1

NASA Strategic Space Technology 

Investment Plan

“Future leadership in space requires a foundation of sustained technology advances 

that can enable the development of more capable, reliable, and lower-cost spacecraft 

and launch vehicles.” – America’s Future in Space: Aligning the Civil Space Program 

with National Needs, National Research Council
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Table of Contents

Overview ...........................................................................................................

Background .................................................................................................

Space Technology: Stepping Stones to the Future................

Technology Development as a Priority.........................................

Developing a Strategy........................................................................... 

NASA’s Strategy.........................................................................................

Investment Approach...........................................................................

Framework ................................................................................................. 13

Governance ............................................................................................... 1

Principles of Investment and Execution ................................

1) NASA will balance investments across all 14 Space Technology Areas in the 

Roadmaps. ................................................................................................... 14

2) NASA will balance investments across all levels of technology 

readiness...................................................................................................... 14

3) NASA will ensure developed technologies are infused into Agency 

missions. ...................................................................................................... 15

4) NASA will develop technologies through partnerships and ensure developed 

technologies are infused throughout the domestic space enterprise. .......... 15

5) NASA will use a systems engineering approach when planning technology 

investments. ................................................................................................. 16

6) NASA will reach out to the public and share information about its technology 

investments. ................................................................................................. 17

Core Technology Investments ....................................................

Launch and In-Space Propulsion .....................................................

Technical Challenges and Approach ............................................................ 20

Impact to NASA............................................................................................ 20

Impact to Nation and Partners...................................................................... 22

Potential Future Investments........................................................................ 22

2012 Investments ......................................................................................... 23

High Data Rate Communications .....................................................

Technical Challenges and Approach ............................................................ 24

Impact to NASA............................................................................................ 24

Impact to Nation and Partners...................................................................... 25

Potential Future Investments........................................................................ 25

2012 Investments ......................................................................................... 25

Lightweight Space Structures and Materials.....................

Technical Challenges and Approach ............................................................ 25

Impact to NASA............................................................................................ 26

Impact to Nation and Partners...................................................................... 26

Potential Future Investments........................................................................ 26

2012 Investments ......................................................................................... 26
4

Robotics and Autonomous Systems..........................................

Technical Challenges and Approach ............................................................ 27

Impact to NASA............................................................................................ 27

Impact to Nation and Partners...................................................................... 28

Potential Future Investments........................................................................ 28

2012 Investments ......................................................................................... 28

Environmental Control and Life Support System..............

Technical Challenges and Approach ............................................................ 29

Impact to NASA............................................................................................ 29

Impact to Nation and Partners...................................................................... 30

Potential Future Investments........................................................................ 30

2012 Investments ......................................................................................... 30

Space Radiation Mitigation................................................................

Technical Challenges and Approach ............................................................ 31

Impact to NASA............................................................................................ 31

Impact to Nation and Partners...................................................................... 31

Potential Future Investments........................................................................ 32

2012 Investments ......................................................................................... 32

Scientific Instruments and Sensors........................................

Technical Challenges and Approach ............................................................ 32

Impact to NASA............................................................................................ 33

Impact to Nation and Partners...................................................................... 33

Potential Future Investments........................................................................ 34

2012 Investments ......................................................................................... 34

Entry, Descent, and Landing ............................................................

Technical Challenges and Approach ............................................................ 35

Impact to NASA............................................................................................ 35

Impact to Nation and Partners...................................................................... 36

Potential Future Investments........................................................................ 36

2012 Investments ......................................................................................... 37

Adjacent Technology Investments.........................................

Power Generation...................................................................................

Thermal Control Systems .................................................................

Long-Duration Crew Health ..............................................................

Complementary Technology Investments..........................

Pillar 1: Extend and sustain

space ...............................................................................................................

Goal Summary............................................................................................ 4

Capability Objectives...........................................................................

Achieve Improved Spacecraft System Reliability and Performance ............ 46

Enable Transportation To, From, and On Planetary Bodies ......................... 47

Sustain Human Health and Performance..................................................... 47

Enable Payload Delivery and Human Exploration of Destinations and 

Planetary Bodies .......................................................................................... 48

Pillar 2: Explore the structue, 

solar system andsearch for life, past 

Goal Summary............................................................................................ 5

Capability Objectives...........................................................................

Achieve Improved Spacecraft System Reliability and Performance ............ 51
5

Enable Transportation To, From, and On Planetary Bodies ......................... 52

Enable Advanced In-situ Measurement and Exploration.............................. 53

Pillar 3: Expandunderstanding o

(remote measurements) .....................................................................

Goal Summary............................................................................................ 5

Capability Objectives...........................................................................

Achieve Improved Spacecraft System Reliability and Performance ............ 55

Enable Transportation To Space .................................................................. 55

Enable Space-Based and Earth-Based Observation and Analysis .............. 56

Enable Large-Volume, Efficient Flight and Ground Computing and Data 

Management ................................................................................................ 56

Pillar 4: Energize domestic s

benfis of space for the Nation ......................................

Goal Summary............................................................................................ 5

Capability Objectives...........................................................................

Achieve Improved Spacecraft System Reliability and Performance ............ 59

Enable Transportation To and From Space.................................................. 60

Sustain Human Health and Performance..................................................... 61

Meet the Robotic and Autonomous Navigation Needs of Space Missions... 61

Enable Large-Volume, Efficient Flight and Ground Computing and Data 

Management ................................................................................................ 62

Closing Thoughts – National 

Priorities...................................................................................................

Research..................................................................................................... 

Prioritization ............................................................................................

Multi-Agency Priorities......................................................................

Appendix A: Cosswalk o

TABS................................................................................................................... 65

Appendix B: Sumary of 2012 Investments .............................

Appendix C: Sumary of the NASA SST

Process.........................................................................................................

Gap Analysis ..............................................................................................

Space Technology Roadmaps and Technology Area Breakdown Structure. 75

NRC Priorities and Recommendations......................................................... 76

Data Call on Current Investments ................................................................ 76

Priorities of Internal and External Stakeholders ........................................... 76

Analysis ........................................................................................................ 77

Filtering ...................................................................................................... 7

Ranking......................................................................................................... 7

Decision Making ........................................................................................ 

Appendix D: Updated Space Technology Roadmap T

Appendix E: Contributors............................................................

Acronyms......................................................................................................

References..................................................................................................

Endnotes......................................................................................................
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Overview

“Sparking the imagination and creativity of our people, unleashing new 

discoveries—that’s what America does better than any other country on Earth. 

That’s what we do.... We need you to seek breakthroughs and new technologies 

that we can’t even imagine yet.” - From President Obama’s speech on innovation 

at Penn State University, 12:35 PM, February 3, 2011.

For more than 50 years, the National Aeronautics and Space Administrati

(NASA) has been at the forefront of scientific and technological innovation in the 

United States. NASA’s investments in space technology have helped make the 

United States the global leader in space. To guide this legacy of innovation into the 

future, NASA has established the NASA Strategic Space Technology Investment 

Plan (NASA SS

The NASA SSTIP is a comprehensive strategic plan that prioritizes space 

technologies essential to the pursuit of NASA’s mission and achievement of 

national goals. The NASA SSTIP provides a focused investment approach to 

guide NASA’s space technology investment over the next four years within the 

context of a 20-year horizon. The framework guiding this investment approach is 

a four-pillar system of goals to ensure NASA investments optimize the benefits of 

key stakeholders, including NASA Mission Directorates, other U.S. Government 

agencies, the private sector, and the national economy. The NASA 

specifies principles of execution for this plan as well as a governance strategy that 

allows for updating the plan on a biennial basis. This plan does not offer guidance 

or direction for aeronautics technology development, which is provided in other 

national policy documents.

NASA’s efforts in space technology development represent an indispensable 

contribution to a revitalized research, technology, and innovation agenda for the 

Nation. These investments stimulate the economy and enhance America’s global 

economic competitiveness through the creation of new products and services, new 

businesses and industries, and high-quality, sustainable jobs. This investment 

strategy maximizes the benefit of taxpayer dollars to NASA, other Government 

agencies, private-sector space activities, and ultimately, the Nation.
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Background

Space Technology: Stepping Stones to the Future

Since its establishment, NASA has helped spur profound changes in our Natio

scientific knowledge, culture, and expectations. NASA’s innovative technology 

development programs have enabled important space science and exploration 

missions, contributed to other U.S. Government agencies’ needs, cultivated 

commercial aerospace enterprises, and helped foster a technology-based U.S.

economy. Rising Above the Gathering Storm, Revisited, a report by the National

Research Council (NRC), addresses the link between technology development 

efforts and the economy, noting that various studies indicate a strong link between 

economic growth and technological innovation in recent decades.1

Looking forward, NASA must continue to blaze the trail for space science and 

exploration—and enhance national innovation and economic growth—through the 

development of technologies that provide capabilities fundamental to the Agency’s 

direction and the U.S. space enterprise. For example, as NASA undertakes

increasingly challenging human missions to deep space destinations, it is essential 

the Agency identify and mature technologies that can increase the affordability,

safety, and feasibility of such missions and ultimately, enable travel to and 

exploration of destinations never before visited. 

In 2010, the Administration updated the U.S. National Space Policy, which

recognizes the essential role of space for our national and global economic 

well-being and provides direction on U.S. Government roles and responsibilities 

concerning space activities, including NASA’s role in advancing space science, 

exploration, and discovery. For space-related research and development, the 

U.S. National Space Policy incorporates guidance on topics such as enhanci

interagency coordination of technology development activities and increasing the 

emphasis on certain technology arenas. It also directs NASA to work with industry, 

academia, and international partners in implementing a new space technology 

development and test program to build, test, and fly key technologies that can 

increase capabilities, decrease costs, and improve sustainability, safety, and 

affordability while expanding opportunities for future space activities. Finally, the 

policy encourages the growth of a U.S. commercial space sector that supports 

U.S. needs, is globally competitive, and advances U.S. leadership in new market 

generation and innovation-driven entrepreneurship.

Also in 2010, the President and Congress unveiled an ambitious new direction for 

NASA that includes renewed investment in space technology development. This 

new approach calls for NASA to grow and maintain an Agency space technology 

base that helps align Mission Directorate investments, increase capabilities, 

lower mission cost, and support long-term needs. It also directs aggressive 
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and prioritized technology investments that support NASA’s robotic and human 

exploration missions as well as other government agencies and the commercial 

sector.

Technology Development as a Priorit

In 2010, the NASA Administrator re-establi

the role of an Agency-level Chief Technologist 

to provide NASA a principal advisor on matters 

concerning Agency-wide technology policy and 

programs. This establishment was aligned with 

a Government-wide emphasis on advancing 

technology to spur innovation and brought a 

renewed focus within NASA to rapidly mature 

technologies for space exploration. 

In collaboration with the Office of the Chief Technologist (OCT), the Space 

Technology Program (STP) develops pioneering and crosscutting technologies 

that enable multiple missions for internal and external stakeholders. These 

technology development activities span the range of technology readiness from 

levels 1 through 7, always with an eye toward infusion into the Mission Directorate 

programs. The NASA Mission Directorates develop and mature technologies 

required to advance capabilities specific to current missions or planned future 

missions. Such efforts are often focused on higher technology readiness levels, 

and they tend to emphasize the incorporation or packaging of new technologies 

into subsystems with particular mission applications. Mission Directorates’ 

technology programs fund low readiness level technologies and basic research 

that advance readiness for future activities when such work is outside the scope of 

the STP.

OCT leads and advocates for technology development at NASA and for NASA. 

Among other key functions, OCT works to infuse technologies into future NASA 

missions, facilitates Agency technology governance (such as risk acceptance 

and reporting), and documents, demonstrates, and communicates the societal 

impact of NASA technology investments. In addition, OCT seeks transformative 

opportunities by incorporating technology innovations from other parts of the 

technology economy, such as cell phones, cloud computing, and biotechnology. 

Finally, OCT leads technology transfer and technology commercialization activities 

across the Agency, facilitating broader dialogue with the private sector, and 

rewarding innovation across the NASA workforce. 

To ensure NASA implements this development architecture, OCT established the 

NASA Technology Executive Council (NTEC), which brings together the Mission 

Directorate Associate Administrators, the NASA Chief Engineer, and th

Health and Medical Officer. The function of NTEC is to perform Agency-level 

technology integration, coordination, and strategic planning. For example, in early 

2012, NTEC formally approved the expansion of the Space Weather Working 

Group to include space radiation within its scope and to develop a white paper that 

outlines specific strategies and needed technologies to mitigate space radiation 

problems, per the request of the NR.  Among other recent action

Technology Definition: A 

solution that arises from applying 

the disciplines of engineering 

science to synthesize a device, 

process, or subsystem, to enable 

a specific capability. 
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reviewed the NRC’s analysis of the Space Technology Roadmaps and the NRC’s 

recommended priorities and approved the development of the inaugural NASA

NASA SS

Developing a Strateg

NASA now has an Agency-wide structured plan for near- and far-term space 

technology development. This plan began to take shape in 2010, when NASA 

developed the draft Space Technology Roadmaps—14 plans for developing 

technologies in 14 essential space technology areas over the next 20 years. 

NASA then requested the NRC to review the Space Technology Roadmaps and 

provide recommendations for improvement. In 2012, the NRC released its final 

response to the Space Technology Roadmaps. In this response, th NRC li

the roadmaps’ 100 top technical challenges and 83 high-priority technologies and 

articulated three overarching technology objectives for NASA. The NRC also 

chose 16 of the 83 high-priority technologies as the top priorities for achieving 

these technology objectives. (Appendix C provides more information about the 

Space Technology Roadmaps, the NRC’s response, and other details on t

SSTIP development process.) With the Space Technology Roadmaps, the NRC’s 

response, up-to-date information on every NASA space technology project, input 

from internal and external stakeholders, and guidance from NASA senior leaders, 

OCT developed this strategy for NASA’s space technology investments. 
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NASA’s Strategy

Investment Approach

NASA’s space technology investment approach is designed to focus on technology 

development activities that will rapidly produce critical needed capabilities that 

have the potential to revolutionize the way we explore, discover, and work in 

space. This approach creates three levels of investment concentration to guide 

future space technology expenditures. These levels of concentrated investment 

are known as Core, Adjacent, and Complementary (as shown in Figure 1). 

Core technology investments are the central focus of NASA technology investment 

and will comprise approximately 70 percent of the Agency’s portfolio over the next 

four years. Core technologies represent the majority of the NRC’s top prior

recommendations (shown in Figure 2) and the mission-specific technologies. Core

technology investments include near-term technology investments necessary 

to accomplish mission-specific objectives and eight pioneering and crosscutting 

technology investment areas. The eight Core technology investments are pressing 

needs that must begin development as soon as possible. They are described in 

detail below.

Adjacent technology investments represent additional high-priority investments 

and will comprise approximately 20 percent of the Agency’s portfolio over the next 

four years. Adjacent technology investments relate to the Core investments that 

are not strategically indispensable. Adjacent technologies are not part of the Cor

technologies but are part of the NRC’s 83 high priorities. Their development may 

take more time than the pressing 

needs identified in the Core.

Complementary technology

investments include the remaining 

needed space technologies 

uncovered in the Space Technology 

Roadmaps and assessed by the

NR.  They represent breadt

where Core and Adjacent 

technologies represent depth. 

Complementary technology

investments will comprise 

approximately 10 percent of 

the Agency’s portfolio. These

investments are characterized 

by limited immediate relevance. 

They include technologies with 

Core: 70%

Adjacent: 20%

Complementary: 10%

Figure 1. Three 

levels of focused 

technology 

investment 

applied to SSTIP 

framework.
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the potential to bear relevance within the 20-year horizon of this strategic plan, 

although investing now ensures that those that can bear fruit sooner are given 

the chance to do so. This set of investments completes the strategic approach 

by ensuring NASA casts a wide net, seeding future innovation. In some cases, 

Complementary technologies depend on other technology development for 

completion or far-term need dates. 

Throughout all three areas, NASA is maturing technologies needed for futu

science discovery and exploration applications and developing technologies with a 

range of development cycles.

Technologies at various stages of maturity may be pursued across all three levels 

of investment. As recommended by the NRC, at least 10 percent of NASA’s overall 

technology portfolio will be at a low technology readiness level (TRL), including 

basic principles (TRL 1) and the formulation of technology concepts or application

(TRL 2). Table 1 provides brief descriptions of NASA’s Technology Readiness 

Levels. 

Figure 2. SSTIP 

Core and Adjacent 

investments 

incorporate NRCrecommended highpriority technologies.

Table 1. Technology 

readiness level 

definitions.

Source: NPR 7120.8
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By defining and coordinating technology investment in this way, NASA seeks to 

realize the greatest benefit from its investments for the Agency, its stakeholders, 

and the Nation.

Framework

The Core, Adjacent, and Complementary technologies support the goals of N

internal and external stakeholders, which the NASA SSTIP summarizes in a fourpillar framework. Each of the pillars of NASA’s space technology strategy includes 

three components: a strategic investment goal, associated capability objectives, 

and technical challenge areas underpinning those objectives. 

The strategic investment goals are:

•	 Pillar 1 Goal: Extend and sustain human presence and activities in space.

•	 Pillar 2 Goal: Explore the structure, origin, and evolution of the solar 

system, and search for life past and present (in-situ measurements).

•	 Pillar 3 Goal: Expand understanding of the Earth and the universe (remote 

measurements).

•	 Pillar 4 Goal: Energize domestic space enterprise and extend benefits of 

space for the Nation

This framework closely resembles the NRC’s recommended objectives (Objectives 

A-C) and top technical challenges. Similar to the NRC’s strategy to categorize 

high-priority technologies by the purpose of NASA missions, the first three pillars 

represent needed investments that enable NASA’s human exploration and 

scientific discovery missions. The NASA SSTIP includes a fourth pillar to ensure 

attention is focused on supporting long-term national needs and developing spacerelated capabilities that contribute to the success of commercial space industry. 

The fourth pillar’s content is influenced by crosscutting space technology needs 

identified in collaboration with NASA’s stakeholders, including other Government 

agencies and private industry. 

The capability objectives within each pillar must be met to achieve the 

associated goal. Some capability objectives, such as Sustain Human Health and 

Performance, support more than one goal. Those that show up in more than one 

pillar illustrate the crosscutting nature of that specific technology area and the fact 

that development of technologies within it can enable multiple mission types. 

Within each capability objective is a list of high-priority technical challenge areas 

that enable the capability objective. Many of the technology challenge areas, such 

as the long-duration environmental control and life support system (ECLSS) and 

high data rate communications, also support more than one goal.

This framework gives the NASA SSTIP the appropriate context for considering 

how different technologies, developed according to the NASA SSTIP’s investment 

approach, impact future space missions.
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Governanc

The basic challenge of this technology development strategy is to align 

investments with current priorities, new mission needs, and partnership 

opportunities, taking full advantage of leveraged resources to provide needed 

capabilities. This alignment changes over time as national priorities evolve, NASA 

completes missions, new missions begin, and new technologies are developed and 

incorporated into the space infrastructure and exploration activities. The challenge 

is made more complex as some capabilities have no apparent foreseeable solution 

and emerging technology capabilities are difficult to predict. Consequently, NASA’s 

NASA SSTIP needs frequent oversight and flexibility to make adjustments that 

ensure NASA produces technologies offering the greatest benefit. NTEC serves 

as the decision-making body for directing and balancing the investment portfolio, to 

provide this oversight and flexibility.

Through annual assurance processes, NASA discloses risks within and beyond 

the Agency to ensure that stakeholders understand NASA’s choics.  Bec

technology development does not always happen onsite, NASA also leverages 

capabilities around the Nation and the world through contracts and partnerships 

with private sector, academia, and other Government organizations. Such 

“strategic sourcing” helps the Agency manage its risks and leverages riskappropriate and cost-effective infrastructure whether owned or not. As appropriate, 

NTEC will be provided with information about NASA’s space technology 

infrastructure and capabilities and will provide recommendations to the NASA

Strategic Management Counci

Principles of Investment and Executio

The following six principles guide NASA’s space technology investment strategy 

and portfolio execution, with the objectives of optimizing investments, maintaining 

a balanced portfolio, using developed technologies, and providing transparency to 

the American public.

1) NASA will balance investments across all 14 Space Technology Areas in the 

Roadmaps.

