9Th Annual & Final Report 2006 2007
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NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts 9th Annual & 2006 Final Report 2007 Performance Period July 12, 2006 - August 31, 2007 NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts 75 5th Street NW, Suite 318 Atlanta, GA 30308 404-347-9633 www.niac.usra.edu USRA is a non-profit corpora- ANSER is a not-for-profit pub- tion under the auspices of the lic service research corpora- National Academy of Sciences, tion, serving the national inter- with an institutional membership est since 1958.To learn more of 100. For more information about ANSER, see its website about USRA, see its website at at www.ANSER.org. www.usra.edu. NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts 9 t h A N N U A L & F I N A L R E P O R T Performance Period July 12, 2006 - August 31, 2007 T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S 7 7 MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR 8 NIAC STAFF 9 NIAC EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 10 THE LEGACY OF NIAC 14 ACCOMPLISHMENTS 14 Summary 14 Call for Proposals CP 05-02 (Phase II) 15 Call for Proposals CP 06-01 (Phase I) 17 Call for Proposals CP 06-02 (Phase II) 18 Call for Proposals CP 07-01 (Phase I) 18 Call for Proposals CP 07-02 (Phase II) 18 Financial Performance 18 NIAC Student Fellows Prize Call for Proposals 2006-2007 19 NIAC Student Fellows Prize Call for Proposals 2007-2008 20 Release and Publicity of Calls for Proposals 20 Peer Reviewer Recruitment 21 NIAC Eighth Annual Meeting 22 NIAC Fellows Meeting 24 NIAC Science Council Meetings 24 Coordination With NASA 27 Publicity, Inspiration and Outreach 29 Survey of Technologies to Enable NIAC Concepts 32 DESCRIPTION OF THE NIAC 32 NIAC Mission 33 Organization 34 Facilities 35 Virtual Institute 36 The NIAC Process 37 Grand Visions 37 Solicitation 38 NIAC Calls for Proposals 39 Peer Review 40 NASA Concurrence 40 Awards 40 Management of Awards 41 Infusion of Advanced Concepts 4 T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S 7 LIST OF TABLES 14 Table 1. Phase I and II Award Performance Periods 15 Table 2. CP 05-02 Phase II Award Winners 15 Table 3. Summary of CP 06-01 Responding Organizations 16 Table 4. CP 06-01 Phase I Award Winners 17 Table 5. Summary of CP 06-02 Responding Organizations 17 Table 6. CP 06-02 Phase II Award Winners 18 Table 7. Summary of CP 07-01 Responding Organizations 19 Table 8. 2006-2007 NIAC Student Fellows Prize Winners 25 Table 9. The NASA-NIAC Support Team 26 Table 10. Contacts with NASA 29 Table 11. CP 03-01 Critical Enabling Technologies 30 Table 12. CP 05-02 Critical Enabling Technologies 31 Table 13. CP 06-02 Critical Enabling Technologies 34 Table 14. Membership of the NIAC Science Council APPENDICES 43 A. Descriptions of Enabling Technologies from NIAC 57 B. CP 05-02 Awardees 60 C. CP 06-01 Awardees 65 D. CP 06-02 Awardees 69 E. Inspiration and Outreach Contacts 73 F. NIAC Publicity 81 G. 2006-2007 NIAC Fellows Publication Listing 5 NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts w ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS w The Universities Space Research Association wishes to acknowledge the dedication of the following people to NIAC's creative enterprise over the last nine years: Dr. Robert A. Cassanova, Director Dr. Diana Jennings, Associate Director Dr. Ronald Turner, Senior Science Advisor Ms. Sharon M. Garrison, NASA Coordinator for NIAC Mr. Dale K. Little, Operations Manager Mr. Robert J. Mitchell, Computer Specialist Ms. Katherine Reilly, Publication Specialist Ms. Patricia Russell, Associate Director Ms. Brandy-Brooke Egan, Administrative Assistant Dr. Hussein Jirdeh, NIAC Coordinator, USRA Ms. Sophia Hill, Contract Specialist, USRA Dr. Lewis Peach, Vice President, USRA Dr. Murray Hirschbein, NASA HQ Representative Dr. Christopher Moore, NASA HQ Representative Mr. Douglas A. Craig, NASA HQ Representative Dr. John Cole, NASA MSFC Representative Dr. Stanley Fishkind, NASA HQ Representative All of the NIAC Fellows All Members of the NIAC Science Council The many NASA representatives for NIAC at NASA HQ & the NASA Centers Numerous members of the popular and science news media, but especially Leonard David and Paul Gilster Steve Heard, The Futures Channel “Don“Don’t’t letlet youryour preoccupationpreoccupation withwith realityreality stiflestifle youryour imagination.”imagination.” RobertBob Cassanova Cassanova & & Sharon Sharon Garrison Garrison 6 MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR NIAC- A LEGACY OF REVOLUTIONARY CREATIVITY Since its beginning in February 1998, NIAC advanced concepts con- has encouraged an atmosphere of creative tinue to inspire present examination of seemingly impossible aero- and future generations space missions and of audacious, but cred- of space scientists, engi- ible, visions to extend the limits of technical neers, and enthusiasts. achievement. Visionary thinking is an In a modern setting essential ingredient for maintaining global where the presence of leadership in the sciences, technology inno- humans in space is now vation and expansion of knowledge. NIAC routine, the fact