National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Small Business Innovation Research & Technology Transfer 2007 Program Solicitations
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9.1.3 SCIENCE
To pioneer the future in space exploration, scientific discovery, and aeronautics research.
NASA has pursued these three areas throughout its history. Fresh impetus is provided by the President’s Vision for Space Exploration announced in January 2004, which includes robotic exploration of planetary bodies in the solar system, advanced telescope searches for Earth-like planets around other stars, and studying the origin, structure, evolution, and destiny of the universe in addition to extending human presence to the Moon, Mars and beyond. Other Presidential initiatives guide NASA’s study of Earth from space and build on NASA’s rich heritage of aeronautics and space science research.
Goal 3 in the 2006 NASA Strategic Plan is to “develop a balanced overall program of science, exploration, and aeronautics consistent with the redirection of the human spaceflight program to focus on exploration.” In the arena of science, NASA’s focus is in disciplines where access to space enables new scientific endeavors or enhances existing ones. Responsibility for defining, planning and overseeing NASA’s science programs is assigned by the NASA Administrator to the Science Mission Directorate (SMD). SMD organizes its work into four broad scientific pursuits, each managed by a Division within the Directorate, implementing the four science sub-goals in the NASA Strategic Plan:
Earth Science: Study planet Earth from space to advance scientific understanding and meet societal needs;
Planetary Science: Advance scientific knowledge of the origin and history of the solar system, the potential for life elsewhere, and the hazards and resources present as humans explore space;
Heliophysics: Understand the Sun and its effects on Earth and the solar system;
Astrophysics: Discover the origin, structure, evolution, and destiny of the universe, and search for Earth-like planets.
The following topics and subtopics seek to develop technology to enable science missions in support of these strategic objectives.
S1.01 Lidar System Components
S1.02 Active Microwave Technologies
S1.03 Passive Microwave Technologies
S1.04 Sensor and Detector Technology for Visible, IR, Far IR and Submillimeter
S1.05 Detector Technologies for UV, X-Ray, Gamma-Ray and Cosmic-Ray Instruments
S1.06 Particles and Field Sensors and Instrument Enabling Technologies
S1.07 Cryogenic Systems for Sensors and Detectors
S1.08 In Situ Airborne, Surface, and Submersible Instruments for Earth Science
S1.09 In Situ Sensors and Sensor Systems for Planetary Science
S2.01 Precision Spacecraft Formations for Telescope Systems
S2.02 Proximity Glare Suppression for Astronomical Coronagraphy
S2.03 Precision Deployable Optical Structures and Metrology
S2.04 Optical Devices for Starlight Detection and Wavefront Analysis
S2.05 Optics Manufacturing and Metrology for Telescope Optical Surfaces
S3.01 Avionics and Electronics
S3.02 Thermal Control Systems
S3.03 Power Generation and Storage
S3.04 Propulsion Systems
S3.05 Terrestrial Balloon Technology
S4.01 NanoSat Launch Vehicle Technologies
S4.02 Secondary and Tertiary Launch Technologies
S4.03 Low-Cost, Rapid Spacecraft Design and Multi-Subsystem Functionality
S4.04 Project Management, Systems Engineering and Mission Assurance Tools
S4.05 Smart, Autonomous Command and Data Handling System, Algorithms and Data Management
S4.06 Advanced Avionics
S4.07 Mini-Micro Thrusters, LOX / Hydrocarbon Propulsion, and Attitude Control Systems
S4.08 Low-cost Assembly, Integration, and Testing
S4.09 Autonomous Multi-Mission Virtual Ground and Spacecraft Operations
S5.01 Extreme Environments Technology
S5.02 Planetary Entry, Descent and Landing Technology
S5.03 Sample Collection, Processing, and Handling Devices
S5.04 Surface and Subsurface Robotic Exploration
S5.05 Planetary Balloons and Aerobots
S6.01 Modeling, Simulation and Analysis Technologies
S6.02 Technologies for Large-Scale Numerical Simulation
S6.03 On-Board Data Processing and Control
S6.04 Data Analyzing and Processing Algorithms
S6.05 Data Management - Storage, Mining and Visualization
S6.06 Spatial and Visual Methods for Search, Analysis and Display of Science Data
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