The 14 Space Technology Areas focus on strategically identified areas where 

significant technology investments are anticipated and where substantial 

enhancements in NASA mission capabilities are needed. Breadth also allows 

NASA to participate in development of technological solutions addressing broader 

national needs in energy, weather and climate, Earth science, health and wellness, 

and national security. By investing in all Space Technology Areas, the Agency is 

better able to maintain a well-rounded and robust technology portfolio. Decisions 

about the level of investment and focus of investment in these 14 areas are 

outlined in the NASA SSTIP and will be refined, as needed, by NTEC.

2) NASA will balance investments across all levels of technology readiness.

At TRL 1, the lowest TRL, information already learned from basic research is taking 
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its first step from an idea toward a particular application. At TRL 9, the highest 

TRL, the technology has been fully incorporated into a larger system, where it 

has been proven to work as designed, with suitable reliability, and is therefore 

considered operational. By investing in all TRLs for pioneering and crosscutting 

as well as mission-specific technologies, the Agency ensures a robust pipeline of 

new capabilities. NASA will also focus at least 10 percent of the total technology 

investment on low-TRL (1-2) concepts to ensure the pipeline is continually 

replenished.

3) NASA will ensure developed technologies are infused into Agency missions.

Technology programs within the Mission Directorates undertake narrowly focused 

and near-term development activities. Mission Directorates and Centers will be 

provided with information about the entire technology portfolio, enabling them to 

leverage their investment dollars in the Agency context and/or adapt technologies 

for their own use. Technology projects in the mid- to high-technology readiness 

levels are strongly encouraged to identify stakeholder communities up front, 

negotiate Mission Use Agreements that articulate technology needs in terms 

infusion into missions, and ensure that larger technology investments produce the 

desired capabilities. For example, NASA’s Technology Demonstration Missions 

(TDM) program selects development projects to prove feasibility in the environment 

of space and help advance innovations from concept to flight so they can be 

infused into future missions. Current TDM projects are expected to infuse new 

technologies in the areas of space communications, deep space navigation, and 

in-space propulsion capabilities into future NASA missio

4) NASA will develop technologies through partnerships and ensure developed 

technologies are infused throughout the domestic space enterprise. 

Fostering partnerships can leverage funding, capabilities, and expertise both within 

and outside the Agency to address technology barriers and provide capabilities. 

These cost-shared, joint-development partnerships can bring together new sources 

of information not only to address NASA’s technology needs but also to benefit the 

Nation.

NASA has established partnering and development programs to ensure 

technologies developed for NASA exploration and discovery missions are broadly 

available to other Government agencies and commercial industries. NASA is al

exploring ways to enhance or improve its ability to increase the rate, volume, and 

quality of its technology transfer activities (shown in Figure 3), thereby increasing 

the economic impact and public benefit of Federal technology investments. Toward 

that end, NASA has drafted the following objectives: 

•	 Fuel the technology transfer stream with an Agency-wide renewed 

emphasis in technology research and development and demonstration.

•	 Revise the Agency’s policies on commercialization to ensure alignment with 

NASA’s current focus on technology development and best practices in 

technology transfer. 
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•	 Build domestic partnerships for technology development, transfer, and 

mutual benefit.

•	 Tie the technology transfer process at all stages of technology 

development, ensuring that formal technology transfer is considered at the 

earliest phases, when programs and activities are being formulated and 

acquisition planned. 

•	 Increase the number of new technologies reported by NASA civil servants 

and contractors. 

•	 Improve licensing processes and outcomes.

•	 Consider other tools and authorities for accelerating licensing of

technologies.

Partnerships with international entities can also help advance NASA’s technology 

goals. NASA has a long history of mutually beneficial international cooperation, 

which has significantly enhanced the technical and scientific return of the Agency’s 

programs. International coordination is also particularly important as space

agencies around the world consider how best to apply scarce resources toward 

common science and exploration objectives. For example, NASA’s participation 

in the multilateral International Space Exploration Coordination Group, which 

developed the Global Exploration Roadmap in 2011, provides useful insight into 

the international community’s overall interests and technology investment needs. 

5) NASA will use a systems engineering approach when planning technology 

investments.

The Agency agrees with the NRC’s recommended use of disciplined systems 

analysis for space technology portfolio management and decision support, and 

the benefits of such analysis are recognized by the Agency as critical to NASA’s 

investment strategy. NASA’s Mission Directorates currently conduct system 

analyses similar to that recommended by the NR.  Such analyses are vital to t

establishment of the most cost-effective architectures for individual human and 

robotic exploration missions as well as overall suites of missions. 

In the case of human exploration, for example, a “capability-driven” approach 

seeks to package capabilities into a logical progression of common elements 

Figure 3. Summary of NASA’s 

process for technology 

commercialization.
17

needed for increasingly demanding missions. Systems analysis is conducted to 

identify the crosscutting technologies necessary to ensure that critical capabilities 

are available for the reference missions in a timely way. Common capability gates 

also are identified for Agency areas of interest. From this capability-driven human 

space exploration technology approach, the Human Exploration and Operations 

Mission Directorate (HEOMD) develops technology-investment strategies 

with incremental development steps that produce a small suite of alternatives 

specifically directed at achieving their desired missions. They execute these 

investments, monitor development progress, and make adjustments to reduce risk, 

thus ensuring mission accomplishment on time and within budget. 

Over the next year, the Agency will carefully consider current system analysis 

processes and tools within NASA, as well as alternative approaches from other 

organizations. The Agency will identify broadly applicable methodologies that 

best enable NASA to effectively manage its space technology portfolio. NASA 

will consider current and alternative analytical approaches to not only identify 

technology investments but also monitor, assess, and where necessary, realign 

or terminate technology investments. NASA will ensure the Agency continues to 

efficiently develop needed capabilities, emphasizing return on investment. 

6) NASA will reach out to the public and share information about its technology 

investments.

One of the NRC’s recommendations on the Space Technology Road

emphasized the importance of the capture, management, and sharing of space 

technology advancements with other Government agencies, academic institutions, 

commercial enterprises, and the resulting societal benefits with the general public. 

In response to this recommendation, OCT is undertaking an effort to develop 

an Agency-wide, web-based software system, NASA TechPort, to support the 

objective of integrating and disseminating key information about NASA investments 

in space technology. TechPort will offer opportunities for increased collaboration 

in the realm of space technology, and will enhance the visibility of NASA’s Space 

Technology Portfolio both internally to NASA and externally to the public.

TechPort will support the capturing and tracking of innovative challenges, new 

technologies, and ongoing projects. TechPort capabilities will support technology 

infusion into NASA missions and the communication of technologies into t

commercial marketplace. When the public access version of TechPort is released 

in the fall of 2013, it will make accessible any publicly available technology reports 

and provide links to patents, licenses, and software usage that emerge from NASA

technology development projects.

By providing open, easy-to-use access to NASA space technology information, 

TechPort will facilitate technology transfer, technology partnerships, and technology 

commercialization activities across NASA and will extend to other Government 

agencies, industry, and international entities. The general public will be able to 

use TechPort to find technologies of interest and learn of the societal impacts of 

NASA’s technology investments. OCT will continue to communicate the many 

benefits of the Agency’s technology to the public through other means as well.
18

Core Technology Investments

The Core technologies represent focused areas of technology investment that are 

indispensable for NASA’s present and planned future mission.  Core technolog

are the central focus of technology investment and will comprise approximately 70 

percent of the Agency’s technology investment over the next four years.

The Core technology investments have significant impact on NASA’s scientific, 

robotic, and human exploration missions and further the technology needs of other 

Government agencies and the commercial sector. The Core priorities include both 

mission-specific technologies and pioneering and crosscutting developments.

The Core technologies are

1. Launch and In-space Propul

2. High Data Rate Communicat

3. Lightweight Space Structures and Materials

4. Robotics and Autonomous Syst

5. Environmental Control and Life Support System

6. Space Radiation Mitigati

7. Scientific Instruments and Sensors

8. Entry, Descent, and Land

The following sections summarize the technical challenges and approach; potential 

impact to NASA, the Nation, and NASA’s partners; potential future investments; 

and NASA’s 2012 investments in pioneering and crosscutting Core technologies. 

These sections were written primarily using the following sources: the Space 

Technology Roadmaps; the NRC report; a list of technology priorities from other 

Government agencies and international and commercial partners; a list of potential 

four-year investments compiled by the Space Technology Roadmap Technology 

Area teams; and an analysis of technology data from 1,237 NASA projects active 

in fiscal year (FY) 2012. (Appendix C provides more information about these 

sources.) Table 2 summarizes how each Core technology relates to the NRC’s list 

of high-priority technologies and to the technical challenge areas across the four 

NASA SSTIP pillars. (Pages 45-62 provide details on the pillars and associated 

technical challenge areas.) 
19

Technology 

Investment 

Classification

Technology 

Investments

Associated NASA 

SSTIP Technical 

Challenge Areas

Related 

Level 2

TABS*

Associated NRC High Priorities

(Top 16 in Bold)

Cor

Launch and

In-Space

Propulsio

Launch Propulsio

Systems;

High Power In-Space 

Propulsion;

In-Space Propulsion;

Cryogenic Storage and

Transfer

1.1,

1.2,

1.3,

1.4,

2.1,

2.2,

2.4

Electric Propulsion

(Nuclear) Thermal Propulsion;

Turbine Based Combined Cycle (TBCC);

Rocket Based Combined Cycle (RBCC);

Micro-Propulsion;

Propellant Storage and Transfe

Cor

Robotics and

Autonomous

Systems

Autonomous Systems;

Robotic Maneuvering, 

Manipulation, Sensing

and Sampling;

Autonomous Rendezvous 

and Docking;

Structural Monitoring;

Robotic Maneuvering

4.1,

4.2,

4.3,

4.4,

4.5,

4.6,

5.4 

(5.4.3)

Extreme Terrain Mobility

GNC (includes Relative Guidance Algorithms

Onboard Autonomous Navigation and 

Maneuvering)

Docking and Capture Mechanisms/Interfaces;

Small Body/Microgravity Mobility;

Dexterous Manipulation;

Robotic Drilling and Sample Processing;

Supervisory Control;

Vehicle System Management and 

Cor

High Data Rat

Communication

High Bandwidth 

Communications;

High Data Rat

5.1,

5.2,

5.5

Radio System

Cor

Environmental 

Control and Lif

Support System

Long-Duration ECLSS

ECLS

(includes: ECLSS Water Recovery a

Management, Air Revitalization, ECLSS Wa

Management, and Habitatio

Core Space Radiatio

Mitigatio

Space Radiation

Mitigation 6.

Radiation Mitigation for Human Spaceflight 

(includes: Radiation Monitoring Technology,

Radiation Protection Systems, Radiation Risk 

Assessment Modeling, Radiation Prediction, and

Radiation Mitigation

Cor

Scientific 

Instruments and

Sensors

Life Detection;

Advanced Sensors 

(all types of detecting 

sensors: geological, 

chemical, etc.);

Scientific Instruments and 

Sensors;

Earth Observing

8.1,

8.2,

8.3

Detectors and Focal Planes

Optical Systems (Instruments and Sensors); 

High Contrast Imaging and Spectroscopy

Technologies;

In-Situ Instruments and Sensors;

Electronics for Instruments and Sensors;

Laser for Instruments and Sensors;

Wireless Spacecraft Technolog

Cor

Entry, Descent,

and Landin

Advanced Entry, Descent, 

and Landing;

Entry, Descent, and

Landing

9.1,

9.2,

9.3,

9.4,

14.3

EDL TPS (includes Rigid TPS, Flexible TPS, a

Ascent/Entry TPS)

GNC (includes GNC Sensors and Systems [E

EDL Instrumentation and Health Monitoring;

EDL Modeling and Simulation;

EDL System Integration and Analysis;

Atmospheric and Surface Characterization;

Deployable Hypersonic Decelerator

Cor

Lightweight 

Space Structures 

and Material

Lightweight Space 

Structures and Materials;

Structural Monitorin

10.1 

(10.1.1), 

12.1,

12.2

Lightweight and Multifunctional Materials a

Structures 

(includes: [Nano] Lightweight Materials an

Structures; Structures: Innovative, Multifunctional

Concepts; Structures: Lightweight Concepts;

Materials: Lightweight Structure; and Structures

Design and Certification Methods)

Table 2. Alignment of Core technologies with NASA SSTIP technical challenge areas and NRC high priorities.

*To download the Space Technology Roadmaps and TABS sequence, visit http://www.nasa.gov/offices/oct/home/roadmaps/index.html
20

Launch and In-Space Propulsio

Technical Challenges and Approach

Safe, reliable, and affordable access to low Earth orbit (LEO) is necessary for all 

space endeavors. Whether based on conventional liquid- or solid-based designs, 

launch propulsion systems have not yet exhibited the performance, design, and 

life margins that lead to lasting operational robustness. The high cost of access 

to space is a growing challenge, and it is related to the challenge of reliability 

and safety, as the cost of launch failure is extreme. Achieving a breakthrough in 

launch propulsion of sufficient magnitude to fundamentally alter the way space 

systems are designed and operated will likely require a number of long-term and 

well-funded research and development efforts. For the next four years, NASA will 

invest in advancing solid and liquid rocket propulsion systems, ancillary propulsion 

systems, and technology development of non-conventional systems to improve the 

cost and operation of current systems and enhance and enable future robotic and 

human exploration space missions.

Most in-space propulsion systems have relied on chemical energy, although 

electric propulsion and other non-chemical concepts have seen growing use over 

the last two decades. However, the relatively large mass of required chemical 

propellant in current chemical propulsion systems and the low efficiency achieved 

in expending chemical fuel limit the distance and time that a spacecraft can travel 

after reaching orbit, which limits the opportunities for human and robotic missions. 

For the next four years, NASA will invest in advancing chemical propulsion systems 

and developing new non-chemical propulsion technologies, such as electric 

propulsion, solar sails, and tethers, to enable efficient and affordable space travel 

and thereby expand the possibilities of robotic and human exploration. NASA is 

also evaluating alternatives to chemical propellants known as “green” or non-toxic 

propellants, because they have the potential to reduce risk on the ground.

NASA will also invest in cryogenic propellant storage and transfer technologies. 

Cryogenic propellants provide high-energy propulsion solutions critical to future, 

long-term human exploration missions beyond LEO. The challenge is developing 

the means of storing and transferring these propellants in space for long durations 

and preventing temperature fluctuations that contribute to fuel losses due to “boil 

off.” NASA’s investment in this area is consistent with NRC recommendations. The 

NRC identified reduced gravity cryogenic storage and handling as a near-“tipping 

point technology,” representing a potential large advance in technology readiness 

from a relatively small increase in research effort. Associated NASA projects will 

test and validate key cryogenic capabilities and technologies required for future 

exploration.

Impact to NASA

Launch propulsion system development addresses technologies that enhance 

existing liquid and solid propulsion technologies or their related ancillary systems, 
21

or significantly advance the technology readiness levels of newer systems like airbreathing, non-conventional, and other launch technologies. Newer technologies 

could significantly transform the nation’s space operations and mission capabilities 

and keep the nation’s aerospace industrial base on the leading edge of launch 

technologies. The overall goal is to make access to space more reliable, routine, 

and cost-effective, by reducing launch costs 25 to 50 percent over the next 20 

years, followed by a greater reduction (>50 percent) as concepts that are currently 

non-conventional and at a low TRL are fully developed. Improvements in these 

systems will help maintain the Nation’s leadership role in space capability.

With the exception of electric propulsion systems, all rocket engines in use today 

are chemical rockets; that is, they obtain the energy needed to generate thrust 

by combining reactive chemicals to create a hot gas that is expanded to produce 

thrust.2

 Advancing chemical propulsion technologies enables much more effective 

exploration of our solar system and permits mission designers to plan missions 

to fly anytime, anywhere, and complete a host of science objectives at their 

destinations. A wide range of chemical technologies with diverse characteristics 

offers the opportunity to better match propulsion systems for future missions. 

Developing new chemical propulsion technologies will result in technical solutions 

with improvements in thrust levels, specific impulse, power, specific mass, volume, 

system mass, system complexity, operational complexity, durability, and cost. 

These types of improvements promise lower transit times, increased payload 

mass, safer spacecraft, and greater cost efficiency.

The main advantage of non-chemical propulsion over chemical propulsion is 

higher specific impulse (the amount of thrust delivered per unit mass of rocket 

fuel). For example, the high specific impulse of electric propulsion is typically an 

order of magnitude greater than that of chemical propulsion systems. Electric

propulsion systems are the most efficient in-space propulsion technology 

available for the foreseeable future. Current efforts in developing solar electric 

propulsion aim for an integrated propulsion system at 300 kilowatts (kW) to 

enhance human exploration missions. Alternatively, the reduction in launch mass 

enabled by nuclear thermal propulsion technologies could significantly reduce 

the cost and mission complexity of crewed missions to Mars. Development of 

these technologies will result in technical solutions that bring improvements in 

specific impulse, power, specific mass, volume, system mass, system complexity, 

operational complexity, durability, and cost efficiency. 

Development of cryogenic 

propellants will support 

future, long-duration space 

exploration. Cryogenic 

propellants can dramatically 

increase specific impulse, 

thereby providing much 

higher performance than 

conventional propellants 

and permitting longer range 

missions and spacecraft 

capable of carrying more 

payload mass. Storing 

Figure 4. A key goal of the Nuclear Cryogenic Propulsion 

Stage project is to address critical, long-term nuclear 

thermal propulsion technology challenges and uses through 

development, analysis, and testing.

Source: NASA
22

cryogenic propellants such as liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen in space for 

long periods of time with minimal boil-off is also critical for deep space human 

exploration.

Impact to Nation and Partners

NASA’s commercial and international partners have cited potential benefits from 

investment in chemical and non-chemical in-space propulsion. For chemical 

propulsion, commercial partners expressed greatest interest in micropropulsion 

and cryogenic propulsion technologies. For non-chemical propulsion, both 

commercial and international partners asserted that electric propulsion 

technologies were high priorities of investment.

Several technologies in the area of launch, in-space, and hypersonic propulsion 

systems have been identified by other Government agencies as important for 

national mission requirements that span a broad range, including access to 

space, on-orbit operations, deep space exploration, and sustained high-altitude 

hypersonic flight. 

Potential Future Investments

Investments in chemical in-space propulsion technologies will focus on a variety 

of propellants, including mono-, bi-, high-energy, gel, hybrid, and solid rocket 

propellants. 

Investments in nonchemical, in-space propulsion technologies will primarily focus 

on solar electric, nuclear thermal, solar sail, and tether propulsion. For the next 

four years, potential investments in electric propulsion may include the NASA

Evolutionary Xenon Thruster (NEXT) ion thruster, a Hall thruster with a desired 

performance parameter of 50-100 kW, and a microelectromechanical system

(MEMS) electrospray with a desired power level of 100 watts. Potential thermal 

propulsion investments may include nuclear thermal rocket down selection and fuel 

development. Nuclear thermal propulsion is considered a high-priority technology 

for future human exploration of Mars. Two potential tether investments are highspecific-strength conductive tethers and a tether or payload catch mechanism. 

In general, sound technology

investments in launch propulsion 

systems will support both 

expendable and reusable paths 

of launch vehicle development. 

Advanced manufacturing techniques 

and innovative designs that are 

producible can lead to significant 

reductions in launch vehicle 

hardware costs. For the next 

four years, potential investment 

priorities in solid rocket propulsion 

technologies include the ability to 

assess damage tolerance limits, 

Figure 5. The Electrically Controlled Extinguishable 

Solid Propellant project is developing a thruster that 

would allow NASA to demonstrate an innovative 

throttleable solid rocket motor.

Source: NASA
23

detect damage on composite cases, develop domestic sources for critical materials 

used in manufacturing, and formulate advanced hybrid fuels. Investments in 

liquid propulsion technologies may include new liquid engine systems, propulsion 

materials research, high-density impulse propellants, and new subsystem modeling 

and design tools. 

Investments over the next four years in cryogenic propellant storage and transfer 

can be used to enable the efficient in-space use of cryogens. In addition to 

propulsion, this technology can also support power reactant storage and ECLSS 

needs.

2012 Investments

As of this writing, NASA invests in 17 launch propulsion projects, which are all 

managed by programs within OCT-STP, with development in both low and medium 

TRLs  These projects include technologies for liquid and solid rocket propulsio

systems, as well as air-breathing and ancillary propulsion systems. The Composite 

Cryotank Technologies and Demonstration project, managed by the Gam

Changing Development program, is developing advanced technologies for a lowcost, large-scale, lightweight composite cryotank for future NASA missions and 

commercial launch vehicles. The Manufacturing Innovation Project, also managed 

by the Game Changing Development program, is developing the ability to fabricate 

high-quality, reliable, and certifiable parts using additive manufacturing processes. 

