A Radio Telescope Built in a Crater on the Moon – And Other Innovative NASA Tech Concepts Being Researched - SciTechDaily

The early-stage concept is being studied under grant funding from the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts program but is not a NASA mission.

JPL’s Lunar Crater Radio Telescope advanced concept is among the projects that have been selected for further research and development.

To further these goals, the agency has selected seven studies for additional funding – totaling $5 million – from the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program.

“Creativity is key to future space exploration, and fostering revolutionary ideas today that may sound outlandish will prepare us for new missions and fresh exploration approaches in the coming decades,” said Jim Reuter, associate administrator for NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD).

Among the studies is a neutrino-detecting mission concept that will receive a $2 million Phase III NIAC grant to mature related technology over two years.

“Neutrinos are a tool to ‘see’ inside stars, and a space-based detector could offer a new window into the structure of our Sun and even our galaxy,” said NIAC Program Executive Jason Derleth.

Solomey’s previous NIAC research showed the technology could work in space, explored different flight paths, and developed an early prototype of the neutrino detector.

In addition, six researchers will receive $500,000 each to conduct Phase II NIAC studies for up to two years.

The Phase II study will also focus on refining the capabilities of the telescope and various mission approaches.

Davoyan will fabricate and test ultra-lightweight sail materials capable of withstanding extreme temperatures, examine structurally sound methods for supporting the sail, and investigate two mission concepts.

Lynn Rothschild, a scientist at NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley, will further study ways to grow structures, perhaps for future space habitats, out of fungi.

This phase of research will build on previous mycelia production, fabrication, and testing techniques.

Peter Gural with Trans Astronautica Corporation in Lakeview Terrace, California, will research a mission concept to find small asteroids faster than current survey methods.

In February 2021, NASA announced 16 new NIAC Phase I proposal selections.

April 10, 2021

April 10, 2021