National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Technology Drives 

Exploration
TECHNONLOGY DRIVES 

EXPLORATION

“A top priority of NASA is to invest in crosscutting, transformational technologies. We focus 

on collaboration with industry and academia 

that advances our nation's space exploration 

and science goals while maintaining America's 

competitive edge in the new innovation economy.” 

Charlie F. Bolden 

NASA Administrator

TECHNOLOGY

EXPLORATION

SCIENCE

What is the Space Technology Mission Directorate?

Technology will drive the missions of tomorrow. NASA created the Space Technology 

Mission Directorate (STMD) as a dedicated technology organization within the agency 

to identify and develop solutions to technological challenges facing NASA

missions and the nation while:

• contributing to the nation’s success at transforming discoveries into economic

leadership

• developing cross-cutting technologies that also promote spinoffs and cultivate new

business

• drawing on the brightest minds of the nation’s aerospace industry, academic and

small business workforce

The STMD represents an investment in the nation’s future. It develops technologies 

to eliminate barriers, reduce risk, foster affordable missions and drive exploration. Its 

investments help NASA realize the next big thing.
TECHNOLOGY INVESTMENT 

CREATES OPPORTUNITIES

Historically, technology has driven humanity’s progress and will continue to define our 

future. Our nation chooses to invest in new technology not only to maintain our edge in the 

global economy but also because technology helps us: 

Redefine the possible

Create a technologically advanced future

Drive economic growth

“If we ever lose that kind 

of lead, then we lose world 

leadership.”

John Glenn 

Former NASA astronaut and U.S. 

Senator, stressing the importance 

of investing in innovation and 

technology

GO

LAND

LIVE

NASA is key to the nation’s technology 

leadership. To achieve current and future 

missions, NASA relies on the Space 

Technology Mission Directorate to:

Engage and collaborate with experts from 

industry, academia, and NASA centers

Advance broadly applicable technologies to 

drive exploration

Create and nurture innovation targeted on 

national needs

Technology for Space, Technology for Earth

NASA’s technology investments address specific 

national and agency needs; however, serendipitous 

discoveries can effect society in unexpected ways.

• NASA sensor research led to the small, low

power imaging technology in camera phones, a

multi-billion dollar industry.

• NASA’s life support research synthesized an

essential fatty acid food additive, which is now

included in most baby formula.

• NASA technology to prevent hydroplaning on

runways—including the Space Shuttle landing

strip—has significantly reduced highway

accidents during wet road conditions.
STMD: A BETTER WAY OF DOING BUSINESS

Through the Space Technology Mission Directorate, the nation invests in a broad range of 

technologies with cross-cutting, transformative payoffs. A single investment in an emerging 

technology, such as a wear-resistant coating, may provide solutions for robotic joints, 

turbopumps, or even automotive transmissions. In its unique position as a standalone 

technology organization, STMD develops multi-purpose and multi-application technologies, 

reducing costs to NASA’s missions.

The Directorate provides a nurturing environment for technology development through a 

unique management process and organizational approach. The Space Technology Mission 

Directorate is focused on doing business smarter, leaner and more effectively by:

Adhering to guiding principles to maximize technology investment 

Targeting transformative technology 

Collaborating with industry, academia and NASA stakeholders

Rapidly infusing technologies into NASA missions

BROAD APPLICATIONS

INNOVATION

PARTNERSHIPS

t

l

STMD Technology Thrusts

The technologies featured in this document are just a small glimpse of STMD’s 

portfolio. STMD invests in over 800 active technology projects, supporting 

customers across NASA. These projects range from small exploratory efforts 

o large technology demonstrations and include several thrust areas such

as high-power solar electric propulsion; space optical communications; 

advanced life support and resource utilization; Mars entry, descent and 

anding; space robotics; lightweight pace structures; deep space navigation; 

and space observatories.

“Investment in space technology is critical for our 

leadership as a space-faring nation. Technology 

continues to push exploration beyond Earth and 

commercial industry will follow.” 

Michael Griffin

Former NASA Administrator 
HIGHLIGHTS FROM STMD PROJECTS

LARGE COMPOSITE TANK MANUFACTURING

New manufacturing 

technologies for large 

composite structures 

have the potential 

to improve rocket 

performance and 

affordability

Large composite tank 

manufacturing enables 

larger, lighter and more 

affordable structures for 

rockets, planes, ships

and automobiles

Reduces:

• Weight by 30%

• Cost by 25%

• Labor and time to fabricate

LASER COMMUNICATION

Reduces 

spectrum 

interference and 

enables more 

satellites in highdemand orbits

Supports deep-space probes, robust satellite 

networks and secure communications

Laser communications 

can be used for satellite 

networks

Science missions 

can collect more 

data than is possible 

to send to Earth in a 

reasonable time

Near-term 

demonstrations of

1.2 Gbps, future 

systems may 

support hundreds

of Gbps

Laser-based 

communications 

transmits more 

data, faster

HIGH POWER SOLAR ARRAYS

Advanced solar arrays enable high power 

solar electric propulsion (SEP). SEP is a step 

to practical and affordable solar system 

exploration

NASA has tested two alternative arrays. 