The Long Duration Microgravity Tank Slosh project, managed by the Game 

Changing Development program, will advance the understanding of low-gravity 

fluid behavior to reduce mission risk and uncertainty levels.

NASA currently invests in seven chemical in-space propulsion projects, all 

managed by programs within OCT-STP, with development in low and medium 

TRLs  These projects include technologies for liquid storable, liquid cryogenic

gels, solid, hybrid, and micropropulsion propellants. The Miniaturized Low-Power 

Piezo Microvalve for NanoSat and CubeSat Propulsion project, managed by the 

Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, is developing a miniature 

microvalve for low-rejection rate manufacturability and resilience under aggressive 

shock loading. The Non-Toxic Ionic Liquid Fuels for Exploration Applications 

project, also managed by the SBIR program, is developing and testing several new, 

non-toxic ionic liquid fuel formulations with low volatility for propulsion applications.

NASA currently invests in 40 nonchemical, in-space propulsion projects, managed 

by programs within OCT-STP, the Science Mission Directorate (SMD), and 

HEOMD, with development in both low and medium TRLs. These projects 

include technologies for electric, solar or nuclear thermal, solar sail, and tether 

propulsion. The In-Space Propulsion Technology project, managed by th

SMD Technology program, is developing technologies for electric propulsion; 

propellantless propulsion, such as aerocapture; sample return ascent vehicles; 

and Earth return systems. The project will enable access to more challenging 

and interesting science destinations and facilitate novel sample return missions. 

Under the Advanced Exploration Systems (AES) program, the Nuclear Cryogenic 

Propulsion Stage project is conducting preliminary design, fabrication, and testing

of representative fuel samples and fuel elements for two primary nuclear thermal 
24

propulsion fuel forms. The In-Space Propulsion project, managed by the Ga

Changing Development program, is developing a 13kW-class Hall thruster with 

propulsion and system components, as well as a 160-220V-class power-processing 

unit for a Hall thruster for technology demonstration missions. The Solar Electri

Propulsion project, also managed by the Game Changing Development program, 

is developing an ion propulsion system for the efficient use of fuel and electrical 

power to enable modern spacecraft to travel farther, faster, and cheaper than any 

other propulsion technology currently available.

NASA also currently invests in the Cryogenic Propellant Storage and Transfer 

(CPST) project, managed by the Technology Demonstration Mission progra

This project is working to demonstrate the capability to safely and efficiently store, 

transfer, and measure cryogenic propellants in orbit, enabling next generation flight 

vehicles to store large quantities of fuel for their journeys. The CPST project will 

test and validate key cryogenic capabilities and technologies required for future 

exploration elements, opening up the architecture for large, cryogenic, in-space 

propulsion systems.

High Data Rate Communicatio

Technical Challenges and Approach

Radiofrequency (RF) communications are used on all of NASA’s current s

missions, but demands for more data return, at higher rates, and from greater 

distances, require advancements on the current state-of-the-art. For the next 

four years, NASA will invest in advancements of traditional communication 

technologies, such as RF, and in developments of innovative communication 

approaches, such as optical communication technologies.

Impact to NASA

New developments in RF communication can allow at least two orders 

of magnitude increase over current data-rate capabilities in deep space. 

Cognitive radios will be developed to sense their environment, autonomously 

determine when there is a problem, attempt to fix it, and learn as they operate. 

Communication through harsh environments such as rocket plumes and re-entry 

ionization will be addressed with new technologies such as ultra-wide-band radios. 

Other advancements will increase efficient use of power, available spectrum, mass, 

and volume.

Optical communications provide access to an uncrowded portion of spectrum and 

can support the data rates needed by the next generation of science instruments. 

For example, the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter’s maximum data rate of six 

megabits per second (Mbps) (the highest of any Mars mission to date), require

nearly seven-and-a-half hours to empty the Orbiter’s onboard recorder and oneand-a-half hours to transfer a single high-resolution image to Earth. By contrast

innovative optical communications solution could transmit data at 100 Mbps, 

emptying the recorder in 26 minutes and transferring the image to Earth in less

than five minutes. An optical communications system could also dramatically 
25

improve spacecraft positioning and, thus, the quality of science data. Optical 

communications are especially valuable for deep space missions, providing higher 

data rates than current systems and with significantly less aperture size than 

current antennas. 

Impact to Nation and Partners

NASA’s international and commercial partners and other Government 

agencies have reported they could benefit from investment in high-data-rate 

communications. Other Government agencies specifically expressed interest in 

optical communications broadband data flow, undetectable transmissions, and 

wireless technologies. Commercial partners claimed they could benefit from 

new developments in smaller beams, increased spectrums, internetworking 

communications, timekeeping, and increased sensitivity.

Potential Future Investments

Potential investments to consider for the next four years include space aperture 

arraying for RF communications and near-Earth and deep space optical terminals

2012 Investments

Currently, as part of the Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer 

(LADEE) mission, the Lunar Laser Communication Demonstration is sch

to demonstrate optical communications from Lunar distance at high data rates in

2013. Another current investment in high-data-rate communications is the Deep 

Space Optical Communication project. This project develops key technologies 

for an operational optical deep space communications capability for future N

scientific, robotic, and human exploration missions, providing increased sensitivity, 

lower mass and power requirements, and improved downlink data rate. The Laser 

Communications Relay Demonstration is an optical communications project tha

uses lasers to encode and transmit data at rates 10 to 100 times faster than radio, 

to deliver video and high-resolution measurements from spacecraft across the 

solar system.

Lightweight Space Structures and Materia

Technical Challenges and Approach

The materials used in spacecraft, propulsion systems, habitation systems, science 

instruments, and all other aspects of mission architecture can either enable new 

opportunities or limit a mission’s potential. Just as a material’s heavy mass, large 

volume, and vulnerabilities to the space and destination environment can limit a 

mission’s capabilities, so can lightweight, compact, durable, and radiation-hard 

materials enable missions to spend more time in space, travel farther, and explore 

new destinations, like the hot surface of Venus or the high-radiation environment 

of Jupiter. For the next four years, NASA will invest in lightweight space structures 
26

and materials to enable more affordable, 

reliable, and efficient human and robotic 

missions.

Impact to NASA

Advanced materials seek to overcome a 

wide range of challenges, such as launch 

mass, radiation, and micrometeoroids 

and orbital debris (MMOD) damag

Lightweight materials and composite 

structures can reduce the weight of launch 

vehicles, payloads, surface systems, 

and space structures such as cryotanks. 

Lightweight materials might also be used 

for solar sails, which use solar-photon 

pressure to provide fuel-less propulsion. Lightweight optical materials can be 

used for habitat windows and optical devices for telescopes to make them lighter 

and damage-tolerant. Multifunctional materials combine such characteristics as

radiation protection and self-healing properties to provide space structures, such 

as habitats, with new capabilities and strengths. Carbon composites can enable 

damage-tolerant inflatable habitats, reducing launch mass and increasing volume 

for crew. Integrating advanced nanocomposites and nanofibers into lightweight 

spacecraft could reduce component weight by one-third.3 These and more 

innovations in materials can impact NASA missions in multiple ways.

Impact to Nation and Partners

NASA’s commercial and international partners have asserted advanced materials 

were a high priority for investment. One commercial partner specifically cited 

time-to-market improvements as a potential spinoff benefit from this technology 

investment.

Potential Future Investments

Investments in materials will focus on several enabling characteristics, such as 

weight, flexibility, multifunctionality, and electromechanical properties. Materials 

developments that could benefit from four years of investment includes reduced 

weight through use of hybrid laminates and nonautoclave composites. Other 

potential investments include special materials, such as optical and self-repairing 

materials, and flexible materials, such as materials for an expandable habitat. In all 

cases, investments that ensure the materials can operate in extreme environments 

are required.

2012 Investments

The Materials International Space Station Experiment (MISSE) project, managed 

by the Technology Demonstration Missions program, has tested roughly 4,000

Figure 6. The 

High-Temperature 

Superconductors 

as Electromagnetic 

Deployment 

and Support 

Structures in 

Spacecraft project 

is investigating 

how the use of 

high-temperature 

superconductors 

can reduce the 

weight of spacecraft 

structures.

Source: NIAC, Miller
27

material samples and specimens in the space environment since 2001. These 

experiments are fixed to the exterior of the International Space Station (ISS) for 

periods of up to four years, enduring extreme levels of solar and charged-particle 

radiation, atomic oxygen, hard vacuum, and temperature extremes, providing 

insights to researchers on how to develop durable materials for spaceflight. 

MISSE-X will include new enhancements over the original MISSE project, 

including near-real-time experiment environmental exposure monitoring, daily 

photographing, and expanded accommodations to house more experiments and 

experiments with more complexity. The Lightweight Materials and Structures 

project, managed by the Game Changing Development program, is currently 

maturing technologies for large, flexible-substrate solar array structures to support 

crewed near-Earth object (NEO) missions with solar electric propulsion. This 

project is also demonstrating long-term durability of inflatable habitat structures for 

a 10- to 20-year mission life. The Composite Cryotank project is developing large, 

lightweight composite propellant tanks for launch vehicles and in-space stages.

Robotics and Autonomous Systems

Technical Challenges and Approach

Autonomous systems are critical for the parts of a mission that must safely and

reliably operate without direct control by a human crew or ground control. As 

crewed and uncrewed missions travel farther from Earth, for longer periods of 

time, using more complex technologies and systems, space missions will require 

more independence, or autonomy, from ground control, and even from the crew, 

to operate efficiently, safely, and reliably. For the next four years, NASA will invest 

in new ways to develop and infuse autonomous systems into current and future 

space missions.

Impact to NASA

Autonomous systems are essential to autonomous crew operations, vehicle 

systems management, rendezvous and docking, and robotics. As humans travel 

farther from Earth, they will rely on autonomous crew operations to accommodate 

for communication delays with ground control. Some have estimated the level 

of complexity of a crewed deep space vehicle to be similar to that of a nuclear 

attack submarine, which has 134 crew members, whereas space missions in 

the next few decades will likely carry only four to six crew members. Therefore, 

deep space human exploration missions 

will require autonomous vehicle systems 

management to maintain operation of 

the complex spacecraft and detect and 

respond to events, such as solar flares and 

system failures, without crew or ground 

interference. Missions beyond LEO will 

also require complete autonomy when 

conducting rendezvous and docking of 

spacecraft. Lastly, both exploration and 

Figure 7. The 

Autonomous 

Mission 

Operations project 

is working to 

mitigate mission 

communication 

time delays.

Source: NASA
28

science missions can benefit from autonomous 

robotics with more complex decision-making 

abilities, including abilities to self-adapt and 

react to changing environments and situations. 

Impact to Nation and Partners

NASA’s international partners and oth

Government agencies have reported 

autonomous systems as a high priority for 

investment. Specifically, other Government 

agencies claimed they could benefit from 

spinoffs enabling semi-autonomous systems, 

vehicle safety, and automated traffic 

management systems. International partners

desire advances in human interaction, mobility, manipulation, autonomous 

rendezvous and docking, and sensing and perception. 

Potential Future Investments

Future investments in autonomous systems will focus on technologies advancing 

autonomous crew operations, autonomous vehicle systems management, 

autonomous rendezvous and docking, and autonomous robotics.

Some examples of technologies that could benefit from four years of NASA

investment include minimum distance separation software, autonomous planning, 

self-rover protection, autonomous adapters, sequencing, and autonomous hanger 

docking, low-impact docking, and grappling capabilities. Future NASA missions 

will require a stronger integration of flight path and attitude control, highlighting the 

need for more onboard autonomy.

2012 Investments

NASA currently invests in 21 autonomous systems development projects, with 

the majority of projects managed by programs in OCT-STP, along with S

and HEOMD, with development in both low and medium TRLs. These projects 

include development in crew autonomy beyond LEO, autonomous vehicle systems 

management, autonomous rendezvous and docking, and autonomous robotics. Of 

these projects, Satellite Servicing is by far the largest. This project is developing a 

certified, standardized capability suite of subsystems that will improve technologies 

necessary for robotic satellite servicing, rescue, and disposal, including rendezvous 

and docking sensors, docking and capture mechanisms, robotic manipulation, 

relative guidance algorithms, and power and communication modules. The 

Autonomous Systems project, also in the Game Changing Development program, 

aims to develop and demonstrate integrated autonomous systems capable of 

managing complex operations in space to reduce crew workload and dependence 

on support from Earth. The AES project, Autonomous Mission Operations, will 

study the impacts of increasing communication time delays on operations and 

develop technologies to mitigate these impacts. 

Figure 8. The 

Autonomous 

Cryogenic Loading 

Operations project 

is a current 

NASA investment 

to develop 

autonomous 

propellant loading 

technology for 

future ground and 

surface systems.

Source: NASA
29

At least two projects are using the 

ISS to demonstrate autonomous

systems. The Robotic Refuelin

Mission on the ISS demonstrate

and tests the tools, technologies, 

and techniques needed to 

robotically service and refuel 

satellites in space, especially 

satellites not originally designed 

to be serviced. The Human 

Exploration Telerobotics project 

is conducting demonstrations 

on the ISS using the Robonau

2 humanoid robot and the 

Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient Experimental Satellites (SPHERES) 

free-flyers to assist the crew in performing routine or hazardous tasks.

Environmental Control and Life Support Syst

Technical Challenges and Approach

A reliable ECLSS is critical to all human space missions. Every human space 

mission, from Project Mercury to the ISS, has relied on an ECLSS, though 

systems were often “open loop”—supplementing the life support system with 

expendables, rather than reusing waste to produce critical elements, such as 

oxygen, water, and food. As human space missions extend beyond LEO, the 

logistics of resupply becomes more challenging, thereby maximizing the need 

for a closed-loop ECLSS. For the next four years, NASA will invest in advancing 

ECLSS technologies to enable future human space missions with greater safety 

and efficiency.

Impact to NASA

Further closing the loop on life support systems, including air revitalization, water 

recovery, waste management, and other habitation capabilities, is necessary for 

long-duration human missions beyond LE.  Reliability, logistics, and loop clos

all contribute to overall mission lifecycle costs and opportunities; the more reliable 

and resource-efficient an ECLSS is, the farther a mission can safely travel from 

Earth (and from the option of resupply) and the less mass will have to launch, 

saving significant costs. Minimizing logistics and designing logistics for repeated 

reuse will also reduce the amount of waste that requires safe handling, storage, 

and disposal, both to protect the crew and to satisfy restrictive planetary protection 

requirements. The integration of microbial-plant systems into life support systems 

to support air and water purification, waste processing, and crew nutrition could 

enhance human space exploration. Innovative ECLSS processes can also have 

crosscutting applications, such as melting used consumables into plastic tiles for 

radiation protection.4

Figure 9. The 

Autonomous 

Systems project 

seeks to automate 

the operation 

of habitats and 

cryogenic loading. 

Source: NASA
30

Impact to Nation and Partners

NASA’s commercial and international partners have reported ECLSS as a high 

priority for investment. One commercial partner specifically expressed an interest 

in waste management technologies. 

Potential Future Investments

Future investments in ECLSS technologies will include advancements in air 

revitalization, water recovery, waste management, and habitation systems, such 

as food preparation and laundry. More effort is needed to mature technologies

associated with trash stabilization, volume reduction, and water recovery from 

trash and wastes.

Future NASA investment in the next four years could include technologies that 

target 75 percent oxygen recovery, ECLSS operation under variable cabin 

pressures, 50 percent water recovery from a diverse wastewater stream that 

includes hygiene sources, waste stabilization and volume reduction, long-wear 

clothing, food production, and a 50 percent reduction in food packaging.

One of the ways NASA will test technologies, including ECLSS technologies, is on 

the ISS. The ISS will provide a valuable test bed for demonstrating the maturation 

of technologies for air revitalization, water reclamation and management, waste 

management, and habitation. The ISS will be used to demonstrate capabilities 

and develop technologies that benefit human and robotic exploration beyond LEO, 

in keeping with NASA’s Strategic Goal 1.1: “Sustain the operation and full use of 

the ISS and expand efforts to utilize the ISS as a National Laboratory for scientific, 

technological, diplomatic, and educational purposes and for supporting future 

objectives in human space exploration.”

2012 Investments

NASA currently invests in 30 ECLSS development projects, managed by 

HEOMD and OCT-STP, with development in both low and medium TRLs. These 

projects include development in high reliability life support systems, including air 

revitalization, water recovery, waste management, and other habitation capabilities. 

Of these projects, the Atmosphere Resource Recovery and Environmental 

Monitoring project, in the AES program, is the larges.  This project focuses 

key physico-chemical process technologies for atmosphere revitalization systems 

and environmental monitoring to increase reliability, capability, and consumable 

mass recovery, as well as reduce requirements for power, volume, heat rejection, 

and crew involvement. In the Game Changing Development program, the Next 

Generation Life Support project aims to develop key life support technologies 

to enable critical capabilities required to extend human presence beyond LEO 

and into the solar system. Technologies in this project will focus on increasing 

affordability, reliability, and spacecraft self-sufficiency, while decreasing mass and 

enabling long-duration human exploration beyond LEO. The AES Water Recovery 

Project focuses on the development and demonstration of a water recovery 

system ground test unit that incorporates and demonstrates functional prototype 

components for technologies that meet the water recovery needs of future human 
31

exploration missions. The AES Logistics Reduction and Repurposing Project 

seeks to develop technologies that reduce total mission upmass through reuse, 

repurposing, and reprocessing of crew accommodation items and solid wastes.

Space Radiation Mitigatio

Technical Challenges and Approach

Space radiation mitigation was rated the highest priority technology for human 

spaceflight in the NRC report. Human missions beyond LEO will require new 

countermeasures and shielding technologies for space radiation, and developing 

those technologies requires more specific knowledge and understanding about 

space radiation and its effects on humans. For the next four years, NASA will 

invest in technologies such as improved radiation risk assessment models 

to better understand and predict the effects of radiation, which will influence 

NASA’s concurrent investments in advanced radiation shielding and biological 

countermeasures.

Impact to NASA

The primary benefit of advancing space radiation mitigation technologies and 

techniques is increased crew safety, which enables longer duration missions. 

Improving crew safety depends on a mix of new technologies and techniques, 

which can include radiation prediction (such as prediction of solar particle events), 

radiation detection and risk modeling (to monitor local radiation environments), 

biological countermeasures, and radiation protection technologies (such as 

advanced materials for shielding or suits). The advancement of one technique 

or technology can influence another. For example, improving the accuracy of 

radiation risk modeling can determine the value of certain shielding materials in 

combination with a biological countermeasure, to determine their overall efficacy 

in reducing risk. With current models and technologies, the risk of radiation

exposure limits missions beyond LEO to three months, but advancements in these 

techniques and technologies for radiation mitigation could enable extended human 

missions to the Moon, near-Earth asteroids (NEAs), or ars.  As radiatio

impacts sensors and electronics, techniques for predicting high-radiation events 

and mitigating their effects also improves the survivability of robotic missions.

Impact to Nation and Partners

NASA’s international and commercial partners and other Government agencies 

have reported they could benefit from investment in space radiation mitigation 

technologies. Commercial partners expressed interest specifically in human 

protection, and one Government agency cited radiation-hardened devices as a 

potential benefit.
32

Potential Future Investments

Investments in space radiation mitigation technology will focus on risk assessment 

modeling, radiation mitigation, and monitoring technology. Two potential fouryear investments in radiation mitigation are biological chemical measures and 

multifunctional materials and structures for mass-efficient shielding. A potential 

investment in monitoring technology is warning system onset prediction. 

2012 Investments

NASA currently invests in 19 space radiation projects, managed by programs within 

SMD, HEOMD, and OCT-STP, with development in both low and medium TRLs. 

These projects include technologies for radiation characterization and monitoring, 

radiation prediction, radiation risk modeling, biological countermeasures, and 

radiation protection, including radiation shielding. The RadWorks Projec

managed by the AES program, is developing prototypes of advanced, miniaturized 

radiation measurement technologies, to be placed in integrated vehicle systems. 

