NASA Allocates $1.5m to Spur Innovation for Lunar Return and Mars Expeditions

NASA has allocated close to $1.5m to academic, non-profit, and business entities to develop cutting-edge technology crucial for the agency’s lunar return under Artemis and future Mars expeditions. Under NASA’s Dual-Use Technology Development Cooperative Agreement Notices (CANs), 21 organizations will undertake 24 projects aimed at pioneering innovative solutions. The awardees will also receive guidance from propulsion, space transportation, and science experts at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama.

Among the diverse array of projects are proposals for utilizing lunar regolith for construction on the Moon’s surface, employing smartphone video guidance sensors to navigate robots on the International Space Station, exploring novel battery materials, and enhancing neutrino particle detection capabilities. Leading academic institutions such as the Florida Institute of Technology, Northwestern University, and the University of Alabama have secured funding for multiple projects, showcasing their crucial role in advancing space exploration technology. The funding opportunity aimed to foster entrepreneurial research and innovation in order to bolster the commercial space sector while serving the objectives of future NASA missions.

NASA has opened up a new solicitation cycle for applications that will receive assistance from propulsion, space transportation, and science experts at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. The aim is to further contribute to technological advancements vital for the future of space exploration.