NASA Invites Collaboration with Academia and Industry for Technological Breakthroughs in Lunar Return and Mars Expeditions

NASA has recently announced the allocation of approximately $1.5 million in funding to academic, non-profit, and business entities to support 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 developing 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. 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.

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.

NASA is committed to collaborating with US industry and academia to develop necessary technologies for future space missions. Daniel O’Neil, Manager of NASA Marshall’s Technology Development Dual-Use CAN Programme, highlighted this importance: “We believe that by working together with our partners in academia and industry we can drive technological advancements that will benefit not only NASA but also society as a whole.”

The 2024 solicitation cycle is now open for applications, inviting further contributions to propel technological advancements vital for the future of space exploration.