The project is also developing capabilities for a radiation solar particle event stormshelter. In the Game Changing Development program, the Advanced Radiation 

Protection project is developing the Integrated Solar Energetic Proton (ISEP) 

Event Alert Warning System and Monte Carlo Radiation Analysis of Detailed 

Computer Aided Design Models (MC-CAD). ISEP will address gaps in mitigating 

the operational impact of solar energetic proton events, while MC-CAD will provide 

NASA the capability to accurately analyze the radiation shielding performance of 

current and future space systems. The Coupled System for Assessing the Threa

of Solar Energetic Particle Events project, under the SBIR program, is developing a 

system to help forecasters predict solar particle events and identify “all clear” time 

periods when there is a low probability of such events occurring. This tool will be 

a significant step in NASA’s ability to assess the possible impact of solar particle 

events. 

Scientific Instruments and Sensors

Technical Challenges and Approach

Observatory technologies are necessary to design, manufacture, test, and operate 

space telescopes and antennas that collect, concentrate, and detect photons for 

astronomy missions. The capabilities of an observatory often dictate the limits of 

an astronomy mission. Relieving those limits and enabling new missions, such 

as high-contrast exoplanet imaging, requires innovative observatory technologies, 

in some cases with an order of magnitude improvement. For the next four years, 

NASA will invest in observatory technologies with improved performance and 

angular resolution and reduced weight and cost, so the Agency may expand its 

knowledge of the universe.

Remote sensing instruments and sensors are components, sensors, and

instruments sensitive to electromagnetic radiation, electromagnetic fields, acoustic 

energy, seismic energy, and other physical phenomenology. This technology is 

critical to many science missions and some exploration missions. For the next four 
33

years, NASA will invest in development of remote sensing instruments and sensors 

with high efficiency, high resolution, improved durability, and reduced cost and 

weight.

Impact to NASA

Some essential observatory technologies support both robotic and human 

exploration missions. Low-mass grazing-incidence optical systems achieving an 

order of magnitude improvement in spatial resolution will enable advanced future 

X-ray astronomy missions. Other advancements in observatory technologies 

such as integrated, adjustable, normal-incidence mirror systems can enable direct 

imaging of stars and detailed imaging of energetic objects such as active galactic 

nuclei. One potential exoplanet observatory concept involves the deployment 

and shape control of a large occulting starshade and formation flying of the 

starshade relative to the associated telescope. Other techniques for observing 

exoplanets include interferometry and coronagraphy. Innovations in materials 

for observatories may enable ultra-stable, large space structures. Regardless of

the implementation architecture (segmented or monolithic, active or adjustable, 

etc.), all future space science missions can benefit from low-cost, low-risk, highperformance space optical systems.

New developments in remote sensing instruments and in-situ sensors can 

enhance current science missions and enable new ones. Advancing technologies 

such as single-element and large-array detectors can improve the sensitivity, 

resolution, speed, and operating temperature needed for many upcoming missions. 

Innovations in sub-Kelvin coolers and detectors can lead to nearly an order of 

magnitude improvement in sensitivity and pixel count, enabling new science 

missions like the study of star formation in galaxies with unprecedented sensitivity 

and resolution. Increasing the efficiency and life of laser technology, thereby 

increasing the laser’s output power, can enable new Earth science missions, such 

as profiling Earth’s 3D wind field to improve prediction of severe storms. In-situ 

space sensors that provide accurate measurements of in-situ plasma, fields, and 

particles will help protect NASA’s assets against the adverse effects of space 

weather. Advancements in electronics, such as high density, high speed, low 

noise, and low power, can reduce the power, mass, and complexity of remote 

sensing instruments and in-situ sensors. Electronics that can withstand high 

radiation and operate in a range of extreme temperatures (-230°C to 125°C) can 

enable high-performance in-situ measurements on Mars, Titan, the Moon, comets

and asteroids.

Impact to Nation and Partners

NASA’s commercial and international partners and other Government agencies 

have reported they could benefit from investment in observatories and remote 

sensing instruments and sensors. One commercial partner specifically noted 

wireless spacecraft as a high priority for investment, and several international 

partners cited science packages as a high priority. Other Government agencies 

expressed an interest in a variety of remote sensing technologies, including 

chemical and biological systems, airborne tracking, Arctic observation, 
34

hyperspectral imagery, chemical sensing, advanced chemical characterizations, 

charge-coupled device development, near-infrared detector deployment, 

heterogeneous focal planes, and reliable science-based measurement systems.

Potential Future Investments

Investments in observatories will focus on large mirror systems and structures and 

antennas. Potential large mirror system investments to consider for the next four 

years are X-ray mirrors, lightweight mirrors, ultraviolet coatings, and segmented 

mirrors. Some potential structures and antenna investments are passive ultrastability structures, active ultra-stability structures, and deployable telescopes and 

booms.

Investments in remote sensing instruments and sensors will focus on developing 

and advancing detectors and focal planes, micro/radio transceivers/receivers 

(T/R), and lasers. A potential four-year investment in detectors and focal planes is 

large format arrays. Investments in micro/radio T/R may include integrated radar 

T/R and low-noise cryogenic millimeter-wave amplifiers. A potential four-year 

investment in lasers is a multi-frequency pulsed laser.

2012 Investments

NASA currently invests in 38 observatories projects, managed by programs within 

SMD and OCT-STP, with development in both low and medium TRLs. These 

projects develop technologies to design, manufacture, test, and operate space 

telescopes and antennas. The Exoplanet Direct Imaging project, managed by 

the Astrophysics Research and Analysis program, is developing high-contrast 

coronagraphic techniques for segmented telescopes to enable direct imaging 

of exoplanets from space. Also in the Astrophysics Research and Analysis 

program, the Fabrication of High Resolution Lightweight X-ray Mirrors Using MonoCrystalline Silicon project is developing an X-ray mirror fabrication method that will 

enable the production of mirror segments with increased angular resolution and 

more effective area per unit mass.

NASA currently invests in 161 remote sensing instruments and sensor projects. 

Programs within SMD and OCT-STP manage these projects, including the 

Astrophysics Research and Analysis program, the Center Innovation Fund, 

the Earth Science Technology Office (ESTO), Goddard Space Flight Center 

Internal Research and Development (IRAD) activities, SBIR, the Small Business 

Technology Transfer (STTR) program, and the Space Technology Researc

Grants program. The projects develop low- and medium-TRL technologies for 

components, sensors, and instruments sensitive to electromagnetic radiation 

and other physical phenomenology. Under the Astrophysics Research a

Analysis program, the New Detector Development for X-ray Astronomy project is 

developing, building, and testing a new type of active pixel detector, which could 

be employed in future missions. The Coronagraphic Planet Finding with Energy 

Resolving Detectors project, managed by the Space Technology Research Grants 

program, is building a 10,000 pixel Microwave Kinetic Inductance Detectors 

camera to integrate with a coronagraph, adaptive optics system, and telescope 

to become the first visible through near-infrared planet-finding coronagraph. The 
35

Structured Non-Linear Optical Materials for LIDAR-based Remote Sensing 

managed by the STTR program, is developing a domain-engineered magnesiumoxide-doped lithium niobate for LIDAR-based remote sensing and communicat

applications.

Entry, Descent, and Land

Technical Challenges and Approach

Entry, descent, and landing (EDL) technologies, including thermal protecti

systems (TPS) and other component technologies, are necessary for landing

human and robotic missions on planetary bodies and for human return to Earth.

EDL TPS consist of materials and systems designed to protect spacecraft fr

extreme high temperatures and heating during entry, descent, and landing phases. 

Other EDL technologies encompass the components, systems, qualification, and 

operations to safely bring a vehicle from approach conditions to contact with the 

surface of a solar system body or to transit the atmosphere of the body. E

technologies have to be designed for specific atmospheres to enable specific 

missions. For example, a human mission to the surface of Mars has inherent, 

distinctive EDL challenges. The current capability to deliver payloads to the 

surface of Mars within a small landing ellipse is inadequate for future mission 

needs. The current state of the art can deliver 1.5 metric tons (mT) to Mars 

(demonstrated with the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission), but human 

exploration of Mars will require 10’s of mT capability. In addition, rigid TPS—the 

current state of the art for EDL TPS—are constrained by the launch vehicle shroud 

diameter, currently at scaling limit. Mars

EDL systems require a deceleratio

system to be used supersonically 

(deployed at a higher altitude) to 

increase payload mass and improve 

targeting. A new EDL architecture, 

including TPS and other component

technologies, will provide the necessary 

capability for future human missions 

to Mars as well as other future human 

and robotic missions. For the next 

four years, NASA will develop EDL 

technologies to improve maintainability, 

reduce system size and mass, and 

increase system robustness. 

Impact to NASA

EDL TPS is mission critical for future human and robotic missions that requi

planetary entry or reentry, including every mission for return-to-Earth. The benefits 

of EDL TPS technologies are enabling missions, reducing system mass, a

increasing system reliability. For example, a TPS with lighter, cheaper, smaller, 

more robust, environmentally friendly insulation materials could save precious 

Figure 10. The 

Deployable Aeroshell 

Concepts and 

Conformal TPS 

project is developing 

a mechanically 

deployed low 

ballistic coefficient 

entry system 

architecture and high 

strain-to-failure TPS 

for reliable thermal 

protection.

Source: NASA
36

spacecraft weight, thereby increasing performance and payload capacity. Ablative 

materials enable NASA missions that require high-mach-number reentry, su

as NEA visits and Mars missions. Large entry heat shields may provide enabling 

means to increase landed mass on planetary surfaces.

Advancements in other EDL technologies will enable future robotic missions to 

destinations such as asteroids, comets, Venus, Mercury, Mars, icy moons, t

gas giant planets, Titan, and others. The key performance characteristics that 

EDL technology developments will target are delivery and performance reliability, 

cost, delivered mass, landing site access, and landing precision. Low cost is 

enabled by improved simulation and ground-to-flight extrapolation. Both precision 

landing and hazard avoidance are enabled by a combination of more advanced 

terrain sensing and more capable algorithms to divert the lander to the desired 

target. If entry, descent, and landing at a destination involves multiple transitions, 

advanced avionics could guide the spacecraft or payload as it passes through 

each transition, improving mission safety. In general, the benefits of focused EDL 

technology activities include increased mass 

delivery to a planet surface, increased planet 

surface access, increased delivery precision 

to the planet’s surface, expanded EDL timeline 

to accomplish critical events, increased 

robustness of landing system to surface 

hazards, enhanced safety and probability 

of mission success for EDL phases o

atmospheric flight, human safety during return 

from missions beyond LEO, and sample retu

reliability and planetary protection.

Impact to Nation and Partners

NASA’s commercial and international partners have reported EDL technologies 

as a high priority for investment. One commercial partner claimed it could benefit 

specifically from development in deployable hypersonics and attached deployable 

decelerators. Another commercial partner specifically expressed an interest in rigid 

TPS and flexible TPS.

Potential Future Investments

Four EDL TPS technologies to consider for NASA investment over the next 

four years are obsolescence-driven TPS; reusable TPS; rigid ablative TPS with 

a desired performance parameter of less than 11 km per second (km/s); and 

inflatable, flexible, and deployable TPS.

Investments in other EDL technologies will focus on the components, systems, 

qualification, and operations that make entry, descent, and landing possible. For 

example, one major component of EDL technologies is decelerators, which can 

be rigid or deployable. Potential four-year investments in deployable decelerators 

include hypersonic inflatable aerodynamic decelerator (HIAD) control and 

scalability, mechanical deployable scalability, and advanced flexible structures. 

Another major system enabling EDL technologies is guidance, navigation, 

Figure 11. The 

Regolith-Derived Heat 

Shield for Planetary 

Body EDL with In-situ 

Fabrication project 

proposes to develop 

entry heat shields 

with regolith of 

moons and asteroids.

Source: NIAC, Hogue
37

and control (GNC.  Potential four-y

investments in GNC technologies include 

adverse event triggers and algorithms, 

terrain and hazard sensors, terrain tracking, 

and hazard detection.

EDL technologies also rely on investments 

in modeling and simulation of entry, descent, 

and landing scenarios. Potential fouryear investments in entry modeling and

simulation include advanced fluxes, unstable 

computational fluid dynamics, Mars radiation 

models, and tight coupling. Potential fouryear investments in descent and landing

modeling and simulation include static fluid 

structure interaction and ground-surface plume interaction models. Investment in 

new modeling techniques, improved physical models, and quantified uncertainty 

estimation must be ongoing and must be conducted in conjunction with validation 

experiments utilizing ground test facilities capable of producing flight-relevant 

conditions. In contrast, the development of modeling techniques and tools in the 

absence of application is not within the scope of technology programs.

2012 Investments

NASA currently invests in 24 EDL TPS projects, all of which are managed by 

programs within OCT-STP, with development in both low and medium TRLs. 

These projects include the development of materials and systems designed to 

protect spacecraft from extreme high temperatures and heating during entry, 

descent, and landing, and include technologies for heat shields and rigid and 

flexible TPS. The Low Density Supersonic Decelerators project, managed 

by the Technology Demonstration Missions program, will conduct full-scale, 

stratospheric tests of breakthrough technologies in supersonic inflatable 

aerodynamic decelerators and develop a 30-meter-diameter parachute. Under the 

Game Changing Development program, the Hypersonic Inflatable Aerodynamic 

Decelerator project will develop and demonstrate hypersonic inflatable aeroshell 

technologies suitable for an ISS down-mass capability. The Deployable Aeroshell 

Concepts and Conformal TPS project, also managed by the Game Chan

Development program, is developing a low ballistic coefficient aeroshell system 

of woven carbon cloth stretched over a mechanically deployable ribbed structure. 

This breakthrough capability is designed to deliver entry system payloads to the 

most challenging of mission destinations. The Woven Thermal Protection Systems 

program, also in the Game Changing Developments program, is working on an 

advanced, 3D weaving approach for the design and manufacturing of thermal 

protection systems.

In addition to EDL TPS investments, NASA currently invests in 14 other EDL 

technology projects, managed by HEOMD and OCT-STP, with development in low, 

medium, and high TRLs. These projects include developments in components, 

safety, qualification, and operations to safely bring a vehicle from approach to 

contact with the surface or atmosphere of a solar system body. This theme 

Figure 12. The HIAD project is developing 

an entry and descent technology to enhance 

and enable robotic and scientific missions to 

destinations with atmospheres.

Source: NASA
38

includes precision landing and hazard 

avoidance, deployable hypersonics, 

and deployable decelerators. The 

Autonomous Landing and Hazard 

Avoidance Technology (ALHAT), 

supported by AES and the Technolog

Demonstration Mission program, is

developing advanced technologies vital 

to achieving autonomous landing and 

hazard avoidance, including surfacetracking sensors. The Morpheus

Vertical Test Bed (VTB)/ALHAT project, 

managed under the Advanced Exploration Systems program, will fly a reusable 

Morpheus VTB with integrated ALHAT systems to demonstrate real-time hazard 

detection and avoidance. The project aims to develop technologies integrated 

with capabilities that can be adapted to human spaceflight mission architectures. 

The MSL Entry Descent and Landing Instrumentation project, also include

the Technology Demonstration Mission program, is a set of engineering sensors

designed to measure the atmospheric conditions and performance of an entry 

vehicle’s heat shield during atmospheric entry and descent. 

Figure 13. The 

ALHAT project 

seeks to develop 

planetary landers that 

can automatically 

recognize a landing 

site, assess potential 

landing hazards, and 

adjust accordingly 

during descent. 

Source: NASA
39

Adjacent Technology Investments

Adjacent technologies are a significant focus of technology investment and will 

comprise at least 20 percent of the Agency’s technology investment over the next 

four years. A full list of Adjacent technology investments are shown in Table 3. 

Though not part of the Core, these Adjacent investments are still high priority and 

integral to supporting the strategy outlined by the NASA SSTIP, while also ensuring 

NASA meets NRC-recommended technology investment priorities. They are 

Adjacent in the sense that they are closely related to and can benefit from the Core 

investments.

Potential Adjacent technology investments include investments related to thermal 

control, crew health, energy generation, and nanotechnologies. Adjacent 

technology investments also include investments in support of collaboration with 

other Government agencies such as cybersecurity, structural monitoring, and 

vehicle safety technologies. Many of these technologies are also applicable to 

national goals and priorities, such as cybersecurity and nanotechnology, which 

were specifically addressed in the Science and Technology Priorities for the FY 

2014 Budget memorandum. Three Adjacent technologies—power generation, 

thermal control systems, and long-duration crew health—are associated with the 

NRC’s top 16 priorities. These are discussed in more detail below.

Power Generatio

Every NASA mission requires power, and as missions become more complex, 

longer, and farther from Earth and the sun, new developments in power generation 

become critical. Improvements in power generation systems might include 

greater efficiency, reduced weight, and increased durability. These improvements 

could increase the capabilities of current missions and enable new science and 

exploration missions far beyond LEO.

With advancements that reduce weight and increase efficiency, new power 

generation technologies can remove limitations on current missions, for example, 

extending science probe missions farther from the sun or planning larger systems 

into human exploration missions, such as in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) plants. 

Advancements in durability have many potential benefits for NASA missions. 

Power generation systems that can survive extreme temperatures can enable 

surface missions to Venus and the polar regions of the Moon and Mars, a

tolerance for high radiation and low intensity/low temperature conditions could 

enable missions to the outer planets. Miniaturization of power generation systems 

can both improve impact tolerance for landing surface missions and also enable 

nanosatellites. Studies by the Glenn Research Center show that current power 

systems account for 20 to 30 percent of spacecraft mass, and about one-third 
40

Technology 

Investment 

Classification

Associated NASA SSTIP Technical Challenge Area

Related 

Level 2

TABS

Associated NRC High Priorities

(Top 16 in Bold)

Adjacen

Advanced Power Generation, Storage, and 

Transmission;

Increased Available Power

3.1

Solar Power Generation (Photovoltaic and

Thermal);

Fission Power Generation

Radioisotope Power Generation

Adjacen

Advanced Power Generation, Storage, and 

Transmission;

Increased Available Power

3.2 Batterie

Adjacen

Advanced Power Generation, Storage, and 

Transmission;

Increased Available Power

3.3 Power Distribution and Transmission;

Power Conversion and Regulation

Adjacent 5.3 Adaptive Network Topolog

Adjacent Efficient Accurate Navigation, Positioning, and Timin

5.4 

(except 

5.4.3)

Timekeeping and Time Distribution

AdjacentEVA

Extravehicular Activity Portable Life Support 

System;

Extravehicular Activity Pressure Garment

Adjacent Long-Duration Health Effects 6.3 Long-Duration Crew

Adjacent 6.4 Fire Detection and Suppression

Fire Remediatio

Adjacent Surface System

7.1 

(7.1.2, 

7.1.3, 

7.1.4) 

ISRU Resource Acquisition;

ISRU Products/Production;

ISRU Manufacturing/Infrastructure, etc.

Adjacent Surface Systems 7.

Food Production, Processing, and Preservation;

Autonomous Logistics Management;

Maintenance System

Adjacent Surface Systems 7.3 Surface Mobili

Adjacent Surface Systems 7.4 Smart Habitats

Habitation Evolution

Adjacent Surface Systems 7.6 Construction and Assembly

Dust Prevention and Mitigation

Adjacent Nanotechnology 10.2 Energy Generation (

Adjacent Nanotechnology 10.3 Nanopropella

Adjacent Nanotechnology 10.4 Sensors and Actuators (N

Adjacent Improved Flight Computers 11.1 Flight Computing

Ground Computi

Adjacent Modeling and Simulation 11.2 Science Modeling and Simulat

Adjacent Modeling and Simulation 11.3 Distributed Simulati

Adjacen

12.3 

(12.3.1, 

12.3.4, 

12.3.5)

Deployables, Docking, and Interfaces;

Mechanisms: Design and Analysis Tools an

Methods;

Mechanisms: Reliability/Life Assessment/Health 

Monitorin

Adjacent 12.4

(12.4.2)

Intelligent Integrated Manufacturing and Cy

Physical System

Adjacent 12.5

(12.5.1) Nondestructive Evaluation and Sensors

Adjacent Cryogenic Thermal Managem

14.1,

14.2

Active Thermal Control of Cryogenic Systems

Table 3. Adjacent technology investments.
41

of that is attributed to power generation systems. Developments in lighter and 

more powerful solar arrays or cost-effective and lightweight nuclear systems could 

reduce launch costs or save mass for other systems, such as science instruments 

and exploration tools.

