DRAFT – NOT FOR OFFICIAL USE Strategic Space Technology Investment Plan “Success in executing future NASA space missions will depend on advanced technology developments that should already be underway.” – NASAʼs Space Technology Roadmaps and Priorities, National Research Council DRAFT DRAFT – NOT FOR OFFICIAL USE 1 DRAFT – NOT FOR OFFICIAL USE Table of Contents OVERVIEW ............................................................................................................. 6 BACKGROUND ...................................................................................................... 9 SPACE TECHNOLOGY: STEPPING STONES TO THE FUTURE ...................................... 9 TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT AS A PRIORITY ........................................................ 10 SUMMARY OF THE NASA SSTIP DEVELOPMENT PROCESS ........................ 12 GAP ANALYSIS ..................................................................................................... 12 FILTERING ........................................................................................................... 13 RANKING ............................................................................................................. 13 DECISION MAKING ............................................................................................... 14 NASAʼS STRATEGY ............................................................................................ 15 FRAMEWORK ....................................................................................................... 15 INVESTMENT APPROACH ...................................................................................... 16 GOVERNANCE ...................................................................................................... 18 PRINCIPLES OF INVESTMENT AND EXECUTION ....................................................... 19 1) NASA will balance investments across all 14 Space Technology Areas in the Roadmaps. ............................................................................................... 19 2) NASA will balance investments across all levels of technology readiness. 19 3) NASA will ensure developed technologies are infused into Agency missions. ........................................................................................................ 19 4) NASA will pursue partnerships. ............................................................... 20 5) NASA will use a systems engineering approach when planning technology investments. ................................................................................. 21 6) NASA will reach out to the public and share information about its technology investments. ................................................................................. 22 PILLAR 1: EXTEND AND SUSTAIN HUMAN PRESENCE AND ACTIVITIES IN SPACE .................................................................................................................. 23 GOAL SUMMARY .................................................................................................. 23 CAPABILITY OBJECTIVES ...................................................................................... 23 Achieve Improved Spacecraft System Reliability and Performance .............. 24 Enable Transportation To, From, and On Planetary Bodies .......................... 25 Sustain Human Health and Performance ....................................................... 25 Enable Payload Delivery and Human Exploration of Destinations and Planetary Bodies ............................................................................................ 26 PILLAR 2: EXPLORE THE STRUCTURE, ORIGIN, AND EVOLUTION OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM, AND SEARCH FOR LIFE PAST AND PRESENT .................. 28 DRAFT – NOT FOR OFFICIAL USE 2 DRAFT – NOT FOR OFFICIAL USE GOAL SUMMARY .................................................................................................. 28 CAPABILITY OBJECTIVES ...................................................................................... 29 Achieve Improved Spacecraft System Reliability and Performance .............. 30 Enable Transportation To, From, and On Planetary Bodies .......................... 30 Enable Advanced In-situ Measurement and Exploration ............................... 31 PILLAR 3: EXPAND UNDERSTANDING OF THE EARTH AND THE UNIVERSE (REMOTE MEASUREMENTS) ............................................................................. 32 GOAL SUMMARY .................................................................................................. 32 CAPABILITY OBJECTIVES ...................................................................................... 32 Achieve Improved Spacecraft System Reliability and Performance .............. 33 Enable Transportation To Space .................................................................... 33 Enable Space-Based and Earth-Based Observation and Analysis ................ 34 Enable Large Volume, Efficient Flight and Ground Computing, and Data Management .................................................................................................. 34 PILLAR 4: ENERGIZE DOMESTIC SPACE ENTERPRISE AND EXTEND BENEFITS OF SPACE FOR THE NATION .......................................................... 36 GOAL SUMMARY .................................................................................................. 36 CAPABILITY OBJECTIVES ...................................................................................... 36 Achieve Improved Spacecraft System Reliability and Performance .............. 37 Enable Transportation To and From Space ................................................... 38 Sustain Human Health and Performance ....................................................... 39 Meet the Robotic and Autonomous Navigation Needs of Space Missions .... 39 Enable Large Volume Efficient Flight and Ground Computing and Data Management .................................................................................................. 40 CORE TECHNOLOGY INVESTMENTS ............................................................... 41 LAUNCH AND IN-SPACE PROPULSION .................................................................... 43 Technical Challenges and Approach .............................................................. 43 Impact to NASA .............................................................................................. 44 Impact to Nation and Partners ........................................................................ 45 Potential Future Investments .......................................................................... 45 2012 Investments ........................................................................................... 46 HIGH DATA RATE COMMUNICATIONS .................................................................... 47 Technical Challenges and Approach .............................................................. 47 Impact to NASA .............................................................................................. 47 Impact to Nation and Partners ........................................................................ 48 Potential Future Investments .......................................................................... 48 2012 Investments ........................................................................................... 48 LIGHTWEIGHT SPACE STRUCTURES AND MATERIALS ............................................. 48 Technical Challenges and Approach .............................................................. 48 Impact to NASA .............................................................................................. 48 Impact to Nation and Partners ........................................................................ 49 Potential Future Investments .......................................................................... 49 2012 Investments ........................................................................................... 49 ROBOTICS AND AUTONOMOUS SYSTEMS .............................................................. 50 Technical Challenges and Approach .............................................................. 50 Impact to NASA .............................................................................................. 50 Impact to Nation and Partners ........................................................................ 50 DRAFT – NOT FOR OFFICIAL USE 3 DRAFT – NOT FOR OFFICIAL USE Potential Future Investments .......................................................................... 51 2012 Investments ........................................................................................... 51 ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL AND LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEMS ..................................... 52 Technical Challenges and Approach .............................................................. 52 Impact to NASA .............................................................................................. 52 Impact to Nation and Partners ........................................................................ 53 Potential Future Investments .......................................................................... 53 2012 Investments ........................................................................................... 53 SPACE RADIATION ............................................................................................... 54 Technical Challenges and Approach .............................................................