NASA NIAC Selects 5 Proposals for Phase II Studies

Looking ahead to an exciting future, NASA is continuing to invest in concepts that may one day revolutionize how we live and work in space with the selection of five technology proposals for continued study under the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Program.

NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate, located at the agency’s headquarters in Washington, based the NIAC Phase II selections on their potential to transform future aerospace missions, introduce new capabilities, or significantly improve current approaches to building and operating aerospace systems. The proposals chosen for continued study address a range of visionary concepts, from novel space optics using an orbiting cloud of dust-like objects, to pioneering spacecraft-rover hybrids for exploration of low-gravity asteroids.

“Technology drives our futures in exploration, science and commercial space; and investments in these advanced concepts must be made to ensure we will have the spectrum of capabilities for the near term and well into the 21st century,” said Michael Gazarik, associate administrator for Space Technology. “NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate is creating the technologies needed for today, while also investing in the concepts that will become technological realities of tomorrow. These concepts, anchored to sound science, but rich in ‘what if’ creativity, will make our science, exploration and commercial space futures possible.”

link.

Venus Exploration Proposals

Future Planetary Exploration has a tetrad of posts about proposals to explore Venus. Venus has been something of the ugly stepsister for the US Space Program. People talk about her, but only a few guys with no money want to take her on a date. Perhaps that will change, but unless Obama ups the funding for NASA's budget in general, this isn't going to happen. Again.

First post is about the proposed flagship mission to Venus. Orbiter, check. Balloons, check. Landers, check. Landers that take samples...WUH?! This would be very expensive: it's a flag ship mission after all. However, if we are unable to fund the Europa and Titan missions...The next three posts are about how to do the Venus exploration in smaller, cheaper chunks. Or less expensive methods. Read them here, here and here.

I wonder if people realize just how long it has been since we sent Magellan to Venus?