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NASA Strategic Space Technology Investment Plan “Future leadership in space requires a foundation of sustained technology advances that can enable the development of more capable, reliable, and lower-cost spacecraft and launch vehicles.” – America’s Future in Space: Aligning the Civil Space Program with National Needs, National Research Council 1 2 Table of Contents OVERVIEW ........................................................................................................... 7 BACKGROUND .................................................................................................... 8 SPACE TECHNOLOGY: STEPPING STONES TO THE FUTURE .................... 8 TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT AS A PRIORITY ........................................... 9 DEVELOPING A STRATEGY........................................................................... 10 NASA’S StratEGY ........................................................................................... 11 INVESTMENT APPROACH ............................................................................. 11 FRAMEWORK ................................................................................................. 13 GOVERNANCE ............................................................................................... 14 PRINCIPLES OF INVESTMENT AND EXECUTION ....................................... 14 1) NASA will balance investments across all 14 Space Technology Areas in the Roadmaps. ................................................................................................... 14 2) NASA will balance investments across all levels of technology readiness. ..................................................................................................... 14 3) NASA will ensure developed technologies are infused into Agency missions. ...................................................................................................... 15 4) NASA will develop technologies through partnerships and ensure developed technologies are infused throughout the domestic space enterprise. .......... 15 5) NASA will use a systems engineering approach when planning technology investments. ................................................................................................. 16 6) NASA will reach out to the public and share information about its technology investments. ................................................................................................. 17 CORE TECHNOLOGY INVESTMENTS ............................................................. 18 LAUNCH AND IN-SPACE PROPULSION ....................................................... 20 Technical Challenges and Approach ............................................................ 20 Impact to NASA ............................................................................................ 20 Impact to Nation and Partners ...................................................................... 22 Potential Future Investments ........................................................................ 22 2012 Investments ......................................................................................... 23 HIGH DATA RATE COMMUNICATIONS ......................................................... 24 Technical Challenges and Approach ............................................................ 24 Impact to NASA ............................................................................................ 24 Impact to Nation and Partners ...................................................................... 25 Potential Future Investments ........................................................................ 25 2012 Investments ......................................................................................... 25 LIGHTWEIGHT SPACE STRUCTURES AND MATERIALS ............................ 25 Technical Challenges and Approach ............................................................ 25 Impact to NASA ............................................................................................ 26 Impact to Nation and Partners ...................................................................... 26 Potential Future Investments ........................................................................ 26 2012 Investments ......................................................................................... 26 3 ROBOTICS AND AUTONOMOUS SYSTEMS ................................................. 27 Technical Challenges and Approach ............................................................ 27 Impact to NASA ............................................................................................ 27 Impact to Nation and Partners ...................................................................... 28 Potential Future Investments ........................................................................ 28 2012 Investments ......................................................................................... 28 ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL AND LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEM ..................... 29 Technical Challenges and Approach ............................................................ 29 Impact to NASA ............................................................................................ 29 Impact to Nation and Partners ...................................................................... 30 Potential Future Investments ........................................................................ 30 2012 Investments ......................................................................................... 30 SPACE RADIATION MITIGATION ................................................................... 31 Technical Challenges and Approach ............................................................ 31 Impact to NASA ............................................................................................ 31 Impact to Nation and Partners ...................................................................... 31 Potential Future Investments ........................................................................ 32 2012 Investments ......................................................................................... 32 SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS AND SENSORS ............................................... 32 Technical Challenges and Approach ............................................................ 32 Impact to NASA ............................................................................................ 33 Impact to Nation and Partners ...................................................................... 33 Potential Future Investments ........................................................................ 34 2012 Investments ......................................................................................... 34 ENTRY, DESCENT, AND LANDING ................................................................ 35 Technical Challenges and Approach ............................................................ 35 Impact to NASA ............................................................................................ 35 Impact to Nation and Partners ...................................................................... 36 Potential Future Investments ........................................................................ 36 2012 Investments ......................................................................................... 37 ADJACENT TECHNOLOGY INVESTMENTS .................................................... 39 POWER GENERATION ................................................................................... 39 THERMAL CONTROL SYSTEMS ................................................................... 41 LONG-DURATION CREW HEALTH ................................................................ 41 COMPLEMEntarY TECHNOLOGY INVESTMENTS ....................................... 43 PILLAR 1: EXTEND AND SUstain HUMAN PRESENCE AND ACTIVITIES IN spacE ................................................................................................................ 45 GOAL SUMMARY ............................................................................................ 45 CAPABILITY OBJECTIVES ............................................................................. 45 Achieve Improved Spacecraft System Reliability and Performance ............ 46 Enable Transportation To, From, and On Planetary Bodies ......................... 47 Sustain Human Health and Performance ..................................................... 47 Enable Payload Delivery and Human Exploration of Destinations and Planetary Bodies .......................................................................................... 48 PILLAR 2: EXPLORE THE STRUCTURE, ORIGIN, AND EVOLUTION OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM, AND SEARCH FOR LIFE past AND PRESENT ................ 50 GOAL SUMMARY ............................................................................................ 50 CAPABILITY OBJECTIVES ............................................................................. 51 Achieve Improved Spacecraft System Reliability and Performance ............ 51 4 Enable Transportation To, From, and On Planetary Bodies ......................... 52 Enable Advanced In-situ Measurement and Exploration .............................. 53 PILLAR 3: EXpanD UNDErstanDING OF THE EARTH AND THE UNIVERSE (REMOTE MEASUREMENTS) ........................................................................... 54 GOAL SUMMARY ...........................................................................................