Even though NASA has called a halt to its shuttle programme, the space agency continues to invest in space exploration. Thirty visionary advanced technology concepts have been chosen for further study under the NASA Innovative Advance Concepts (NIAC) program.
The concepts have been chosen on their potential to 'transform future space missions, enable new capabilities or significantly alter current approaches to launching, building and operating space systems'.
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In order to develop these concepts and build on already existing technology, each proposal will receive $100,000.
NASA's Chief Technologist Bobby Braun said: “These innovative concepts have the potential to mature into the transformative capabilities NASA needs to improve our current space mission operations, seeding the technology breakthroughs needed for the challenging space missions in NASA's future.”
NASA says that some ideas are related to changing the course of dangerous orbital debris and the use of 3D printing to create a planetary outpost. Other proposals include a spacesuit that uses flywheels to stabilise and assist astronauts as they work in microgravity and multiple innovative propulsion and power concepts.
NASA sees this investment in new ideas and concepts as a way of building and maintaining America's economy. Its long-term vision is to also assist with others in future space missions by providing knowledge and experience.
