Aug 17, 2012

David E Steitz Headquarters, Washington 202-358-1730 david steitz@nasa gov

Chris Rink Langley Research Center, Hampton, Va 757-864-6786 chris rink@nasa gov

RELEASE: 12-282

NASA PICKS REVOLUTIONARY SPACE TECH PROPOSALS FOR DEVELOPMENT

WASHINGTON -- NASA's Space Technology Program has selected five technologies that could revolutionize America's space capabilities

In March, NASA issued a call for proposal focused on sudden and unexpected innovations that hold a potential for providing a "game-changing" impact on the efficiency and effectiveness of the agency's space capabilities

NASA has selected the following proposals for funding:

--"Representing and Exploiting Cumulative Experience with Objects for Autonomous Manipulation," University of Massachusetts, Amherst This technology could improve autonomous robotic operations using artificial intelligence during deep space missions --"Lightweight High Performance Acoustic Suppression Technology Development," NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif This technology could suppress acoustic environments during launch By reducing vibrations by acoustic suppression during launch, the amount of prelaunch vibration stress testing for onboard instruments also could be reduced --"Fast Light Optical Gyroscopes for Precision Inertial Navigation," NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala This technology could enhance navigation capabilities for spacecraft by improving the performance of existing gyroscopes by a factor of 1,000 --"EHD-Based Variable Conductance Thermal Interface Material," The Boeing Company, El Segundo, Calif The development of this thermal material could provide better heat management for spacecraft --"Membrane Enabled Reverse Lung," Oceaneering Space Systems, Houston This technology could reduce the number of life support systems needed for astronauts

"NASA's Space Technology Program is enabling our future in space by investing in revolutionary and game-changing technologies that could open new doors for how we live, work and investigate space," said Michael Gazarik, director of the program at NASA Headquarters in Washington "We are confident these selected technologies, with their highly qualified research teams, will enable great new opportunities for the next chapter in NASA's innovation story "

The selected proposals take steps toward addressing critical technological barriers for advancing exploration and science missions, while also lowering the cost of other government and commercial space activities Projects were selected through independent review of technical merit, alignment with NASA's Space Technology Roadmap priorities and the technology objectives identified by the National Research Council in its review of these roadmaps

Awards range from $125,000 to $1 8 million, with a total NASA investment of approximately $6 million through 2015 NASA's Game Changing Development Program, located at the agency's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va , is responsible for the management of these awards For more information about this program, visit:

http://go usa gov/RPS

The Game Changing Development Program is part of NASA's Space Technology Program, which is innovating, developing, testing and flying hardware for use in future science and exploration missions NASA's technology investments provide cutting-edge solutions for our nation's future

For information about NASA's Space Technology Program, visit:

http://www nasa gov/oct

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