NASA currently invests in 25 space power generation projects, which include 

technologies for chemical, solar, radioisotope, fission, and fusion power, including 

the development of fuel cells and solar arrays. Potential investments for the next 

four years include high-performance photovoltaic arrays and two kilowatt endto-end fission. Solar power generation, including photovoltaic and thermal, and 

fission power generation were two of the NRC’s top 16 priorities.

Thermal Control Systems

Thermal control systems are necessary for all space missions. These systems 

maintain an appropriate temperature range in all vehicle surfaces and components 

through the changing heat loads and thermal environments of different mission 

phases. Effective thermal control systems provide three basic functions to the 

vehicle or system design: heat acquisition, heat transport, and heat rejection. 

Improvements could increase the reliability and efficiency and reduce the mass 

and weight of thermal control systems. 

The primary benefits of thermal control technologies are enabling missions, 

reducing system mass, and increasing system reliability. Radiators are missioncritical for many proposed missions. To reduce radiator mass, area, and pumping

power, research is needed on lightweight radiators or compact storage systems 

for extending extravehicular activity (EVA) capability. The use of micro-channel 

fabrication techniques or composite materials can enable higher efficiency and 

lower mass designs. The development of single-loop architectures could save 

significant weight, reduce system complexity, and increase reliability of the thermal 

design of crewed systems.

NASA currently invests in 19 thermal control systems projects, which include 

technologies for heat acquisition, heat transport, and heat rejection, as well 

as active and passive thermal control. Potential investments for the next four 

years include ground-to-flight insulation systems, high flux cooling with precise 

temperature control, evaporative cooling technologies, and a variable heat rejection 

radiator. The NRC specifically rated active thermal control of cryogenic systems as 

one of the top 16 priorities for NASA investment.

Long-Duration Crew Hea

Long-duration crew health includes a variety of technologies and techniques 

to maintain the physical and behavioral health of the crew and sustain optimal 

performance throughout the duration of a mission. Future human space missions 

will challenge crew more than ever before, with longer periods in the extreme 

environment of space and far from familiar surroundings. Sustaining crew health 

and performance is not only an essential safety factor for human missions, but is 

also critical for the success of the mission itself, as a human crew is just as much 

a vital component to human space missions as the spacecraft that carries them. 
42

Improvements in long-duration crew health techniques and technologies could 

provide increased safety and productivity of human space missions. 

Long-duration crew health technologies could enhance future human space 

missions by selecting an optimal crew with preliminary medical screening, 

maintaining physical and behavioral crew health and performance with in-space 

diagnoses and effective countermeasures, and preparing crew for extreme medical 

situations, such as surgery. Pre-flight and in-space research could contribute 

to medical breakthroughs for long-duration missions, such as artificial gravity. 

Monitoring technologies, training methods, and other metrics and tools could both

contribute to research and also help prepare crew for new missions and their 

challenges. The challenges of space exploration will become more complex as the 

missions become more complex, such as physical trauma from surface exploration 

or psychological issues caused by isolation for months on end, but a wide variety 

of long-duration crew health technologies can help plan for these challenges and 

prepare solutions.

NASA currently invests in 23 human health and performance projects, which 

include technologies for medical screening, long-duration spaceflight medical care 

and behavioral health, in-space diagnostic and treatment capabilities, and effective 

countermeasures. Potential investments for the next four years include wearable 

computing and biomedical sensors, alternative non-exercise countermeasures, 

artificial gravity prescription devices, and a virtual therapist. The NRC included 

long-duration crew health among its top 16 priorities. 
43

Complementary Technology 

Investments

Complementary technology investments represent opportunities to invest broadly, 

albeit at a low level, in an effort to avoid missing an opportunity that may someday 

form part of NASA’s Core investments. These technologies will comprise 10 

percent of the Agency’s technology investment over the next four years but are 

not to be confused with the low-TRL investment that also happens to be at the 10 

percent level. Complementary technologies may be of any TRL. Examples of 

Complementary technologies that were outlined in the NRC report but not ranked 

as high-priority are discussed below.

Advanced (TRL<3) In-space Propulsion Technologies include technologies like 

beamed energy, high-energy-density materials, antimatter, and advanced fission 

propulsion. While theNRC considers these technologies “game-changing,” t

are unlikely to occur in the next 20 years. The NRC recommended that these 

and other low-TRL, very-high-risk technologies be provided a low level of funding, 

making them Complementary technologies.

Some information technologies, including semantic technologies, intelligent 

data understanding, and collaborative science and engineering, are considered 

Complementary investments. While they can provide improvements and 

benefits over current information technologies, the NRC noted that much of the 

development of these technologies is being done now by industry. The inclusion 

of these technologies in the Complementary category stems from the low level 

required of NASA investment, not TRL.

Launch and ground processing technologies are also Complementary  The primar

benefit from advancements in these technologies is reduced costs, as opposed 

to direct enhancements in technological capabilities. Current technologies in

this area are significant contributors to mission lifecycle costs, including those 

supporting:

•	 Transportation, assembly, integration, and processing of the launch vehicle, 

spacecraft, and payload hardware at the launch site, including launch pad 

operations.

•	 Launch processing infrastructure and its ability to support future operations

•	 Range, personnel, and facility safety capabilities

•	 Launch control and landing operations, including weather and recovery for 

flight crews, flight hardware, and returned samples.
44

•	 Mission integration and control center operations and infrastructure

•	 Environmental impact mitigation for ground and launch operations.

Ground and launch systems processing includes several challenges, such 

as reducing the cost of maintaining and operating ground control and launch 

infrastructure, improving safety, and improving the timeliness, relevance, and 

accuracy of information provided to ground control and launch personnel. The 

NRC noted that advanced technology can contribute to solving these challenges, 

but recommended that management practices, engineering, and design would be 

more effective means for addressing improvements. 

Complementary technologies are the pioneering and crosscutting technologies in

the NASA SSTIP pillars (discussed below) that were neither in the NRC’s 16 top 

priorities nor the NRC’s 83 high priorities. These technologies were consistently 

determined, by the NRC, to have the potential for only minor improvements in 

mission performance, lifecycle cost, or reliability, but are still considered widely 

used and important to future NASA programs and mission
45

Pillar 1: Extend and sustain human

presence and activities in space

Goal Summar

Human exploration in space has been a key focus of NASA since the Agency 

formed in 1958. From the earliest Mercury missions, to the Apollo missions an

Moon landings, to astronauts on the ISS today, NASA has always pursued new 

knowledge on how humans can live, work, and travel in space. This knowledge 

often reveals new challenges, such as the dangers of radiation exposure, 

physiological responses to microgravity, and psychological issues in constrained 

environments. NASA responds to these challenges by researching techniques 

protect and increase human health and performance in space and on planetary 

surfaces and by discovering, developing, and testing new technologies for 

deployment in the spacecraft and its support systems.

NASA is planning a capability-driven approach to achieve proficiency in space 

operations in and beyond our Earth-Moon system, and then explore multiple deep 

space destinations. Mission analysis and international discussions supporting

these efforts are ongoing. NASA will develop the capabilities to reach—and 

operate at—a series of increasingly demanding destinations, while advancing 

technological capabilities with each step forward. This plan includes early test 

and demonstration activities in cis-lunar space as specified in the 2010 NASA

Authorization Act. NASA’s ultimate destination for human exploration in the next 

half century is Mars

Capability Objectives

The President and Congress recognized that core transportation elements, key 

systems, and enabling technologies are fundamental investments required for 

human exploration beyond LEO. These investments will provide the foundation for 

the next half-century of American leadership in space exploration. 

To achieve this goal of extending and sustaining human presence and activities in 

space, NASA must invest in technologies enabling four capability objectives:

•	 Achieve improved spacecraft system reliability and performance.

•	 Enable transportation to, from, and on planetary bodies

•	 Sustain human health and performance.

•	 Enable payload delivery and human exploration of destinations and 

planetary bodies.
46

These capabilities will make it possible 

for humans to safely and efficiently travel, 

live, and explore in space and on distant 

destinations. 

Achieve Improved Spacecraft System 

Reliability and Performance

From the spacecraft structure to the life 

support systems, human space missions 

require an integrated and reliable set of 

systems that allow humans to safely and 

efficiently live and work in space. The next 

generation of human space exploration 

will depend on innovations in a longduration ECLS.  The ECLSS provid

the critical resources humans need to 

survive, including oxygen, water, and food, 

as well as maintaining a suitable thermal 

and atmospheric environment within the 

spacecraft. The ECLSS also relates 

logistics, managing the processing of 

waste and recycling of used materials. 

Current ECLSS technologies can supp

a crew on the ISS, but the system relies 

on constant resupply of resources, which 

will be impractical and unsafe for missions 

traveling far from Earth. A future ECLSS will 

first concentrate on increased reliability and 

then will continue to further “close the loop” 

on resources, by recycling, reusing, and producing most if not all of the crew’s 

necessary resources.

Other necessary innovations supporting future human and robotic space missions 

are lightweight space structures and materials; advanced power generation, 

storage, and transmission systems; and autonomous systems. Innovations 

in lightweight space structures and materials could reduce the cost of launch 

and propulsion without losing the 

advantages of protection from radiation 

and MMOD. Advanced energy 

technologies are necessary to power 

the large, integrated systems needed to 

support human missions, such as the 

ECLSS and crew habitat. As the NRC 

noted, power must not be the limiting 

resource for future missions far from 

earth. 

Crewed spacecraft must be able to 

survive for long periods of time, while 

Figure 14. 

The Satellite 

Servicing project 

is developing a 

capability suite 

of autonomous 

subsystems to 

service satellites 

with robots or 

human-robotic 

teams.

Source: NASA
47

potentially facing solar storms or sub-system failures, without input from terrestrial 

control centers or operators. Future human missions, especially missions into 

deep space, must rely on advanced autonomous systems to help the crew manage 

the complex spacecraft and systems. 

Enable Transportation To, From, and On Planetary Bodie

Historically, the highest risk in human space flight has been in the ground, launch, 

and reentry periods of space missions. Therefore, increasing mission safety 

and performance demands improvements in launch ground systems, launch 

propulsion, and advanced EDL. Improvements in launch ground systems will help 

missions run more efficiently and affordably, which becomes more important as 

new missions demand specific launch windows, such as missions to a NEA. More 

efficient ground and launch processing systems must reduce the overall mission 

lifecycle cost to enable NASA to meet its mission within the constrained budget 

environment. Innovations in launch propulsion technologies must send more 

mass to orbit more affordably, enabling missions with larger systems, such as the 

large ECLSS and habitat systems needed for human missions. Advanced EDL 

technologies will be designed for specific atmospheric environments, so the crew 

will be able to land safely at their destination with critical supplies and technologies, 

such as rovers and habitat systems, intact. 

The speed with which a space mission reaches and returns from its destination 

affects most missions but is most important for human missions. The less time 

a human crew is in space, the less crew 

members are exposed to the risks of the 

space environment, such as radiation 

and microgravity. Potential deep space 

destinations of future human missions, such 

as NEAs and Mars, require months of travel. 

High-power in-space propulsion systems can 

decrease that time and increase the safety 

and productivity of human space missions. 

Such systems can also enable prepositioning 

of vital resources for the crew. 

Sustain Human Health and Performan

There are many challenges to protecting the human body in the space 

environment. Any human living beyond the protection of the Earth’s atmosphere 

risks exposure to dangerous amounts of radiation, which can lead to debilitating 

or potentially fatal diseases, such as cancer. Living in microgravity for long 

periods of time can also cause problems, such as loss of bone density. These 

concerns have limited the duration of crewed missions in LEO. Exploration on 

lunar or planetary bodies bring additional challenges, such as fine, abrasive dust 

that can damage the human respiratory system. Other issues include extreme 

high and low temperatures and the inaccessibility of oxygen, water, and food 

sources. In addition to these physical risks are the psychological challenges of

living in isolation in a vast but confining area, far from familiar surroundings and 

Figure 15. The 

Low Density 

Supersonic 

Decelerators 

project is one 

of NASA’s 

current projects 

developing EDL 

TPS technologies.

Source: NASA
48

loved ones. These and other challenging 

aspects inherent to space travel can test 

an astronaut’s mental well-being and 

negatively impact performance. 

Innovations in space radiation mitigation 

and long-duration health effects 

should decrease the risks of living 

and working in space and improve 

astronaut performance. A wide variety 

of technologies and systems comprise 

an effective space radiation mitigation 

plan. One example is shielding materials 

that are light enough to launch affordably 

and designed to protect against solar 

particle events. Space weather modeling 

and simulation tools can help astronauts 

and ground control predict and prepare 

for dangerous solar events, such as 

sudden radiation blasts from large solar 

flares. Physical countermeasures, such as anti-radiation medication, can also 

support a comprehensive radiation mitigation plan. Techniques and technologies 

for long-duration health effects are similarly diverse, ranging from pharmaceuticals 

to support weakened immune systems to whole spacecraft designed to produce 

artificial gravity. These developments will build upon research conducted since 

humans first entered space and will also require new research projects planned 

well into the future, so scientists and innovators can first understand the health 

issues astronauts may face and then devise ways to counteract these effects. 

Enable Payload Delivery and Human Exploration of Destinations and Plane

Bodies

Future human space missions will seek new destinations that provide many new 

opportunities for discovery but also many new challenges. For example, a NEA

mission may require astronauts to explore a surface without being able to walk on 

it, and the sheer distance between Earth and Mars is an intimidating challenge for 

planning resource logistics. To meet these challenges, human missions will require 

innovations in EVA systems and surface systems.

EVA systems include the spacesuit, portable life support system (PLSS), power 

and avionics, and tools an astronaut needs to work outside a habitat, either 

in space or on the surface of a planetary body. Like habitats and life support

systems, EVA systems have to provide a constant supply of oxygen, water, power, 

and a communications system while protecting the astronaut from exposure to 

the space environment, including radiation, extreme temperatures, and on the 

surface of a destination, dust and other possible contaminants. Current

systems are cumbersome and depend on consumables, limiting an astronaut’s 

mobility and length of excursions. Future systems must alleviate these issues, so 

that astronauts can explore and work in space safely, productively, and for longer 

periods of time.

Figure 16. The Habitat Systems project delivers 

concepts for lightweight, safe, and reliable 

exploration habitats capable of supporting 

humans living and working in space and on 

planetary bodies.

Source: NASA
49

Innovations in surface systems should extend the time and areas human missions 

can explore on a lunar or planetary surface. The longest time a single Apollo 

mission spent on the surface of the Moon was three days, and the locations were 

restricted to near the equator. With improved habitats, rovers, and spacesuits 

to protect the crew from the harsh environment, the crew can explore larger or 

more difficult areas, such as the lunar poles. With ISRU systems to produce 

critical resources, astronauts can safely and productively explore destinations long 

enough to conduct more meaningful science and expand human knowledge of 

space. Surface systems for missions to Mars will need to comply with planetary 

protection requirements. 
50

Pillar 2: Explore the structure, origin,

and evolution of the solar system, and 

search for life, past and present

Goal Summar

The history of the formation of our solar system and its diverse planetary bodies is 

being uncovered by NASA and its partners not only through remote observations 

but also by the activities and return samples of robotic and human missions. For 

example, the early bombardment history of the inner solar system was initially 

revealed in the study of lunar samples returned from the Apollo missions. The 

Genesis, Stardust, and Hayabusa robotic sample return missions have revealed 

new information about the sun, comets, and asteroids. The story of our own solar 

system can become more fully known with additional detailed geologic study of the 

surface, subsurface, and interior of planetary bodies. 

The search for evidence of past or present life and the implications for human 

habitability of environments beyond Earth is a research priority with broad 

scientific and general interest. The presence of water, organic material, and 

energy represent three concurrent indicators in the search for signs of life as 

we understand it now. The detection of water in a wide variety of solar system 

locations, including the Martian surface, the moons of the giant planets, Earth’

Moon, and small bodies—such as comets and asteroids—has broadened the 

search for indications of life. The diversity of these locations and the known 

complexity of biotic and pre-biotic chemistry mean that advanced instrumentation 

is required and direct examination of samples, either returned to Earth or in situ by 

robots or humans, is needed to produce definitive results. 

Near-Earth asteroids (NEAs) and Mars are both compelling destinations for insitu analsis.  Many asteroids are primitive solar system bodies; that is,

exist largely unchanged from the earliest period of initial solar system formation. 

As the 2011 planetary science decadal survey noted, “These objects provide 

unique information on the solar 

system’s origin and early history 

and help researchers to interpret 

observations of debris disks around 

other stars.” Mars also has the

potential to advance scientific 

understanding of the solar system. 

The NASA decadal survey “Visions 

and Voyages for Planetary Scienc

in the Decade 2013-2022” states 

Figure 17. Featured 

in this artist’s concept 

is the MSL Curiosity 

rover, which is now 

on Mars to determine 

the potential for life 

on the red planet in 

the past, present, or 

future.

Source: NASA
51

that “Mars has a unique place in solar

system exploration: it holds keys to many 

compelling planetary science questions, 

and it is accessible enough to allow rapid, 

systematic exploration to address and 

answer those questions.”

In-situ space measurements are also

important for comprehending the future 

of Earth. Comparative planetology—

understanding, for example, why Venus, 

Earth, and Mars all evolved differently and 

exhibit vastly different abundances of water 

and carbon—is key to understanding how 

the Earth might be expected to change 

over long time scales in the future. On 

both the near- and long-term time scales, 

characterizing and understanding the 

population, sizes, and orbit characteristics of 

NEOs is essential to detecting and mitigati

potential hazards to Earth. NASA can 

approach these and many other questions 

by developing technologies to travel to 

places of interest, perform analyses and 

measurements in situ, and in some robotic 

and all human missions, return samples to 

Earth for further analysis.

Capability Objectives

To achieve this goal, NASA will invest in technologies enabling three capability 

objectives:

•	 Achieve improved spacecraft system reliability and performance.

•	 Enable transportation to, from, and on planetary bodies

•	 Enable advanced in-situ exploration.

These capabilities will make it possible for human and robotic missions to travel 

to different areas of the solar system where they can conduct measurements, 

analysis, and sampling to expand our knowledge of the solar system and search 

for evidence of and potential for life. 

Achieve Improved Spacecraft System Reliability and Performance

Several individual and integrated space systems can either limit or enhance a 

mission’s potential. Every space mission requires power. The performance 

and weight of power generation, storage, and transmission systems influence 

the possible distance, duration, and productivity of a mission. Similarly, the 

weight of the space structure itself can be a limiting factor. The data rate of 
52

the communications system can limit 

the amount of data the mission can 

transmit to Earth and the speed of the

transmission. 

These limitations can be reduced or 

effectively removed with innovations 

and new technologies. Advanced power 

generation, storage, and transmission 

systems can be lighter, more efficient, 

and provide higher performance, so 

missions can travel farther and longer, to 

perform in-situ analysis on destinations 

previously thought unreachable. 

Advanced power systems can also have 

increased durability, enabling in-situ 

analysis in extreme environments, such 

as the high temperatures of Venus or the

low temperatures of the Martian polar 

regions. Lightweight space structures 

and materials save on launch mass and 

can enable missions with larger, more powerful science instruments or crewed 

missions, which require large life support systems and a habitat. High-bandwidth 

communications can vastly increase the rate at which a mission in space or 

on a planetary surface can transmit data to ground control as well as receive 

guidance from ground control. Working with advanced information processing 

systems, communication innovations can greatly improve the extent and quality of 

transmitted data and thus improve the quality of the science. 

Enable Transportation To, From, and On Planetary Bodie

The hardware that does in-situ sampling and analysis requires transportation to 

the site being sampled and analyzed. This requires launch propulsion systems 

to get robotic payloads or a human crew off Earth and into space; an in-space 

propulsion system to get to the destination; and position, navigation, and timing 

(PNT) technology to guide the spacecraft as it travels through space. Finally, EDL 

technology is needed to get the payload or crew to the surface of the destination. 

Innovations in these technologies can enhance missions conducting in-situ 

measurements. New launch propulsion systems can increase the amount of mass 

that can affordably launch to space, allowing for larger, more powerful science 

instruments or increased energy 

and fuel storage enabling travel over 

longer distances. High-power inspace propulsion can also enable 

missions to travel farther and enable 

larger spacecraft to travel far from 

the sun, a prime energy source for 

most space missions. Efficient and 

accurate PNT together with onboard 

Figure 18. Operating on the surface of Venus 

requires technologies that can withstand 

temperatures around 460°C and 92 bars of 

pressure. In the other extreme, surface missions 

on a polar night on Mars would have to survive 

temperatures as low as -128°C. 

