NASA Bolsters Space Exploration Technology through $1.5 Million in Dual-Use Funding for Academic, Non-Profit, and Business Entities

NASA has announced that it has allocated close to $1.5m to academic, non-profit, and business entities for the development of cutting-edge technology crucial for the agency’s upcoming lunar return under Artemis and future Mars expeditions. 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.

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. Daniel O’Neil, Manager of NASA Marshall’s Technology Development Dual-Use CAN Programme, highlighted the importance of collaborating with US industry and academia to develop necessary technologies.

The diverse array of projects includes 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.

NASA is now inviting further contributions through its 2024 solicitation cycle for applications that will propel technological advancements vital for the future of space exploration.