that has sought creative researchers who have NIAC captures the imagination of the gen- the ability to transcend current perceptions eral public and technical community repre- of scientific knowledge and, with imagina- sents a priceless contribution to our nation- tion and vision, to leap beyond incremental al space effort. development towards the possibilities of dramatic breakthroughs in performance of The staff of NIAC is honored to have had aerospace systems. this opportunity to lead this unique institute and to have worked with the exceptionally By setting visionary standards for selection, creative NIAC Fellows and the many NIAC has inspired the technical community accomplished scientists and engineers to reach beyond current programs, reexam- who contributed to the peer review ine scientific principles and visualize aero- process, participated in oversight of NIAC's space architectures and systems for which activities and provided continuing encour- enabling technologies may not be available. agement. We are also deeply indebted to The concepts selected by NIAC for further the technical and public press as they have development have been examined by their embraced NIAC's advanced concepts. peers based on criteria for technical credibil- ity and revolutionary potential. Further We are especially grateful for the funding examination of the selected advanced con- provided by NASA over the last nine years cepts is facilitated by NIAC to encourage and for the unwavering support of many feedback from a broad spectrum of the exceptional scientists and engineers at technical community and to expand the pos- NASA Headquarters and the NASA sibilities for further development by govern- Centers. NIAC's legacy of revolutionary ment, industry and private investors. As a concepts and an atmosphere of scientific result of NIAC's very active and inclusive creativity will endure. process of nurturing advanced concepts, several of the advanced concept programs in government agencies and private indus- try have leveraged NIAC's investment and have provided additional funding for further development or noted the concepts in their long range plans. NIAC's visionary Robert A. Cassanova, Ph.D. Director, NIAC 7 TT hh ee NN II AA CC SS tt aa ff ff Robert Cassanova, Ph.D. Director Diana Jennings, Ph.D. Associate Director Ronald Turner, Ph.D. Senior Science Advisor Dale Little Operations Manager Robert Mitchell Network Engineer Katherine Reilly Publicalication Specialist NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts 8 N I A C 9 t h A n n u a l R e p o r t Executive Summary Excellence is the result of caring more than others aeronautics and alternative-technology transporta- think is wise, risking more than others think is safe, tion. NIAC hosted its annual March Phase I Fellows dreaming more than others think is practical, and meeting in Atlanta, GA. Also in this contract year expecting more than others think is possible. (Mac NIAC visited many of NASA's Mission Directorates to Anderson) continue its ongoing Grand Visions conversations with Associate Administrators or their designees. Since 1998, the NASA Institute for Advanced These conversations and documents augmented the Concepts (NIAC) has provided a process and a path- NIAC's constantly evolving Grand Visions and way for innovators with the ability for non-linear cre- informed the Call for Proposals released in November ativity to: (1) define grand visions for a future world of 2006. NIAC's technical leadership continued its vig- aeronautics and space, (2) explore the possibility of orous activities for education, outreach and inspira- redefining realities of the future and (3) offer revolu- tion with presentations at universities, private industry tionary solutions to the grand challenges of future and technical society meetings. NIAC and NIAC- aerospace endeavors. sponsored advanced concepts received widespread recognition in the popular and technical press. NIAC By operating as a virtual institute with succinct pro- Fellows were highly visible in technical society meet- posal requirements and efficient peer review, NIAC's ings with numerous presentations and publication of mode of operation emphasizes a flexible and open technical papers. In addition to inspiring proposals development of creative concepts with a minimum of from the established technical community, NIAC con- technical direction. However, appropriate oversight tinued a special program to encourage undergraduate and nurturing is provided by NIAC's contractual man- students who have the potential for extraordinary cre- agement and technical leadership plus timely collab- ativity and the ability to stretch well beyond typical oration with NASA's technical staff. undergraduate course work. The NIAC Student Fellows Prize (NSFP), sponsored by Universities NIAC is an institute of the Universities Space Space Research Association and managed by NIAC, Research Association created through contract with was initiated in 2005 to attract these students and NASA in February 1998. Since then NIAC has facilitate the development of their advanced aero- received a total of 1,309 proposals and has awarded space concepts.