Source: NASA, Magellan Spacecraft

Figure 19. The 

Deep Space Atomic 

Clock project will 

fly and validate a 

miniaturized, ultraprecise mercury-ion 

atomic clock for 

precision navigation.

Source: NASA
53

guidance and control can enable complex orbital maneuvers and precise landings. 

Advanced EDL technologies must protect highly sophisticated instruments and a 

human crew through a variety of atmospheric environments. 

Enable Advanced In-situ Measurement and Explorat

Innovations in instruments and sensors can enhance the quality and variety of 

possible in-situ measurements. Devices for life detection can search for the 

presence of the “building blocks of life,” such as oxygen, water, and organic 

compounds, to determine the possibility of life existing now, existing in the past, or 

being sustained in the future, such as a human colony. Other advanced sensors 

can perform geological, chemical, magnetic, seismic, and other measurements 

to assess the different characteristics of the explored site. Advancements in 

robotics can increase the accessibility of in-situ measurements and sampling, for 

both crewed and un-crewed missions. Robots that can maneuver on, over, or 

under extreme terrain and manipulate the surface for sampling can enable in-situ 

analysis in unexplored territory, such 

as places inaccessible to previous 

rovers or human explorers or whole 

new destinations, like beneath the 

icy crust of Enceladus or Europa

Lastly, nanotechnology developments 

can enhance all of these systems, 

by decreasing their overall weight, 

increasing their tolerance to radiation 

and other damage, lowering their 

power requirements, increasing 

their resolution and sensitivity, and 

increasing the speed of their electronic 

devices. 

Figure 20. Teams of 

engineers compete 

in the Sample Return 

Robot challenge 

by designing and 

developing the 

next generation of 

autonomous robots 

to explore the 

landscapes of other 

worlds. 

Source: NASA
54

Pillar 3: Expand understanding of

the Earth and the universe (remote

measurements)

Goal Summar

Remote measurements enable

NASA to study many things in spac

astronomical objects throughout the 

observable universe, planets throughout 

our galaxy, large and small celestial 

bodies in our solar system, and our own 

planet. Different types of technologies 

enable different kinds of remote 

measurements and different discoveries. 

In-space observatories, like the Hubble 

Space Telescope, have provided imaging 

of stellar events in distant galaxies, 

so NASA can learn more about t

universe, how it works, and how it came 

to be. Other remote measurements are

taken by robotic probes—autonomous 

scientific platforms, like the Cassini 

spacecraft, which orbits Saturn and reveals new information about the gas 

giant and its many distinctive moons. By investing in new remote measurement 

technologies, NASA will be able to answer some of humanity’s greatest scientific 

questions and discover new insights about our solar system, our galaxy, and the 

universe. 

Capability Objectives

To achieve this goal, NASA will invest in technologies enabling four capability 

objectives:

• Achieve improved spacecraft system reliability and performance.

• Enable transportation to space.

• Enable space-based and Earth-based observation and analysis.

• Enable large-volume, efficient flight and ground computing and data 

management.

Figure 21. Computer simulations derived from 

data from years of Hubble observations indicate 

the Andromeda and Milky Way galaxies will 

collide in 4 billion years, depicted in this artist’s 

rendering.

Source: NASA
55

These capabilities will enable different 

kinds of remote measurements, such as 

those made with in-space and ground 

observatories and with robotic missions that 

can travel long distances while collecting, 

processing, analyzing, and transmitting data 

back to Earth

Achieve Improved Spacecraft System 

Reliability and Performance

Missions conducting remote measurements

in space require an integrated set of 

systems to operate reliably and perform 

efficiently. The spacecraft structure has 

to protect its many intricate systems and 

sensitive instruments as it travels in areas 

with extreme high and low temperatures, 

high radiation, and high potential for debris 

impacts.  constant supply of energy is

required to power the various instruments 

and systems throughout the mission. 

Whether the mission remains in

or travels to the far reaches of the solar 

system, the data it collects will contribute 

to the search for new knowledge of the 

universe only if it can be transmitted back to 

Earth, where it can be studied by scientists.

New developments in these systems can 

enhance mission performance and enable 

new mission capabilities. Lightweight space structures and materials save mass 

for larger instruments without losing advantages in strength and durability. As with 

the previous two pillars, advanced power generation, storage, and transmission 

systems will be lighter and more efficient, so missions can travel farther and longer, 

to continuously observe space and space objects in new and enlightening ways. 

High-bandwidth communications will increase the speed, size, and quality of data 

transmissions, enabling constant data feeds for high-quality science.

Enable Transportation To Spac

Some instruments for remote measurements remain close to Earth, like the Hubbl

Space Telescope stationed in LEO, and others are designed to travel far in

space, like the Voyager spacecraft, which has traveled through the expanse of the 

solar system for over 30 years. All these instruments require launch propulsion 

systems to get to Earth orbit, and different missions will require different kinds of inspace propulsion to travel beyond Earth orbit. 

Innovations in propulsion systems will enhance missions conducting remote 

measurements and enable new missions. Advanced launch propulsion systems 
56

must be able to carry more weight into 

space at a lower cost. This will allow for 

higher performing science missions, with 

larger more sophisticated instruments 

and increased storage capacity for power 

systems or fuel. Innovations in in-space 

propulsion will enable missions of varying 

sizes and complexity to travel farther and 

faster than ever before. 

Enable Space-Based and Earth-Base

Observation and Analysis

Innovations in instruments and software 

can enhance the quality and variety 

of remote measurements. Advanced 

scientific instruments and sensors can 

enable new science missions, like high-contrast exoplanet imaging and faint object 

spectroscopy over a broad spectral range. Other innovations could enhance 

Earth science missions, such as advanced lasers to obtain the Earth’s 3D wind 

field and improve weather prediction capabilities. New science missions will 

depend on accurate design software to create complex instruments efficiently 

and affordably. Structural monitoring will help a mission retain high levels of 

performance, by detecting existing or potential faults in instruments and sensors, 

such as flaws in a mirror, and automatically preventing or self-correcting the fault. 

All in-space instruments and sensors

require a cooling system to operate, and 

sensor performance often improves if 

the operating temperature is reduced. 

Cryogenic thermal management systems

can provide reliable, long-life, vibrationfree, and efficient cooling systems for a 

wide range of instruments, sensors, and 

associated electronics.

Enable Large-Volume, Efficient Flight and Ground Computing and Data Management

As remote measurements capture larger amounts of data and higher quality data,

the demand for high-performance information processing systems becomes a 

greater challenge, both on the ground and in flight. Large-volume information 

processing will be necessary to process vast amounts of data to produce useful 

science. “Investments that address the challenges of...the fast-growing volume 

of large and complex collections of digital data...to advance agency missions and 

further scientific discovery and innovation” were also a priority in the Science and 

Technology Priorities for the FY 2014 Budget memorand

New flight computers must be ultra-reliable and radiation-hardened, enabling major 

performance improvements in onboard computing throughput, fault management, 

intelligent decision making, and science data acquisition. Developments in next 

Figure 22. The Solar Electric Propulsion project 

is developing in-space non-chemical propulsion 

systems to enable modern spacecraft to travel 

farther, faster, and cheaper than any other 

propulsion technology currently available.

Source: NASA

Figure 23. Artist’s 

concept of a 

potential solution 

for imaging 

exoplanets: pairing 

a telescope with a 

starshade.

Source: NASA JPL
57

generation space computing processors will optimize power usage and power 

efficiency for spaceflight computing. Other advancements should provide more 

flexible and less costly options for achieving fault-tolerant flight computing. 

Innovations in modeling and simulation will help analysts interpret and use complex 

data to predict space events and uncover other phenomena. Advancements in 

space-qualified computing hardware are necessary to meet the near- and longterm needs of NASA missions, especially for computing-intensive tasks in flight, 

such as autonomy; guidance, navigation, and control; and entry, descent, and 

landing. 

Innovations in data management will increase 

productivity of Heliophysics and Earth Science 

missions. For example, a 50 percent reduction 

in downlink data management planning for Mars 

Express could create increased robustness due 

to the ability to optimize and produce multi-day/

week look-ahead plans. Adaptability in data 

management and analytic technologies could 

grow temporary storage requirements and 

online access to products for field campaigns. 

Innovative visualization and analysis of model 

outputs will enable new discoveries.

Figure 24. The InHouse Low Power 

Flight Computer 

for Cubesats 

project is one of 

NASA’s current 

investments 

developing 

innovative flight 

and ground 

computing 

technologies.

Source: NASA 
58

Pillar 4: Energize domestic space

enterprise and extend benefits of 

space for the Nation

Goal Summar

In addition to NASA, other U.S. entities—including Government agencies and an 

ever-expanding commercial space sector—play key roles in the advancement of 

space technology and contribute to U.S. leadership in space. By collaboratin

with these partners in space, NASA pursues an economical approach to space 

technology advancement and maximizes the benefits of space to the Nation. 

This goal is closely aligned with national goals and guidance. In accordance 

with the 2010 U.S. National Space Policy, this goal will ensure that NASA’s 

technology investments are “encouraging and facilitating the growth of a U.S. 

commercial space sector that supports U.S. needs, is globally competitive, and 

advances U.S. leadership in the generation of new markets and innovationdriven entrepreneurship.”5

 This goal will also fulfill direction from Congress in 

The National Aeronautics and Space Act, in which “Congress declares that the 

general welfare of the United States requires that the Administration seek and 

encourage, to the maximum extent possible, the fullest commercial use of space.” 

Finally, this goal considers the NRC’s recommendation on NASA Investments in 

Commercial Space Technology: “While OCT should focus primarily on developing 

advanced technologies of high value to NASA’s own mission needs, OCT should 

also collaborate with the U.S. commercial space industry in the development of 

precompetitive technologies of interest to and sought by the commercial space 

industry.” In response to this recommendation, NASA identified space technology 

investments that will benefit the commercial space sector and the Nation.

Capability Objectives

While reviewing the Space Technology Roadmaps, the NRC considered how 

each technology area applied to national and commercial space needs. The 

weighed this consideration in ranking each technology. In addition to this guidance 

from the NRC, the NASA SSTIP considers key technology priorities and 

collaboration opportunities identified by other U.S. Government agencies and 

commercial space organizations. The result is a set of five capability objectives 

necessary to meet the goal of this pillar: 

•	 Achieve improved spacecraft system reliability and performance.
59

•	 Enable transportation to and from

space.

•	 Sustain human health and 

performance.

•	 Meet the robotic and autonomous

navigation needs of space 

missions.

•	 Enable large-volume, efficient 

flight and ground computing and 

data management.

These objectives support both the 

needs of NASA and the broader spa

enterprise. Through partnership, resource 

collaboration, and direct technology 

infusion paths, U.S. space organizations 

can combine resources, achieve greater 

progress, and maximize the benefit of 

space technology investment to these 

players and the Nation.

Achieve Improved Spacecraft System 

Reliability and Performance

From space tourism to commercial 

satellites, reliable spacecraft and 

systems are essential to the emerging 

space industry. Current systems can

be improved upon with innovations 

in the areas of lightweight space 

structures and materials, increased available power, autonomous rendezvous and 

docking, increased vehicle safety, and new Earth observing technologies. These 

innovations can dramatically increase the affordability, safety, and productivity of 

commercial, civil, and other Government space missions.

Innovations in lightweight structures and materials can greatly reduce the weight 

of launch vehicles and space structures, reducing the cost of both crewed and uncrewed launches. NASA’s investment in lightweight structures and materials can 

also transition to ongoing commercial efforts developing inflatable space habitats.

All space missions can benefit from increased available power. Satellite 

developers, for example, want to increase power and energy storage in satellites 

to increase their communication capacity. Advancements in photovoltaic space 

power systems may be particularly beneficial, as all commercial communications 

satellites in geosynchronous Earth orbit rely exclusively on photovoltaic power 

systems.6

The first docking of a commercial vehicle to the ISS occurred in May 2012, as part 

of the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) agreement between 

commercial space company Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX) 
60

and NASA. NASA’s investment in advanced autonomous rendezvous and 

docking systems can support similar, future collaborations with commercial space 

organizations, increasing the safety and reliability of docking activities—a major 

benefit to both parties. 

Technologies for improving vehicle safety, such as integrated systems health 

management, fault detection and isolation and recovery (FDIR), and vehicle 

systems management, can significantly improve the robustness and reliability of 

both crewed and un-crewed space missions. These technologies can support 

commercial human spaceflight efforts, by diagnosing and potentially solving system 

failures or detecting events that require crew or passenger abort. By protecting 

spacecraft in flight, vehicle safety measures also have the potential to reduce 

space mission costs. 

NASA investment in Earth observing technologies can benefit the many 

organizations already using such technologies, such as commercial imaging 

companies, the intelligence community, and some civil organizations, such as 

those monitoring climate and weather. In addition, space microwave, radar, or 

terahertz imaging systems can be applied to multiple Government and industrial 

applications. For example, Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) and Differential 

Absorption LIDAR remote sensing technologies have applications ranging from 

cloud diagnostics to smoke stack pollution compliance.7

Enable Transportation To and From Spac

Commercial space companies face many of the same challenges as NASA when 

developing technologies for launch, transportation to orbit, in-space transportation, 

and return to Earth. Innovations in these technologies will improve the affordability 

and efficiency of transporting systems to, in, and from space.

The creation of more efficient and cost-effective launch propulsion systems can 

greatly impact the success and competitiveness of the commercial launch industry. 

In the NRC review panels, several commercial launch company representatives 

cited NASA’s investment in high-thrust hydrocarbon boost engines as a high 

priority, with potential benefits to small commercial launch systems or even a super 

heavy lift vehicle.8

Any organization that builds and uses satellites can benefit from more capable 

and efficient in-space propulsion. Today, low-power electric propulsion systems 

power the post-launch circularization of the orbits of large geosynchronous 

communications satellites and stationkeeping for a wide range of spacecraft, 

including commercial communications 

satellites.9 Higher efficiency electric 

propulsion and other advanced forms of 

in-space propulsion have the potential 

to greatly impact these and other 

commercial systems in space.

New EDL technologies can increase the 

safety and affordability of commercial 

space missions. EDL technologies ar

Figure 25. Teams 

compete in the Nano 

Satellite Launch 

Challenge to deliver a 

payload to Earth orbit, 

complete at least one 

orbit past the launch 

site, and deliver 

payloads successfully 

twice in one week.

Source: NASA
61

required for all commercial human spaceflight endeavors. Advancements in EDL 

can also significantly reduce mission costs for commercial launch companies, by 

enabling booster and cargo delivery vehicle recovery for reuse.

Lastly, as more commercial space companies plan future missions in LEO, t

may benefit from the development of cryogenic storage and transfer technologies, 

enabling missions with higher performance, larger payloads, and longer range.

Sustain Human Health and Performan

Whether commercial space companies send humans to space for a few hours 

or for several months, innovations in technologies to protect human health and 

sustain optimal performance will increase the safety and productivity of commercial 

space missions. 

All space missions involving human crew or passengers will require technologies to 

protect humans from the effects of space radiation. There are no quantifiable limits 

to radiation impacts on the central nervous system, the cardiovascular system, and 

the immune system, and the established radiation exposure limits for professional 

astronauts are higher than for the general public.10 Innovations in radiation risk 

modeling, prediction, and monitoring can help establish safe limits for commercial 

spaceflight passengers, or “space tourists.” New countermeasures, such as 

advanced radiation shielding, may permit space tourists to safely spend more time 

in space, maybe even to orbit the Moon.

Commercial missions involving humans in space can also benefit from 

advancements in ECLSS technologies and technologies for situational awareness 

and decision-making. ECLSS technologies include air revitalization, water 

recovery, and waste management technologies The more reliable and resourceefficient an ECLSS is, the longer humans can live in space and the farther they 

can safely travel from Earth. Commercial human activities in space can be made 

safer and more reliable with advanced technologies for situational awareness 

and decision-making. For example, these technologies can help human crew or 

passengers predict and react to emergency situations, such as system failures or 

orbital debris impacts. Innovations in sustaining human health and performance 

also have the potential to benefit humans on Earth, through the development of 

new health and medical technologies that can transfer to commercial partners 

for terrestrial applications, such as water sanitation, telemedicine, and cancer 

treatments. 

Meet the Robotic and Autonomous

Navigation Needs of Space Mission

As commercial companies engage in more

space activities, the need for advanced 

robotic and autonomous capabilities will 

increase. Advancements in technologies 

such as robotic maneuvering can enable 

such operations as on-orbit assembly of 

space structures, such as large satellites, 

Figure 26. 

The Human 

Exploration 

Telerobotics 

project is a 

current NASA 

investment 

developing 

innovative robotic 

technologies.

Source: NASA
62

cryogenic tanks, or space habitats. Robotic maneuvering may also be used for 

satellite servicing, to repair or extend the operational life of expensive commercial 

satellites or critical defense satellites. As discussed in the capability objective, 

Achieve Improved Spacecraft System Reliability and Performance, autonomous 

rendezvous and docking can increase the safety and reliability of any space 

mission in which a spacecraft docks to another, such as commercial cargo or crew 

delivery missions to the ISS. 

Enable Large-Volume, Efficient Flight and Ground Computing and Data Management

From satellite operations to in-orbit crewed missions, the need for power-efficient, 

high-performance, radiation-tolerant computing systems is significant for civil, 

commercial, and other Government space activities. Technology advancements for 

providing high data rates can increase the efficiency of commercial satellites and 

enable remote sensing satellites with higher resolution imaging. Advancements in 

cybersecurity technology can protect the integrity of the massive amounts of data 

transmitted by communication satellites and are especially important for satellites 

with intelligence or defense purposes. Increasing cybersecurity measures also 

satisfies a national priority for science and technology development.11
63

Closing Thoughts – National Science 

and Technology Priorities

On June 6, 2012, the Office of Management and Budget and the Office of Science 

and Technology Policy released a memorandum to the heads of Executive 

Departments and Agencies in the United States  The four-page document detaile

the White House’s Science and Technology Priorities for the FY 2014 Bud

NASA’s plan for strategic space technology investment, which began well before 

the release of this memorandum, addresses these critical science and technology 

priorities.

Research

Like the NASA SSTIP, the memorandum cites the importance of rese

“Science and engineering research is a valuable source of new knowledge that 

has driven important developments in fields ranging from telecommunications to 

medicine, yielding high economic and social rates of return and creating entirely 

new industries with highly skilled, high-wage jobs.” This motivation is similar to the 

NASA SSTIP’s goal to invest in low-TRL technologies, which rely on research of a 

technology concept before development is possible. The memorandum also cites 

the importance of Government agencies partnering with commercial companies: 

“In particular, the Nation benefits from government funding for basic and applied 

research in areas in which the private sector does not have the economic incentive 

to invest.” By incorporating the priorities of NASA’s commercial partners, the NASA

SSTIP recognizes the benefit of NASA’s investment in technology research and 

development to the private sector.

Prioritization

The memorandum’s recommendation for prioritization is similar to the purpose of 

the NASA SSTIP: “In a time of constrained resources, agencies should con

to direct resources to high-priority activities and identify potential eliminations or 

reductions in less effective, lower quality, or lower priority programs.” The NASA 

SSTIP is organized around such prioritization of activities, based on rigorous 

analysis of NASA’s current technology investments and future plans. To ensure a 

comprehensive strategy for investment, NASA consulted with other Government 

agencies and commercial partners on their priorities for technology investment, 

just as the memorandum recommends: “Agencies engaged in complementary

activities should consult with each other during the budget planning process so 

that resources are coordinated to maximize their impact and to avoid inappropriate 
64

duplication. They should also avoid duplicating research in areas that already 

receive funding from the private sector.” By reaching out to other agencies and to 

its partners, NASA ensures its technology investments will be valuable to Federal 

and commercial organizations throughout the country.

