NASA INSTITUTE FOR ADVANCED CONCEPTS 7th A N N U A L R E P O R T Performance Period July 12, 2004 - July 11, 2005 Supporting Revolutionary Ideas Today, With Advanced Concepts For Tomorrow USRA is a non-profit cor- poration under the aus- pices of the National Academy of Sciences, with an institutional mem- bership of 97. For more information about USRA, see its website at www.usra.edu. ANSER is a not-for-profit public service research corporation, serving the national interest since 1958.To learn more about ANSER, see its website at www.ANSER.org. NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts 7 t h A N N U A L R E P O R T Performance Period July 12, 2004 - July 11, 2005 NIAC SUPPORTS THE NASA VISION NIAC inspires and investigates options for future missions that may reveal technologies and approaches which could impact near term missions. Advanced Concepts Institute for Above: NIAC Director, Robert A. Cassanova, Ph. D. 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Please join the Universities Space Research Association (USRA) and NIAC in this exciting endeavor to help define the future of aeronautics and space. Robert A. Cassanova, Ph.D. Director, NIAC N I A C 7 t h A n n u a l R e p o r t 5 T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S 7 5 DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE 9 NIAC EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 10 ACCOMPLISHMENTS 10 Summary 11 Call for Proposals CP 02-01 (Phase II) 11 Call for Proposals CP 03-01 (Phase II) 12 Call for Proposals CP 04-01 (Phase I) 13 Call for Proposals CP 05-01 (Phase I) 15 Call for Proposals CP 05-02 (Phase II) 16 Survey of Technologies to Enable NIAC Concepts 18 Special Recognition for NIAC 18 Coordination with NASA 21 Infusion of Advanced Concepts into NASA 24 Inspiration and Outreach 25 Release and Publicity of Calls for Proposals 27 Recruitment of Technically Diverse Peer Reviewers 27 NIAC Sixth Annual Meeting 28 NIAC Fellows Meeting 28 NIAC Science Council Meetings 30 NIAC Student Visions of the Future Program 30 NIAC Student Fellow Publication 31 NIAC Student Fellows Prize 32 Financial Performance 33 DESCRIPTION OF THE NIAC 33 Mission 34 Organization 36 Facilities 36 Virtual Institute 38 The NIAC Process 39 Solicitation 40 Proposals 41 Peer Review 42 NASA Concurrence 42 Awards 42 Management of Awards T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S 7 43 PLANS FOR THE EIGHTH CONTRACT YEAR 43 Key Milestones 44 Solicitation, Selection, and Advanced Concept Awards 44 Identifying Grand Visions 44 NIAC Annual Meeting and Phase I Fellows Meeting 45 Outreach to the Technical Community 45 Coordination with NASA and other Federal Agencies 45 Oversight by USRA Management LIST OF TABLES 10 Table 1. Phase I and II Awards Performance Periods 10 Table 2. CP 02-01 Phase II Award Winners 11 Table 3. Summary of CP 03-01 Responding Organizations 11 Table 4. CP 03-01 Phase II Award Winners 12 Table 5. Summary of CP 04-01 Responding Organizations 13 Table 6. CP 04-01 Phase I Award Winners 13 Table 7. Summary of CP 05-01 Responding Organizations 14 Table 8. CP 05-01 Phase I Award Winners 15 Table 9. Summary of CP 05-02 Responding Organizations 15 Table 10. CP 05-02 Phase II Award Winners 16 Table 11. CP 02-01 Critical Enabling Technologies 17 Table 12. CP 03-01 Critical Enabling Technologies 19 Table 13. NASA - NIAC Support Team 19 Table 14. Visits and Contacts within NASA 22 Table 15. Advanced Concepts Infused Into NASA 36 Table 16. Current Membership of the NIAC Science Council 43 Table 17. Key Activities Planned for the Eighth Contract Year APPENDICES 46 A. Descriptions of Enabling Technologies from NIAC 56 B.