The NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Program is proud to announce its 2012 awards. NIAC has selected eighteen new NIAC Phase I awards, and ten new Phase II awards based on earlier Phase I studies. These proposals have been selected based on the potential of their concepts to transform future aerospace missions, enable new capabilities, or significantly alter and improve current approaches.
Each Phase I study will receive approximately $100,000 for one year, and each Phase II study will receive approximately $500,000 for two years. These studies will advance numerous innovative aerospace concepts, and help NASA achieve future goals.
PHASE I
Agogino, Adrian
Super Ball Bot – Structures for Planetary Landing and Exploration
NASA ARC
Moffett Field, CA 94035
Arrieta, Juan
The Regolith Biters: A Divide-And-Conquer Architecture for Sample-Return Missions
NASA JPL
Pasadena, CA 91109-8001
Cohen, Marc
Robotic Asteroid Prospector (RAP) Staged from L-1: Start of the Deep Space Economy
Marc M. Cohen, Architect
Palo Alto, CA 94306-3852
Ditto, Thomas
HOMES – Holographic Optical Method for Exoplanet Spectroscopy
3DeWitt LLC
Ancramdale, NY 12503-0010
Flynn, Michael
Water Walls: Highly Reliable and Massively Redundant Life Support Architecture
NASA ARC
Moffett Field, CA 94035
Gellett, Wayne
Solid State Air Purification System
eSionic
Menlo Park, CA 94025-1438
Hoyt, Robert
NanoTHOR: Low-Cost Launch of Nanosatellites to Deep Space
Tethers Unlimited, Inc.
Bothell, WA 98011-8808
Hoyt, Robert
SpiderFab: Process for On-Orbit Construction of Kilometer-Scale Apertures
Tethers Unlimited, Inc.
Bothell, WA 98011-8808
Kirtley, David
A Plasma Aerocapture and Entry System for Manned Missions and Planetary Deep Space Orbiters
MSNW, LLC
Redmond, WA 98052-3557
Landis, Geoffrey
Venus Landsailing Rover
NASA GRC
Cleveland, OH 44135-3127
Lantoine, Gregory
MAGNETOUR: Surfing Planetary Systems on Electromagnetic and Multi-Body Gravity Fields
NASA JPL
Pasadena, CA 91109-8001
McCue, Leigh
Exploration of Under-Ice Regions with Ocean Profiling Agents (EUROPA)
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg, VA 24061-0001
Nosanov, Jeffrey
Solar System Escape Architecture for Revolutionary Science (SSEARS)
NASA JPL
Pasadena, CA 91109-8001
Predina, Joseph
NIST in Space: Better Remote Sensors for Better Science
ITT Space Systems, LLC
Fort Wayne, IN 46818-1165
Quadrelli, Marco
Orbiting Rainbows: Optical Manipulation of Aerosols and the Beginnings of Future Space Construction
NASA JPL
Pasadena, CA 91109-8001
Saif, Babak
Atom Interferometry for detection of Gravity Waves-a
NASA GSFC
Greenbelt, MD 20771-2400
Winglee, Robert
Sample Return Systems for Extreme Environments
University of Washington, Seattle
Seattle, WA 98195-1310
Zha, Gecheng
Silent and Efficient Supersonic Bi-Directional Flying Wing
University of Miami
Coral Gables, FL 33146-2509
PHASE II
Duda, Kevin
Variable Vector Countermeasure Suit (V2Suit) for Space Habitation and Exploration
Charles Stark Draper Laboratory Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02139-3539
Khoshnevis, Behrokh
ISRU-Based Robotic Construction Technologies for Lunar and Martian Infrastructures
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA 90089-0001
Miller, David
High-Temperature Superconductors as Electromagnetic Deployment and Support Structures
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA 02139-4301
Ritter, Joe
OCCAMS: Optically Controlled and Corrected Active Meta-material Space Structures
Neoteric Physics, Inc.
Kihei, HI 96753-9310
Short, Kendra
Printable Spacecraft: Flexible Electronic Platforms for NASA Missions
NASA JPL
Pasadena, CA 91109-8001
Slough, John
The Fusion Driven Rocket: Nuclear Propulsion through Direct Conversion of Fusion Energy
MSNW LLC
Redmond, WA 98052-3557
Strekalov, Dmitry
Ghost Imaging of Space Objects
NASA JPL
Pasadena, CA 91109-8001
Westover, Shayne
Radiation Protection and Architecture Utilizing High Temperature Superconducting Magnets
NASA JSC
Houston, TX 77058-3607
Whittaker, William
Cavehopping Exploration of Planetary Skylights and Tunnels
Astrobotic Technology, Inc.
Pittsburgh, PA 15213-3524
Wie, Bong
An Innovative Solution to NASA’s NEO Impact Threat Mitigation Grand Challenge and Flight Validation Mission Architecture Development
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011-2207
