Fostering Visions for the Future A Review of the NASA Institute of Advanced Concepts (2009) / Chapter Skim
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3 A Successor to NIAC
3 A Successor to NIAC
Pages 29-36
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From page 29... ...
Alternative methods used by NASA to establish and develop future mission concepts, and 3. Potential funding levels for a successor entity.
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From page 30... ...
intentionally short tenures of expert, entrepreneurial program managers, which ensures the presence of transition champions for successful projects; limited overhead and the absence of laboratories and facilities to prevent institutionalization; and a multitiered technology transition strategy with identified technology transition liaisons. Appendix G provides a more comprehensive description of DARPA.
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From page 31... ...
The committee was impressed at the efficiency and effectiveness of the proposal peer review process developed and deployed by the original NIAC, which took advantage of electronic documents and communications and achieved uniformity of results through a set of templates and related forms used by the reviewers. These Internet-based review and management processes led to significant efficiencies, 1 National Research Council, A Constrained Space Exploration Technology Program: A Review of NASA's Exploration Technology Development Program, The National Academies Press, Washington, D.C., 2008.
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From page 32... ...
Some of the most successful NIAC-funded projects, for example, the New Worlds Observer, could not be valued within the narrower context of the ESMD, especially while that organization was focused on developing a new human exploration transportation architecture. According to sources, NIAC was terminated because its focus was on farterm mission concepts that were not closely aligned with the lunar exploration architecture, and because NIAC had limited success in infusing advanced concepts into NASA's strategic plans.
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From page 33... ...
RECOMMENDED CHANGES TO IMPROVE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF NIAC In an effort to better align prospective NIAC2 advanced concept innovations with future NASA missions and improve success in infusing advanced concepts into future NASA missions, the committee recommends some changes to the recommended future NIAC2 entity. These changes address the following problems encountered by the original NIAC that limited its impact or detracted from its reputation: 1.
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From page 34... ...
: Over the long term, the ultimate criterion for NIAC2 success is the number of funded projects that eventually make their way into the relevant NASA mission directorate decadal survey, strategic plan, or mission stream. Because most NIAC2 projects will bear fruit only over the long term, in addition to the annual performance and feedback reviews, a major review of NIAC2 grants should occur every 5 years to ensure continuous infusion opportunities into NASA missions and planning.
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From page 35... ...
NIAC awardees expressed uncertainties about the status of intellectual property for proposals submitted to NIAC and the status of intellectual property rights for work developed under NIAC support. The committee recommends that NIAC2 develop and document a policy allowing awardees rights to data and associated intellectual property to address these issues before soliciting any proposals.
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