise be possible. Partnering involves identifying the needed facilities and services within the Directorate and across NASA, working with a technical lead from the Directorate to determine the partnership contributions of each party, and getting the resulting Space Act Agreement document approved by NASA and the partner.
Exploration Technology Facilities and Services for Partnering
The Exploration Technology Directorate is organized into four Divisions, each offering world-class facilities, labs, and services of value to partners. Below is a summary and a link to more information and Points of Contact for further partnering discussions.
Human Systems Integration Division
Leads the Agency in developing advanced human-centered systems through modeling of human performance and automation interactions. These solutions address complex operational challenges in flight, ground, and data management systems to deliver safe, high-performing capabilities for space missions and national aviation goals.
Services:
- Airspace Operations Research
- Auditory & Visual Display Development
- Aviation Safety Research
- Human-Autonomy Teaming
- Human-in-the-Loop Assessments
- Human Performance Evaluations
- Integrated Mission Data & Planning Systems Development
- Unmanned Aerial Systems Traffic Management (UTM) Studies
More information about the Human Systems Integration Division
Point of Contact
Intelligent Systems Division
Provides leadership in increasingly autonomous systems by conducting mission-driven, user-centric research and development in computational sciences for NASA and partner applications. Demonstrates and infuses innovative technologies for autonomy, robotics, and decision-making tools, and develops software systems for data mining, integrated health management, systems safety, and mission assurance.
Services:
- Super Intelligence:
- Autonomy
- Autonomous Decision Making
- Earth Independent Operations
- Revolutionary Flight Computing
- Neuromorphic
- Edge
- Machine Learning
- Large Language Models
- Robotics
- Flight & Mission-Critical Software
- Enterprise Information Management
- Complex Systems Assurance, Validation & Verification
- Data Analysis & Mining
- Integrated Systems Health Management Technologies
- Computational Materials
- Quantum Computing
- Applied Physics Technologies
- Adaptive & Optimal Control Technologies
More information about the Intelligent Systems Division
Point of Contact
Advanced Supercomputing Division
Delivers advanced computing resources and services to partners and NASA-funded scientists and engineers across missions in space exploration, aeronautics, and Earth and space science. Provides high-fidelity modeling, simulation, and visualization for aerospace design, risk/safety assessment, aeronautics research, Earth science, heliophysics, and astrophysics.
Services:
- Advanced Modeling & Simulation
- Application Optimization
- Risk/Safety Assessment
- Exascale Data Storage & Management
- High-Performance Networks
- IT Security
- Large-Scale Visualization
- Machine Learning and Data Analytics
- Science Data Pipelines
- Modular Supercomputing Engineering
- Petaflop-Scale Systems Engineering
More information about the Advanced Supercomputing Division
Point of Contact
Entry Systems and Technology Division
Develops and infuses innovative thermal protection and other atmospheric entry systems technologies into NASA human exploration, Earth reentry, and planetary science missions. Operates high enthalpy testing facilities including arc jets, hypervelocity free flight ranges, and shock tubes. Develops thermal protection materials, engineering instrumentation, design tools, and system models that enable and advance national and commercial space goals.
Services:
- Aerothermal and Shockwave Radiation Analysis
- High Enthalpy Ground Testing
- Research & Development of TPS Materials, Coatings, Gap Fillers, and Adhesives
- Thermal Protection System (TPS) Material Response Modeling & TPS Sizing
- Characterization of TPS Materials
- Fabrication of TPS Materials and Aeroshell Integration
- Entry Systems Instrumentation
- Entry Vehicle (EV) Systems Design, Analysis, and Engineering
