Early Stage Innovations
Funding Agency:
- NASA
NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) hereby solicits proposals from accredited U.S. universities for innovative, early-stage space technology research of high priority to NASA’s Mission Directorates.
This Appendix seeks proposals on specific space technologies that are currently at low Technology Readiness Levels (TRL). Investment in innovative low-TRL research increases knowledge and capabilities in response to new questions and requirements, stimulates innovation, and allows more creative solutions to problems constrained by schedule and budget. Moreover, it is investment in fundamental research activities that has historically benefited the Nation on a broader basis, generating new industries and spin-off applications. Our Nation’s universities couple fundamental research with education, encouraging a culture of innovation based on the discovery of knowledge. Universities are, therefore, ideally positioned to conduct fundamental space technology research and to diffuse newly found knowledge into society at large through graduate students and industry, government, and other partnerships. STMD investments in space technology research at U.S. universities promote the continued leadership of our universities as an international symbol of the country's scientific innovation, engineering creativity, and technological skill. These investments also create, fortify, and nurture the talent base of highly skilled engineers, scientists, and technologists to improve America’s technological and economic competitiveness. The ESI Appendix challenges universities to examine the theoretical feasibility of new ideas and approaches that are critical to making science, space travel, and exploration more effective, affordable, and sustainable. It is the intent of the STRG Program and this Early Stage Innovations opportunity to foster interactions between NASA and the awarded university Principal Investigators (PIs)/teams. Therefore, interaction with NASA researchers should be expected while conducting space technology research under these awards.
: NASA plans to make approximately 6 awards - across all topics - as a result of this Appendix, subject to the receipt of meritorious proposals. The total award value may not exceed $650K.
July 6, 2023
Matthew Deans Space Technology Research Grants Program Executive hq-esi-call@mail.nasa.gov