Multi-Agency Prioritie

The memorandum identified several areas as high priorities for multiple U.S. 

agencies, and every high priority is relevant to the NASA SSTIP. The Core 

technology investments Robotics and Autonomous Systems and Lightweight 

Space Structures and Materials can contribute to the development of the 

multi-agency priority of Advanced Manufacturing. NASA has developed many 

successful Clean Energy spinoffs with solar electric technologies and can continue 

to increase the power of these systems with investment in solar electric propulsion, 

part of the Core technology investment of Launch and In-Space Propulsion. The 

multi-agency priority of Global Climate Change is relevant to the Core technology 

investment of Space Radiation Mitigation and the Adjacent investment in LongDuration Health Effects, both of which seek to better understand how extreme 

changes in an environment can affect human health. Like the Core technology 

investment ECLSS, the multi-agency priority of R&D for Informed Policy-Making 

and Management requires “development of sustainable food production systems 

that minimize the use of inputs such as water [and] energy.” The multi-agency 

priority of Biological Innovation also relates to ECLSS. As mentioned earlier, 

the Adjacent technology investments of cybersecurity and nanotechnology both 

contribute to multi-agency priorities, namely Information Technology Research an

Development and Nanotechnology. Lastly, the multi-agency priority of Innovation 

and Commercialization is a prevalent theme throughout the NASA SSTIP, 

particularly in the NASA SSTIP principles of investment. 
65

Appendix A: Crosswalk of Investment 

Classifications to TABS

The NASA SSTIP investment approach and framework comprise space technology 

goals, capability objectives, technical challenges, and classifications of technology 

investments. A crosswalk of these results to both the Space Technology 

Roadmaps and the NRC’s recommended top 16 near-term technology priorities

included in Tables 4 and 5, below.
66

Technology 

Investment 

Classification

Technology Investments

SSTIP Pillar 1SSTIP Pillar 2SSTIP Pillar 3SSTIP Pillar 4

Associated NASA SSTIP Capability Objectives

Cor

Launch and In-Spac

Propulsion    

Enable transportation to, from, and on planetary bodies; 

Enable transportation to space; 

Enable transportation to and from spac

Cor

Robotics and Autonomou

Systems    

Achieve improved spacecraft system reliability and performance; 

Enable advanced in-situ measurement and exploration; 

Enable space-based and Earth-based observation and analysis; 

Meet the robotic and autonomous navigation needs of space 

missions

Cor

High Data Rat

Communications   

Achieve improved spacecraft system reliability and performance;

Enable large-volume, efficient flight and ground computing and 

data management

Cor

Environmental Control and 

Life Support Systems   Achieve improved spacecraft system reliability and performance;Sustain human health and performance

Core Space Radiation Mitigation   Sustain human health and performa

Cor

Scientific Instruments and 

Sensors   

Enable advanced in-situ measurement and exploration; 

Enable space-based and Earth-based observation and analysis; 

Achieve improved spacecraft system reliability and performance

Core Entry, Descent, and Landing    Enable transportation to, from, and on planetary bodi

Enable transportation to and from spac

Core Lightweight Space Structures

and Materials     Achieve improved spacecraft system reliability and performance;

Enable space-based and Earth-based observation and analysis

Table 4. Crosswalk of Core investments, side A.
67

Associated NASA SSTIP 

Technical Challenge Areas

Related 

Level 2

TABS*

Associated NRC High Priorities (Top 16 in Bold

Launch Propulsion Systems;

High Power In-Space Propulsion;

In-Space Propulsion;

Cryogenic Storage and Transfe

1.1,

1.2,

1.3,

1.4,

2.1,

2.2,

2.4

Electric Propulsion

(Nuclear) Thermal Propulsion;

Turbine Based Combined Cycle (TBCC);

Rocket Based Combined Cycle (RBCC);

Micro-Propulsion;

Propellant Storage and Transfe

Autonomous Systems;

Robotic Maneuvering, Manipulation, Sensing and 

Sampling;

Autonomous Rendezvous and Docking;

Structural Monitoring;

Robotic Maneuvering

4.1,

4.2,

4.3,

4.4,

4.5,

4.6,

5.4 

(5.4.3)

Extreme Terrain Mobility

GNC (includes Relative Guidance Algorithms, Onboar

Autonomous Navigation and Maneuvering)

Docking and Capture Mechanisms/Interfaces;

Small Body/Microgravity Mobility;

Dexterous Manipulation;

Robotic Drilling and Sample Processing;

Supervisory Control;

Vehicle System Management and 

High Bandwidth Communications;

High Data Rat

5.1,

5.2,

5.5

Radio System

Long-Duration ECLSS

ECLS

(includes: ECLSS Water Recovery and Management, 

Revitalization, ECLSS Waste Management, and Habita

Space Radiation Mitigation 6

Radiation Mitigation for Human Spaceflight (includes: 

Radiation Monitoring Technology, Radiation Protection

Systems, Radiation Risk Assessment Modeling, Radiation

Prediction, and Radiation Mitigation

Life Detection;

Advanced Sensors (all types of detecting sensors: 

geological, chemical, etc.);

Scientific Instruments and Sensors;

Earth Observing

8.1,

8.2,

8.3

Detectors and Focal Planes

Optical Systems (Instruments and Sensors); 

High Contrast Imaging and Spectroscopy Technologies

In-Situ Instruments and Sensors;

Electronics for Instruments and Sensors;

Laser for Instruments and Sensors;

Wireless Spacecraft Technolog

Advanced Entry, Descent, and Landing;

Entry, Descent, and Landin

9.1,

9.2,

9.3,

9.4,

14.3

EDL TPS (includes Rigid TPS, Flexible TPS, and Ascent/En

TPS);

GNC (includes GNC Sensors and Systems [E

EDL Instrumentation and Health Monitoring;

EDL Modeling and Simulation;

EDL System Integration and Analysis;

Atmospheric and Surface Characterization;

Deployable Hypersonic Decelerator

Lightweight Space Structures and Materials;

Structural Monitorin

10.1 

(10.1.1), 

12.1,

12.2

Lightweight and Multifunctional Materials and Structur

(includes: [Nano] Lightweight Materials and Structures

Structures: Innovative, Multifunctional Concepts; Structures:

Lightweight Concepts; Materials: Lightweight Structure; a

Structures: Design and Certification Methods)

Table 4. Crosswalk of Core investments, side B.

*To download the Space Technology Roadmaps and TABS sequence, visit http://www.nasa.gov/offices/oct/home/roadmaps/index.html
68

Technology 

Investment 

Classification

Technology Investments

SSTIP Pillar 1SSTIP Pillar 2SSTIP Pillar 3SSTIP Pillar 4

Associated NASA SSTIP Capability Objectives

Adjacent Power Generation     Achieve improved spacecraft system reliability and performanc

Adjacent Energy Storage     Achieve improved spacecraft system reliability and performan

Adjacent Power Management and

Distribution     Achieve improved spacecraft system reliability and performance

Adjacent Internetworkin

Adjacent Position, Navigation, and

Timing  Enable transportation to, from, and on planetary bodies

Adjacent Extravehicular Activity

Systems  Enable payload delivery and human exploration of destinations 

and planetary bodies

Adjacent Long-Duration Crew Health  Sustain human health and performanc

Adjacent Safety and Emergenc

Respons

Adjacent In-Situ Resource Utilization Enable payload delivery and human exploration of destinations

and planetary bodies

Adjacent Sustainability and

Supportability  Enable payload delivery and human exploration of destinations 

and planetary bodies

Adjacent Surface Mobility  Enable payload delivery and human exploration of destination

and planetary bodies

Adjacent Advanced Habitat Systems  Enable payload delivery and human exploration of destinations

and planetary bodies

Adjacent Crosscutting Destinatio

Systems  Enable payload delivery and human exploration of destinations 

and planetary bodies

Adjacent Nanotechnology: Ener

Generation and Storage  Enable advanced in-situ measurement and exploratio

Adjacent Nanotechnology: Propulsion  Enable advanced in-situ measurement and explorat

Adjacent Nanotechnology: Sensors

Electronics, and Devices  Enable advanced in-situ measurement and exploration

Adjacent Computing  Enable large-volume, efficient flight and ground computing an

data management

Adjacent Modeling  Enable large-volume, efficient flight and ground computing an

data management

Adjacent Simulation  Enable large-volume, efficient flight and ground computing and

data management

Adjacent Mechanical Syste

Adjacent Manufacturi

Adjacent Crosscutting Material

Structures, and Mechanism

Adjacent Active Thermal Control of

Cryogenic Systems Enable space-based and Earth-based observation and analysi

Table 5. Crosswalk of Adjacent investments, side A.
69

Associated NASA SSTIP 

Technical Challenge Areas

Related 

Level 2

TABS

Associated NRC High Priorities (Top 16 in Bold

Advanced Power Generation, Storage, and 

Transmission;

Increased Available Power

3.1

Solar Power Generation (Photovoltaic and Thermal)

Fission Power Generation

Radioisotope Power Generation

Advanced Power Generation, Storage, and 

Transmission;

Increased Available Power

3.2 Batterie

Advanced Power Generation, Storage, and 

Transmission;

Increased Available Power

3.3 Power Distribution and Transmission;

Power Conversion and Regulation

5.3 Adaptive Network Topology

Efficient Accurate Navigation, Positioning, and 

Timing

5.4 (except 

5.4.3) Timekeeping and Time Distribution

EVA 6.2 Extravehicular Activity Portable Life Support Syst

Extravehicular Activity Pressure Garment

Long-Duration Health Effects 6.3 Long-Duration Crew 

6.4 Fire Detection and Suppression;

Fire Remediatio

Surface Systems 7.1 (7.1.2, 

7.1.3, 7.1.4)

ISRU Resource Acquisition;

ISRU Products/Production;

ISRU Manufacturing/Infrastructure, etc.

Surface Systems 7.2

Food Production, Processing, and Preservation;

Autonomous Logistics Management;

Maintenance System

Surface Systems 7.3 Surface Mobilit

Surface Systems 7.4 Smart Habitats;

Habitation Evolution

Surface Systems 7.6 Construction and Assembly;

Dust Prevention and Mitigation

Nanotechnology 10.2 Energy Generation (N

Nanotechnology 10.3 Nanopropellan

Nanotechnology 10.4 Sensors and Actuators (Na

Improved Flight Computers 11.1 Flight Computing;

Ground Computi

Modeling and Simulation 11.2 Science Modeling and Simulati

Modeling and Simulation 11.3 Distributed Simulatio

12.3 (12.3.1, 

12.3.4, 

12.3.5)

Deployables, Docking, and Interfaces;

Mechanisms: Design and Analysis Tools and Methods;

Mechanisms: Reliability/Life Assessment/Health Monitoring

12.4 (12.4.2) Intelligent Integrated Manufacturing and Cyber Physical Sy

12.5 (12.5.1) Nondestructive Evaluation and Sensors

Cryogenic Thermal Management 14.

14.2 Active Thermal Control of Cryogenic Systems

Table 5. Crosswalk of Adjacent investments, side B.
70

Science Mission Directorate Office of the Chief Technologi

Astrophysics Research and Analysis Centennial Chall

Discovery Program (502A) Center Innovation Fund

ESTO Flight Opportuniti

Exoplanet Exploration

Franklin Small Satellite Subsystems 

Technologies

HELIOS Game Changing Develo

Mars Exploration (269B) NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts

NASA Earth Scienc

Physics of the Cosmos (PCOS) Small Spacecraft Technology P

Planetary Science Research (51

Space Technology Research Grants

Space Technology Research Fellowships

Technology Program (051A) S

Human Exploration and Operations Missi

Directorate (HEOMD) Technology Demonstration Mi

Advanced Exploration Systems

Office of Safety and Mission Assurance 

(OSMA

SCaN NASA Electronic Parts and Packagin

Robotic Servicing Nondestructive Evaluation Program

Center Internal Research and Development

(IRAD

OSMA Software Assurance Research Program 

(SA

GSFC IRAD Range 

JSC 

Office of the Chief Information Officer 

(OCIO)

KSC IRAD Chief Information Of

Table 6. FY 2012 space technology programs by Mission Directorate and Office.

Appendix B: Summary of 2012 

Investments

This section summarizes NASA’s pioneering and crosscutting technology 

investments in FY 2012 and how they align with recommendations made by the 

NRC and in this NASASSTIP.  For up-to-date information on NASA’s 

development programs and projects, visit the OCT website and TechPort. Table 

6 includes a full list of NASA’s current space technology programs, by Miss

Directorate and Office.
71

Pioneering and crosscutting technology investments provide capabilities 

fundamental to the Agency’s direction and the U.S. space enterprise to increas

the affordability, safety, and feasibility of missions and ultimately enable travel to 

and exploration of destinations never before visited. Mission-specific technology 

investments provide particular capabilities identified for funded or planned 

missions. These investments are more narrowly focused and nearer term than 

pioneering and crosscutting investments. 

During FY 2012, NASA manages 1,237 pioneering and crosscutting investment 

projects divided among six responsible Offices and Mission Directorates. The 

total pioneering and crosscutting investment across the Agency is nearly $1 billion. 

About 90 percent of these investments (over 1,100 projects) represent investments 

of less than $500K per project. These investments are managed by OCT-STP, 

the Office of Safety and Mission Assurance (OSMA), Centers (Center IRAD), the 

Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO), SMD, and HEOMD. OCT-STP is 

responsible for the largest number of these investments, with over 900 projects, 95 

percent of which are investments of less than $500K. 

Analysis of these 1,237 projects shows that 40 percent of NASA’s pioneering and 

crosscutting investments are among the NRC’s top 16 technology priorities (shown 

in Figure 27). The RC also recommended that at least 10 percent of the Age

investment be in low-TRL (TRLs 1 and 2) technologies. Figure 28 shows that 18 

Figure 27. 

Percent of 

pioneering 

and 

crosscutting 

Agency 

investment in 

NRC top 16 

priorities.

Figure 28. 

Pioneering 

and 

crosscutting 

Agency 

investment 

by TRL.
72

percent of the FY 2012 investment is currently in low-TRL projects  The majority o

pioneering and crosscutting technology investment is in medium-TRL (3, 4, and 5

technology development projects. 

Figure 29 shows FY 2012 pioneering and crosscutting technology investments 

in each of the NRC top 16 priorities. This chart shows that the majority of 

investments in the NRC top 16 priorities are in the ECLSS, GNC, and EDL TPS 

priorities. Within ECLSS, some of the largest investments include the AES 

program’s Atmosphere Resource Recovery & Environmental Monitoring for Long 

Duration Exploration, Habitat Systems, Logistics Reduction and Repurposing, 

and Water Recovery projects. Other large investments in this priority include the 

STP Next Generation Life Support, Space Synthetic Biology, and a portion of the 

Autonomous Systems project. The largest portion of the GNC investments is the 

AES program’s Morpheus VTB/ALHAT project. The EDL TPS investments are 

largely comprised of the STP Technology Demonstration Mission Low Density 

Supersonic Decelerators project. 

The priorities with lowest FY 2012 pioneering and crosscutting investment include 

Fission Power Generation, Long-Duration Crew Health, Detectors and Focal 

Planes, and Active Thermal Control of Cryogenic Systems. These are potential 

gap areas for further investment. 

Figure 29. FY 2012 investment in NRC top 16 priorities and number of FY 2012 projects aligned with NRC top 16 priorities.
73

Figure 30 shows how FY 2012 pioneering and crosscutting investments align 

to each of the four pillars of the NASA SSTIP framework. Investment in each 

pillar represents the total investment in projects aligned to that goal; projects 

may be aligned with more than one goal. This figure shows there are no gaps in 

investment among the four goals. The greatest investment is fairly even across 

goals 1, 2, and 4, and goal 3 has the least investment. 

Additional analysis of the FY 2012 pioneering and crosscutting investments 

against NASA SSTIP technology investment classifications shows 71 percent of 

investments in Core, 20 percent in Adjacent, and 9 percent in Complementary. 

These results are consistent with the NASA SSTIP approach, which specifies 70 

percent of investment in Core, 20 percent investment in Adjacent, and 10 percent 

of investment in Complementary technology investments.

Figure 30. FY 2012 investment in four strategic technology investment goals.
74

Appendix C: Summary of the 

NASA SSTIP Development Proces

The NASA SSTIP development process included four major steps (Figure 31): 

1) Gap analysi

2) Filtering 

3) Ranki

4) Decision making 

To complete these steps, OCT collected NASA’s current pioneering

crosscutting technology investments, analyzed them against priorities, identified 

technology gaps where high priorities were unfunded, verified these priorities 

were consistent with NASA’s strategy and U.S. policy, and ranked the priorities 

to determine the Agency’s highest priority space technology investment needs. 

These high-priority needs were evaluated by NASA’s senior leaders at decisionmaking meetings to create the NASA SSIP.  The senior leaders caref

evaluated the priorities to determine the content of the plan, ensuring that it 

provides a balanced and effective approach. In this context, the leadership team 

did not interpret balance to mean equal amounts of investment. Rather, they 

used the term balance to refer to traceable prioritization of investment across 

Figure 31. 

FY 2012 

investment in 

four strategic 

technology 

investment 

goals.
75

all 14 technical areas in the Space Technology Roadmaps, at each TRL, and 

both mission-focused, or “pull,” technologies and pioneering and crosscutting 

“push” technologies. The senior leaders developed the NASA SSTIP framework, 

investment approach, and defined the governance for its execution. This process 

is further described below. 

Gap Analysi

NASA collected data from five major sources to conduct the gap analysis:

•	 NASA Space Technology Roadm

•	 RC recommendations as documented in NASA Space Technolo

Roadmaps and Priorities: Restoring NASA’s Technological Edge and 

Paving the Way for a New Era in Space (2012).

•	 Mission Directorate priorities

•	 NASA’s current space technology investments from 1,237 active NASA

projects.

•	 Priorities of other Government agencies, international partners, and 

commercial sector entities, in response to a data call by OC

Space Technology Roadmaps and Technology Area Breakdown Structure

The Space Technology Roadmaps were developed to support NASA’s technology 

prioritization and planning activities. These roadmaps include detailed technology 

milestones that represent major technology investments in 320 technologies over 

the next 20 years. For the NASA SSTIP, NASA extracted near-term milest

from the roadmaps, resulting in potential technology development activities over 

the next four years, through 2016. These technology development activities are 

structured by the Technology Area Breakdown Structure (TABS); account for time 

sequencing and interdependencies; and represent potential technologies that will 

enable near-term successes, continued technology maturation and demonstration, 

and long-term goal achievement. 

Figure 32. 

NASA SSTIP 

development 

process by 

sources.
76

NRC Priorities and Recommendations

The NRC conducted an independent evaluation of the Space Technology 

Roadmaps and developed a set of technology priorities and technology investment 

recommendations for NASA. The NRC developed three technology objectives, 

100 top technical challenges, and 83 high-priority technologies from the 

technologies described in the roadmaps. Of those 83 high-priority technologies, 16

were identified as top priorities for near-term investment by NASA, based on their 

close ties to the Agency’s primary exploration and science objectives and related 

technical challenges. 

With the prioritized technologies identified in the report, the NRC also provided 

specific technology investment recommendations, including: 

•	 Providing a process to manage the investment and progression of 

technologies from development to use.

•	 Investing in tipping point technologies that could yield large advances with 

relatively small investments.

•	 Sustaining a modest investment in low-TRL technolog

•	 Enabling flight demonstrations for high-TRL technologies in collaboratio

with NASA and outside partners. 

Data Call on Current Investment

To support the NASA SSTIP process, OCT issued an Agency-wide data call to 

capture all pioneering and crosscutting space technology investment areas from 

across NASA. In just three weeks, NASA’s Mission Directorates and Offices 

responded positively to the data call, providing detailed technology data on 1,237 

technology projects. A large amount of data was collected for each technology 

project, including project descriptions, technology readiness levels, technology 

areas, responsible parties, and partnerships. The inventory includes technology 

projects from OCT-STP, HEOMD, SMD, OSMA, the Center IRAD

OCIO. Because the Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate operates with a 

previously approved National Aeronautics Research and Development plan, their 

projects were not included in the NASA SSTIP or the project inventory. At the time 

of the data call, some programs within Mission Directorates and Offices had not 

completed the FY 2012 technology solicitation, selection, and awards process.

Known solicitations were added to this analysis (included in the 1,237 technology 

projects) using the topic areas, technology readiness level requested, and solicited 

project values.

Priorities of Internal and External Stakeholder

OCT sought input from NASA’s internal stakeholders—Mission Directorates and 

Offices—and external stakeholders and partners—other Government agencies, 

commercial space entities, and international partners—on their top priorities 

for space technology investment. Each Mission Directorate and Office used its 

own internal process to identify technical challenges, needed capabilities, and 

priorities. For example, HEOMD leveraged previous work completed by the 
77

Human Space Flight Architecture Team to develop its priorities. The priorities 

of Mission Directorates and Offices represent an internal perspective of the top 

needs across all of NASA’s missions in human spaceflight, science, and space 

technology. When OCT received responses from other Government agencies, 

international partners, and commercial space entities, their lists of technology 

investment priorities were compared to the NRC’s and internal priorities to 

determine a comprehensive list of crosscutting technologies that could provide the 

most significant benefit to the Nation.

