Fostering Visions for the Future A Review of the NASA Institute of Advanced Concepts (2009) / Chapter Skim
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1 Effectiveness of NIAC
1 Effectiveness of NIAC
Pages 11-20
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From page 11... ...
outlined a broad set of goals and objectives, which included: • Implementing a procedure to select and fund innovative, technically competent, revolutionary advanced concepts that could benefit NASA in its mission, • Sustaining public interest in revolutionary concepts of alternative aerospace futures, • Providing a positive inspiration to the nation's youth to study technical subjects so that they can conceive of their exciting role in the future and persevere in making their vision a reality, • Achieving a balanced distribution of effort and resources between NASA enterprises, • Enabling 5 to 10 percent infusion of NIAC-developed advanced concepts into NASA's longterm plans, and • Utilizing an Internet-based management environment to enable broad public scrutiny of NIAC-funded concepts. In evaluating NIAC's effectiveness in meeting its mission, the Committee to Review the NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts mapped NIAC's accomplishments to each of the above goals and objectives.
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From page 12... ...
1 Statement of work for the NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts, Attachment A of Contract NAS5-03110, Amendment of Solicitation/Modification No. 7, issued by NASA for the Universities Space Research Association, dated July 11, 2003, pp.
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From page 13... ...
Finding 1.1: NIAC's approach to implementing its functions successfully met NASA-defined objectives, resulted in a cost-effective and timely execution of advanced concept studies, afforded an opportunity for external input of new ideas to the agency, and subsequently provided broad public exposure of NASA programs.
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From page 14... ...
A detailed commentary on the technical competence of each NIAC research effort is beyond the scope of the committee's charge; however, summaries of the funded studies can be seen on the NIAC Web site.2 In addition, the technical competence and advances made by three NIAC Phase II investigations are highlighted in Appendix F 2 See http://www.niac.usra.edu.
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From page 15... ...
INFUSING ADVANCED CONCEPTS INTO NASA'S STRATEGIC VISION, FUTURE MISSION PLANS, AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS A significant goal for NIAC was a "balanced distribution of effort and resources between NASA enterprises, a record of 5 to 10 percent infusion of NIAC-developed advanced concepts into NASA's long-term plans."4 3 Information on NIAC outreach and public relations activities can be found in the NIAC annual reports, published yearly from 1999 to 2006 (NASA, Washington, D.C., available at http://www.niac.usra.edu)
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From page 16... ...
These numbers show significant interest from both NASA and the aerospace community, including DARPA and other government agencies. An in-depth explanation of the content of all 42 NIAC research efforts can be found on the NIAC Web site.6 Although a significant percentage of NIAC-sponsored Phase II advanced concepts received additional funding from NASA or other sources following the conclusion of their NIAC-funded efforts, infusion into NASA's long-term plans is difficult to assess quantitatively because of the changing nature of NASA's long-term planning process and the long-term development horizon of NIAC-funded activities.
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From page 17... ...
SOURCES: NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts, 9th Annual and Final Report, Atlanta, Ga., 2007; references following Table E-1, Appendix E of this report; and NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts, Long-term Success of NIAC-Funded Concept, Short Report, Atlanta, Ga., June 8, 2007. confinement by the M2P2 followed classical linear scaling up to the point that wall effects became important and the tests demonstrated plasma inflation.
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From page 18... ...
With the completion of the NIAC Phase II study, NASA provided significant additional support for Cash's occulter concept, and it is now one of the competitive concepts for the Terrestrial Planet Finder program. In addition, both Ball Aerospace Corporation and Northrop Grumman Corporation have made internal investments to further develop the concept in conjunction with Cash and his team.
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From page 19... ...
Finding 1.9: By design, the maturity of NIAC Phase II products was such that a substantial additional infusion of resources was needed before these advanced concepts could be deemed technically viable for implementation as part of a future NASA mission or flight program. This technology readiness immaturity created infusion difficulties for the NIAC program and innovators.
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From page 20... ...
Some of these efforts, like the Space Elevator project, have spawned widespread interest and annual competitions that were not heretofore envisioned. Through media coverage and the establishment of the NIAC Student Fellows program for undergraduate students, NIAC motivated young people to pursue engineering and science programs and begin a potential career in aeronautics and space.
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