These are ready to support space 

transportation infrastructure, commercial and 

military satellites, and science probes

Advanced solar arrays are a lighter, cheaper, and more 

powerful solution than commercial systems

• 2x lighter

• 4x less stowed volume

• Withstand 4x more radiation

26m

26m

(Notional SEP system)
MAKING TECHNOLOGY A REALITY

3D Woven Thermal

Protective System (TPS)

In 2010, NASA wanted a lightweight thermal 

protection system (TPS) technology to protect 

vehicles as they enter an atmosphere. NASA 

found a solution in Bally Ribbon Mills, a familyowned small business since 1923. Bally is a 

textile business, not an aerospace company, 

but at the time, they were pioneering a 

new 3-D weaving technology to strengthen 

advanced composites. The 3-D weaving 

approach allows Bally to customize the thermal and mechanical properties of composites while also 

preventing delamination, a common challenge for 2-D fabric composites. Bally’s approach makes 

customization simple, like picking a different setting on a sewing machine, reducing both the time 

and cost for fabrication. Fabric density can also be customized within the same piece, allowing for 

more durability as needed and reducing overall weight up to 40 percent.

NASA competitively selected Bally to develop a TPS technology in partnership with a small Center 

Innovation Fund project. The project was a success, and NASA created a follow-on project, 3-D 

Woven TPS, to mature the technology. NASA’s Orion Program will leverage this investment to develop 

compression pads for the capsule’s heat shield. The 3-D Woven TPS technology also supports 

science missions and may be infused into NASA’s next Discovery mission selection. If this technology 

continues to evolve, it may support human missions to Mars or hypersonic vehicles. All of these 

projects started with Space Technology Mission Directorate investments.

“If we are truly committed to exploring an asteroid, or returning to the Moon, or someday 

landing humans on the surface of Mars, we need sustained and substantial investments 

in advanced space technology and capabilities.” 

Bill Ballhaus, former President and CEO of The Aerospace Corporation and Lester 

Lyles, Gen., U.S. Air Force (Ret.), in Space News (March 24, 2014)
A SNAPSHOT OF STMD AND ITS PARTNERS

LARGE COMPOSITE TANK 

MANUFACTURING

The Space Technology Mission Directorate’s investment 

in large composite tank manufacturing will reduce 

risk and cost and enable future human and science 

missions. This capability leveraged previous work 

from Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner program. Much of 

the airplane’s airframe is composed of advanced 

composites, including sections of the fuselage 

that are too large for conventional manufacturing 

techniques. Boeing adapted its techniques for NASA 

and developed a proof of concept 5.5-meter composite 

tank, asan early prototype of an 8.4-meter tank that 

could improve NASA’s Space Launch System’s upper 

tage performance. 

LASER COMMUNICATION

The Space Technology Mission Directorate’s Laser 

Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD) involves 

a hosted payload on a commercial communication 

satellite developed by Space Systems Loral (SSL) and 

two specially equipped ground stations in California 

and Hawaii. In addition to SSL, several other partners 

are providing hardware and contributing to LCRD, 

including ITT-Excelis, Sierra Nevada Corporation, L-3 

Communications, SEAKR Engineering, and MIT Lincoln 

Laboratory. If successful, the demonstration will lead 

to laser-based communications for NASA’s Tracking 

and Data Relay Satellite system. Other government 

agencies and international partners are also 

investigating applications for laser communications, 

such as ship-to-ship laser communications tests. 

HIGH POWER SOLAR ARRAYS In 2012, NASA selected two companies—Alliant 

Techsystems Inc. (now Orbital ATK) and Deployable 

Space Systems (DSS)—to develop solar arrays 

to enable future electric propulsion systems. This 

technology offers compact stowed packaging, 

operational reliability, radiation tolerance and scalability 

for lighter, less expensive and higher power arrays 

(up to 300 kW) than current systems. Both companies 

have differing designs for their arrays. The Orbital ATK 

MegaFlex design is a circular array that opens axially 

like a fan. The DSS Mega-ROSA (Roll-Out Solar Array) 

design features a rectangular shape with flexible, 

modular “winglets” attached to a composite boom that 

can be rolled in or out like a window shade. While the 

partners focus on the mechanical aspects, they can 

adapt their arrays to new, flexible solar cells as they 

mature in the commercial market.
TO LEARN MORE:

www.nasa.gov/spacetech

www.nasa.gov/topics/technology

www.nasa.gov/offices/oct/home/sstip.htm

http://go.nasa.gov/2014strat_plan

https://techport.nasa.gov/home

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

NASA Headquarters

300 E Street Southwest

Washington, DC 20546

www.nasa.gov

@NASA_Technology

Technology Drives Exploration.