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A researcher at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, will look at a concept for generating and distributing energy on the moon. The “light bender” system would capture, focus and focus sunlight using the telescope’s optics.
An industrial researcher from Trans Astronautica Corporation proposed a conceptual method for making soil in space using carbon-rich asteroids and fungi. The concept suggests that fungi would break down the material and turn it into soil to produce food and maintain large-scale habitats in deep space.
An assistant professor at Carnegie Mellon University will study a lightweight, deployable structure design to enable mile-scale structures in space. The proposal suggests that the structure could serve as the backbone of a large rotating spacecraft capable of producing artificial gravity.
“There are an impressive number of new participants to the program this year,” said Jason Derleth, NIAC program director. “All but two of the researchers shortlisted for the Phase I awards will be the first time to receive a NIAC grant, showing that NASA’s early opportunities continue to attract the interest of new and creative thinkers from all the countries.”
The full list of researchers selected to receive CANI Phase I grants in 2021 and the titles of their proposals are:
Sarbajit Banerjee, Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station in College Station
Regolith adaptive modification system to support the first alien planetary landings
Sigrid Close, Stanford University at Stanford, California
Uranus exploration: ChipSat / CubeSat activity supported by transmitted electromagnetic radiation (SCATTER)
Amelia Greig, University of Texas at El Paso
Ablative arc exploration for in situ resource use
Zachary Manchester, Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh
Mile-scale spatial structures from a single launch
Patrick McGarey, JPL
Passive expanding dipole array for lunar sounding (PEDALS)
Quinn Morley, Planet Enterprises in Gig Harbor, Washington
Autonomous robotic demonstrator for deep drilling (ARD3)
Christopher Morrison, Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation (USNC-Tech) in Seattle
Extrasolar object interceptor and sample return activated by compact and ultra-powerful radioisotope batteries
E. Joseph Nemanick, The Aerospace Corporation in Santa Monica, California
Atomic Planar Power for Light Exploration (APPLE)
Steven Oleson, NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland
Titan sample return using in situ thrusters
Marco Pavone, Stanford University
ReachBot: small robot for large mobile manipulation tasks in Martian cave environments
Ronald Polidan, Lunar Resources Inc. in Houston
FarView: Lunar radio observatory manufactured in situ
Ethan Schaler, JPL (two selections)
FLOAT: Flexible levitation on a track
SWIMMING: Detection with independent micro-swimmers
Jane Shevtsov, Trans Astronautica Corporation in Lake View Terrace, California
Make soil for space habitats by seeding asteroids with fungi
Charles Taylor, Langley
Light bender
Joshua Vander Hook, JPL
Pony Express Solar System
CANI supports visionary research ideas through multiple phases of progressive study. Researchers from the U.S. government, industry, and academia with high-impact ideas can submit proposals.
CANI Phase II researchers receive grants of up to $ 500,000 to further develop their concepts for up to two years. Phase III aims to make the strategic transition of NIAC concepts with the greatest potential impact for NASA, other government agencies or business partners. Phase III researchers receive a contract of up to $ 2 million to evolve their mission concept over two years.
For more information on NASA’s space technology solicitations and opportunities, visit:
https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/spacetech/solicitations
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