Early Stage Innovations
Funding Agency:
- NASA
The STRG Program within STMD is fostering the development of innovative, low-TRL technologies for advanced space systems and space technology. The goal of this lowTRL endeavor is to accelerate the development of groundbreaking, high-risk/high-payoff space technologies. These technologies, although not necessarily directed at a specific mission, are being developed to support the future space exploration and science needs of NASA, other government agencies, and the commercial space sector. Such efforts complement the other NASA Mission Directorates’ focused technology activities, which typically begin at TRL 3 or higher. The starting TRL of the efforts to be funded as a result of this Appendix will typically be TRL 1 or TRL 2; typical end TRLs will be TRL 2 or TRL 3. See Attachment 2 of the NRA for TRL descriptions. This Appendix seeks proposals to develop unique, disruptive, or transformational space technologies that have the potential to lead to dramatic improvements at the system level — performance, weight, cost, reliability, operational simplicity, or other figures of merit associated with spaceflight hardware or missions. The projected impact at the system level must be substantial and clearly identified. Although system-level demonstrations are likely not possible or expected under an ESI award, meaningful TRL advancement is required. This Appendix does not seek literature searches, survey activities, or incremental enhancements to the current state of the art (SOA). This Appendix exclusively seeks proposals that are responsive to one of the two topics described in 1.3. Proposals that are not responsive to these topics, as specifically described, will be considered non-compliant and will not be submitted for peer review. NASA anticipates addressing other topics in future Appendix releases. The topics described in 1.3 are aligned with the STMD Strategic Framework that organizes the agency’s space technology investments. They are also consistent with the 2020 NASA Technology Taxonomy and the 2022 NASA Strategic Plan.
NASA RFP URL: https://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/solicitations/summary.do?solId={EA55B699-3845-233F-9CB7-5B013BAA8F2C}
Maximum of $750K
June 6, 2024 (5 PM Eastern, 2 PM Pacific)
Matthew Deans Space Technology Research Grants Program Executive hq-esi-call@mail.nasa.gov