NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts
NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts (NIAC) was a NASA-funded program that was operated by the Universities Space Research Association (USRA) for NASA from 1998 until its closure on 31 August 2007. NIAC sought proposals for revolutionary aeronautics and space concepts that could dramatically impact how NASA developed and conducted its missions. It provided a highly visible, recognizable, and high-level entry point for outside thinkers and researchers. NIAC encouraged proposers to think decades into the future in pursuit of concepts that would "leapfrog" the evolution of contemporary aerospace systems. While NIAC sought advanced concept proposals that stretch the imagination, these concepts were expected to be based on sound scientific principles and attainable within a 10 to 40-year time frame. Since February 1998, NIAC has received a total of 1,309 proposals and has awarded 126 Phase I grants and 42 Phase II contracts for a total value of $27.3 million.[1]
It was announced on March, 1, 2011 that a new NIAC would be formed, with similar goals.[2]
Contents |
[edit] Studies Funded by NIAC include
- Bio-Nano-Machines for Space Applications - Constantinos Mavroidis
- System Feasibility Demonstrations of Caves and Subsurface Constructs for Mars Habitation and Scientific Exploration (Caves of Mars Project) - Penelope J. Boston
- Lunar space elevator - Jerome Pearson final report.pdf
- Magnetic sail - Robert Zubrin
- Mini-magnetospheric plasma propulsion - Robert M Winglee
- New Worlds Mission - Dr. Webster Cash
- Space elevator - By Dr. Bradley C. Edwards
- Mars Entomopter - Anthony Colozza/Robert Michelson
[edit] Closing of the NIAC
On July 2, 2007, NIAC announced that
| “ | NASA, faced with the constraints of achieving the Vision for Space Exploration, has made the difficult decision to terminate NIAC, which has been funded by NASA since inception. Effective August 31, 2007, the NIAC will cease operations.[3] | ” |
[edit] New NIAC formed
It was announced on March, 1, 2011 that a new NIAC would be formed, with similar goals.[4]
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- http://www.niac.usra.edu/ - The official NIAC site
- http://www.niac.usra.edu/studies/studies.jsp - List of studies that have been funded
[edit] References
- ^ NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts, 9th Annual & Final Report, 2006-2007, Performance Period July 12, 2006 - August 31, 2007 (page 9, Executive Summary, 4th paragraph)
- ^ http://spacepolicyonline.com/pages/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1461:niac2-gets-underway-at-nasa-two-other-technology-solicitations-announced&catid=67:news&Itemid=27
- ^ The NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts (NIAC) is Closing | SpaceRef - Space News as it Happens
- ^ http://spacepolicyonline.com/pages/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1461:niac2-gets-underway-at-nasa-two-other-technology-solicitations-announced&catid=67:news&Itemid=27