Analysis

OCT used a rigorous process to organize and link current project data through the 

Space Technology Roadmap TAB.  Then, analysts compared the curren

space technology investments against the NRC recommendations to identify gaps 

in technology investments. Similarly, the analysts compared the current NASA 

space technology investments against the comprehensive list of internal and 

external stakeholders’ technology investment priorities and identified gaps. These 

technology gaps were evaluated against the NASA Space Technology Roadmaps 

to verify that all critical technology needs had been captured. The gap analysis 

resulted in a detailed list of NASA technology investments, a compiled list of highpriority technology themes, and an understanding of unfunded priorities. 

Filtering

Beginning with the products of the gap analysis, NASA analysts compared the list 

of high-priority themes with the 2010 U.S. Space Policy, 2011 NASA Strategic Plan, 

and individual Mission Directorate inputs. The purpose of this step is to verify that 

all technologies on the new, refined list met national policy, the NASA Strategic 

Plan, and Mission Directorate needs. The list is complete, but a few minor 

discrepancies received additional evaluation in the fourth step of the process, 

described below.

Ranking

The consolidated list of high-priority technology themes is long enough that the 

NASA SSTIP further distinguishes among these high priorities: it establish

more limited list that may be achieved within the anticipated technology budget for 

space technology across the Agency in FY 2013 to FY 2016, the timeframe th

the present release of the NASA SSTIP covers. At the time of this writing, this total 

includes the budget for mission-specific technology investments and pioneering 

and crosscutting work. Specifically, it includes the Space Technology Program and 

certain work within technology programs managed by NASA Mission Directorates 

and Offices, such as the AES program. The total for pioneering and crosscutting 

technologies is approximately $1 billion per year. The total for mission-specific 

technology investments varies with the year-to-year expenditures associated with 

specific missions.
78

The ranking captured the priorities of NASA’s external stakeholders, including 

other Government agencies, international partners, and the commercial sector. 

This approach enables appropriate consideration of potential collaborative 

activities. If there is something in it for NASA—more than what could be achieved 

without a partnership—such an opportunity can be given greater weight in deciding 

the makeup of NASA’s technology portfol

Rankings were based on several criteria, including NASA Mission Directorate 

priorities met; NRC priorities met; crosscutting capabilities provided to NASA, other 

Government agencies, international partners, and the space industry; partnership 

opportunities; current investment; available facilities and workforce; and overall 

benefits provided to NASA and the Nation. The product of this step is a ranked list 

of needed technologies.

Decision Maki

NASA senior leaders, including representation from each Mission Directora

collaborated in a series of Agency meetings to develop a balanced portfolio 

considering the ranked list of NASA and stakeholder priorities, the Agency-level 

budget, progress in currently funded technologies, and NRC guidance to provide 

balance across technology areas and TRL range. This activity resulted in the 

NASA SSTIP’s investment approach and framework. The senior leadership 

decided on a 70-20-10 approach for balancing investment—70 percent of 

technology investment in mission-specific and eight Core pioneering and 

crosscutting technologies, 20 percent in Adjacent pioneering and crosscutting

technologies, and 10 percent in Complementary pioneering and crosscutting

technologies. They also developed the four pillars of Agency investment that 

provide the framework for NASA’s space technology investment strategy. The 

senior leaders collaboratively arrived at these conclusions, as well as the 

appropriate principles to balance the portfolio and execute the plan. Lastly, the 

meetings determined that NTEC would be the governing body of the report. NTEC 

reviewed this NASA SSTIP and will review and lead decisions guiding future 

editions of the NASA S
79

Appendix D: Updated Spac

Technology Roadmap TABS

The 14 Technology Area teams considered the NRC’s recommendations 

revising the Space Technology Roadmap Areas and made changes accordingly. 

The final Space Technology Roadmap TABS is included in a two-page spread.
80

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r 4QBDF 5FUIFS "TTJTU

r #FBNFE &OFSHZ  &OFSHZ

"EEJUJPO

r /VDMFBS

r )JHI &OFSHZ %FOTJUZ

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CHEMICAL PROPULSION

r -JRVJE 4UPSBCMF

r -JRVJE $SZPHFOJD

r (FMT

r 4PMJE

r )ZCSJE

r $PME (BT8BSN (BT

r .JDSPQSPQVMTJPO

NON-CHEMICAL PROPULSION

r &MFDUSJD 1SPQVMTJPO

r 4PMBS 4BJM 1SPQVMTJPO

r ăFSNBM 1SPQVMTJPO

r 5FUIFS 1SPQVMTJPO

ADVANCED (TRL <3) PROPULSION

TECHNOLOGIES

r #FBNFE &OFSHZ 1SPQVMTJPO

r &MFDUSJD 4BJM 1SPQVMTJPO

r 'VTJPO 1SPQVMTJPO

r )JHI &OFSHZ %FOTJUZ .BUFSJBMT

r "OUJNBUUFS 1SPQVMTJPO

r "EWBODFE 'JTTJPO

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SUPPORTING TECHNOLOGIES

r 1SPQFMMBOU 4UPSBHF  5SBOTGFS

TA02 
	


	
	

TA03 					

POWER GENERATION

r &OFSHZ )BSWFTUJOH

r $IFNJDBM 	'VFM $FMMT
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r $POWFSTJPO  3FHVMBUJPO

CROSS CUTTING TECHNOLOGY

r "OBMZUJDBM 5PPMT

r (SFFO &OFSHZ *NQBDU

r .VMUJGVODUJPOBM 4USVDUVSFT

r "MUFSOBUJWF 'VFMT

TA04 
		


	

TA05 





TA06 	

	



	

TA07 

	


TA08 

	

	

SENSING & PERCEPTION

r % 1FSDFQUJPO

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r 0OCPBSE 4DJFODF %BUB "OBMZTJT

MOBILITY

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r #FMPX4VSGBDF .PCJMJUZ

r "CPWF4VSGBDF .PCJMJUZ

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r $PMMBCPSBUJWF .BOJQVMBUJPO

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HUMAN-SYSTEMS INTEGRATION

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r *OUFOU 3FDPHOJUJPO  3FBDUJPO

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'%*3

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Tools

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INTEGRATED TECHNOLOGIES

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IN-SITU RE

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r $POTVN

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r i4NBSUu 

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SENSORS

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r &MFDUSPO

r 0QUJDBM $

r .JDSPXB

r Lasers

r $SZPHFO

OBSERVATO

r .JSSPS 4

r 4USVDUVS

r %JTUSJCV

IN-SITU INS

r 1BSUJDMFT

r 'JFMET  

r *O4JUV

TA01 TA02 TA03 TA04

TA05 TA06 TA07 TA08

TA09 TA10

National Aeronautics and Space Administration



Spa
81








TA07 	


	

	

TA08 
		
	

	
		

	

TA09 			
	

TA10 	

TA11 	







		


TA12 	
		


	



TA13 

		


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“ADVANCED” HUMAN MOBILITY

SYSTEMS

r &7" .PCJMJUZ

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“ADVANCED” HABITAT SYSTEMS

r *OUFHSBUFE )BCJUBU 4ZTUFNT

r )BCJUBU &WPMVUJPO

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MISSION OPERATIONS & SAFETY

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4ZTUFNT

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CROSS-CUTTING SYSTEMS

r $POTUSVDUJPO  "TTFNCMZ

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REMOTE SENSING INSTRUMENTS /

SENSORS

r %FUFDUPST  'PDBM 1MBOFT

r &MFDUSPOJDT

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r Lasers

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OBSERVATORIES

r .JSSPS 4ZTUFNT

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IN-SITU INSTRUMENTS / SENSOR

r 1BSUJDMFT $IBSHFE  /FVUSBM

r 'JFMET  8BWFT

r *O4JUV

AEROASSIST & ATMOSPHERIC ENTRY

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r 'MFYJCMF ăFSNBM 1SPUFDUJPO 4ZTUFNT

r 3JHJE )ZQFSTPOJD %FDFMFSBUPST

r %FQMPZBCMF )ZQFSTPOJD %FDFMFSBUPST

DESCENT

r "UUBDIFE %FQMPZBCMF %FDFMFSBUPST

r 5SBJMJOH %FQMPZBCMF %FDFMFSBUPST

r 4VQFSTPOJD 3FUSPQSPQVMTJPO

LANDING

r 5PVDIEPXO 4ZTUFNT

r &HSFTT  %FQMPZNFOU 4ZTUFNT

r 1SPQVMTJPO 4ZTUFNT

r 4NBMM #PEZ 4ZTUFNT

VEHICLE SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGY

r 4FQBSBUJPO 4ZTUFNT

r 4ZTUFN *OUFHSBUJPO BOE "OBMZTFT

r "UNPTQIFSF  TVSGBDF DIBSBDUFSJ[BUJPO

r .PEFMJOH BOE 4JNVMBUJPO

r *OTUSVNFOUBUJPO BOE )FBMUI .POJUPSJOH

r (/$ 4FOTPST BOE 4ZTUFNT

ENGINEERED MATERIALS & STRUCTURES

r -JHIUXFJHIU 4USVDUVSFT

r %BNBHF 5PMFSBOU 4ZTUFNT

r $PBUJOHT

r "EIFTJWFT

r ăFSNBM 1SPUFDUJPO  $POUSPM

ENERGY GENERATION & STORAGE

r &OFSHZ 4UPSBHF

r &OFSHZ (FOFSBUJPO

PROPULSION 

r Propellants

r 1SPQVMTJPO $PNQPOFOUT

r *O4QBDF 1SPQVMTJPO

SENSORS, ELECTRONICS & DEVICES

r 4FOTPST  "DUVBUPST

r /BOPFMFDUSPOJDT

r .JOJBUVSF *OTUSVNFOUT

COMPUTING

r 'MJHIU $PNQVUJOH

r (SPVOE $PNQVUJOH

MODELING

r 4PĕXBSF .PEFMJOH  .PEFM$IFDLJOH

r *OUFHSBUFE )BSEXBSF  4PĕXBSF .PEFMJOH

r )VNBO4ZTUFN 1FSGPSNBODF .PEFMJOH

r 4DJFODF .PEFMJOH

r 'SBNFXPSLT
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SIMULATION

r %JTUSJCVUFE 4JNVMBUJPO

r *OUFHSBUFE 4ZTUFN -JGFDZDMF 4JNVMBUJPO

r 4JNVMBUJPO#BTFE 4ZTUFNT &OHJOFFSJOH

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%FDJTJPO 4VQQPSU 4ZTUFNT

INFORMATION PROCESSING

r 4DJFODF
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-JGFDZDMF

r *OUFMMJHFOU %BUB 6OEFSTUBOEJOH

r 4FNBOUJD 5FDIOPMPHJFT

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r "EWBODFE .JTTJPO 4ZTUFNT

MATERIALS

r -JHIUXFJHIU 4USVDUVSF

r $PNQVUBUJPOBM %FTJHO

r 'MFYJCMF .BUFSJBM 4ZTUFNT

r &OWJSPONFOU

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STRUCTURES

r -JHIUXFJHIU $PODFQUT

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MECHANICAL SYSTEMS

r %FQMPZBCMFT
 %PDLJOH BOE *OUFSGBDFT

r .FDIBOJTN -JGF &YUFOTJPO 4ZTUFNT

r &MFDUSPNFDIBOJDBM
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.JDSPNFDIBOJTNT

r %FTJHO  "OBMZTJT 5PPMT BOE .FUIPET

r 3FMJBCJMJUZ  -JGF "TTFTTNFOU  )FBMUI

.POJUPSJOH

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MANUFACTURING

r .BOVGBDUVSJOH 1SPDFTTFT

r *OUFMMJHFOU *OUFHSBUFE .BOVGBDUVSJOH BOE

$ZCFS 1IZTJDBM 4ZTUFNT

r &MFDUSPOJDT  0QUJDT .BOVGBDUVSJOH 1SPDFTT

r 4VTUBJOBCMF .BOVGBDUVSJOH

CROSS-CUTTING

r /POEFTUSVDUJWF &WBMVBUJPO

r .PEFM#BTFE $FSUJđDBUJPO 

4VTUBJONFOU .FUIPET

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TECHNOLOGIES TO OPTIMIZE THE

OPERATIONAL LIFE-CYCLE

r 4UPSBHF
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$POTFSWBUJPO PG 'MVJET

r "VUPNBUFE "MJHONFOU
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$POUSPM GPS (SPVOE BOE *OUFHSBUFE

7FIJDMF  (SPVOE 4ZTUFNT

ENVIRONMENTAL AND GREEN

TECHNOLOGIES

r $PSSPTJPO 1SFWFOUJPO
 %FUFDUJPO


 .JUJHBUJPO

r &OWJSPONFOUBM 3FNFEJBUJPO 

4JUF 3FTUPSBUJPO

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r "MUFSOBUF &OFSHZ 1SPUPUZQFT

TECHNOLOGIES TO INCREASE RELI- ABILITY AND MISSION AVAILABILITY

r "EWBODFE -BVODI 5FDIOPMPHJFT

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BOE 4USVDUVSFT

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 *EFOUJđDBUJPO

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r 3FQBJS
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5FDIOPMPHJFT

r $PNNVOJDBUJPOT
 /FUXPSLJOH


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TECHNOLOGIES TO IMPROVE MISSION SAFETY/MISSION RISK

r 3BOHF 5SBDLJOH
 4VSWFJMMBODF 

'MJHIU 4BGFUZ 5FDIOPMPHJFT

r -BOEJOH  3FDPWFSZ 4ZTUFNT 

$PNQPOFOUT

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r 3PCPUJDT  5FMFSPCPUJDT

r 4BGFUZ 4ZTUFNT

CRYOGENIC SYSTEMS

r 1BTTJWF ăFSNBM $POUSPM

r "DUJWF ăFSNBM $POUSPM

r *OUFHSBUJPO  .PEFMJOH

THERMAL CONTROL SYSTEMS

r )FBU "DRVJTJUJPO

r )FBU 5SBOTGFS

r )FBU 3FKFDUJPO  &OFSHZ 4UPSBHF

THERMAL PROTECTION SYSTEMS

r &OUSZ  "TDFOU 514

r 1MVNF 4IJFMEJOH 	$POWFDUJWF

 3BEJBUJWF


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5FDIOPMPHJFT

TA11 TA12

TA13 TA14







	



Space Technology Roadmaps
82

Appendix E: Contributor

Mason Pec

NASA Chief Technolo

Office of the Chief Technologist

NASA Headquar

Faith Chandler

NASA SSTIP Development Manager

Office of the Chief Technologist

NASA Headquar

Rob Anderson

Office of the Chief Engineer

NASA Headquar

Harold Bel

Office of the Chief Engineer

NASA Headquar

Jason Crusa

Human Exploration and 

Operations Mission Directora

NASA Headquar

Chris Moor

Human Exploration and 

Operations Mission Directora

NASA Headquar

Mike Moo

Science Mission Directorat

NASA Headquar

David Moy

Office of the Chief Technologist

NASA Headquar

Harry Partridg

Office of the Chief Technologist

NASA Headquar

Mark Redlinge

Office of the Chief Technologist

NASA Headquar

James Reuthe

Office of the Chief Technologist

NASA Headquar

Anthony Strazisar

Aeronautics Research Missi

Directorate

NASA Headquar

Calvin William

Mission Support Directorat

NASA Headquar

Lindsey Bagle

The Tauri Grou

Elaine Gresh

The Tauri Grou

Rachael Lusso

The Tauri Grou

Carie Mullin

The Tauri Grou

John Nelso

The Tauri Grou

Phil Smith

The Tauri Grou

NASA CONTRIBUTOR

Mike Battagli

Office of the Chief Technologist

NASA Headquar

Keith Belvi

Center Chief Technologi

Langley Research Cen

Stacey Brooks

Office of the Chief Technologist

NASA Headquar

John Hin

Center Chief Technologi

Ames Research Cen

Diana Ho

Office of the Chief Technologist

NASA Headquar

Peter Hughe

Center Chief Technologi

Goddard Space Flight Cent

LEADERSHIP TEAM A
83

Andrew Key

Center Chief Technologi

Marshall Space Flight Cent

Randy Lillar

Office of the Chief Technologist

NASA Headquar

Dan Lockn

Office of the Chief Technologist

NASA Headquar

Alexander MacDona

Office of the Chief Technologist

NASA Headquar

David McGo

Office of the Chief Technologist

NASA Headquar

Denise Podolsk

Office of the Chief Technologist

NASA Headquar

Julie Pollit

Office of the Chief Financial 

Officer

NASA Headquar

Kina Ratanje

Office of the Chief Technologist

NASA Headquar

Carl Ray

Office of the Chief Technologist

NASA Headquar

Howard Ros

Center Chief Technologi

Glenn Research Cen

John Sai

Center Chief Technologi

Johnson Space Cent

Karen Thompso

Center Chief Technologi

Kennedy Space Cent

Ramona Travis

Center Chief Technologi

Stennis Space Cente

David Vorac

Center Chief Technologi

Dryden Flight Research Cent

Damian Taylo

Office of the Chief Technologist

NASA Headquar

John Zmuidzin

Center Chief Technologi

Jet Propulsion Laborat

EXTERNAL CONTRIB

Paul Benda

Department of Homeland

Security

Sam Black

Satellite Industry Associati

Rebecca Blank

Department of Commerc

William F. Brinkma

Department of Energ

Glen Crawfor

Department of Energ

Dan Hendricks

Aerospace Industrie

Associatio

Marcos Heur

Department of Energ

Steve Isakowitz

Virgin Galact

Aerospace Industrie

Associatio

Robert Kavloc

Environmental Protection 

Agenc

Kate Kronmill

Orbital Sciences Corporati

Satellite Industry Associati

Zachary Lemni

Department of Defense

Sal Mann

Inmarsa

Satellite Industry Associati

George C. Niel

Federal Aviation Administration

Bill Readdy

American Pacific Corporation

Alexander Saltman

Commercial Spaceflight 

Federation

Space

Aerospace Industrie

Associatio

Ric VanderMeul

ViaSat, In

Satellite Industry Associati

Julie Van Kle

Aeroje
84

Acronyms

AES Advanced Exploration Systems

ALAT  Autonomous Landing and Hazard Avoidance Techno

COTS Commercial Orbital Transportation Services

CPS  Cryogenic Propellant Storage and Tran

ECLSS Environmental Control and Life Support Sys

ED  Entry, Descent, and Lan

EST  Earth Science Technology Offi

EA  Extravehicular Activ

FDIR Fault Detection and Isolation and Recovery

GC  Guidance, Navigation, and Cont

GSF  Goddard Space Flight Ce

HEOMD Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directo

HID  Hypersonic Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelera

IRAD Internal Research and Development

ISP  Integrated Solar Energetic 

ISU  In-Situ Resource Utilizat

ISS International Space Stati

JPL  Jet Propulsion La

JSC  Johnson Space 

KSC  Kennedy Space 

kW Kilowat

LADEE Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Expl

LO  Low Earth Or

LIAR  Light Detection And 

MC-CAD Monte Carlo Radiation Analysis of Detailed Computer Ai

Mbps  Megabits Per S

MES  Microelectromechanical Sy

MISE  Materials International Space Station Experim
85

MMD  Micrometeoroids and Orbital D

MSL  Mars Science Labo

mT Metric To

NASA  National Aeronautics and Space Admini

NA  Near-Earth As

NO  Near-Earth 

NET  NASA Evolutionary Xenon Thrus

NIAC NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts

NC  National Research C

NTC  NASA Technology Executive Coun

OIO  Office of the Chief Information Off

OC  Office of the Chief Technologi

OSA  Office of Safety and Mission Assura

PCOS  Physics of the

PLS  Portable Life Support Sy

PN  Position, Navigation, and Timi

RBCC  Rocket Based Comb

RF Radiofrequen

SARP Software Assurance Research Program

SBR  Small Business Innovation Resea

SMD Science Mission Directora

SpaceX Space Exploration Technologies Corp.

SPHERES Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient Experime

Satellites

SSTI  Strategic Space Technology Investment Pl

STP  Space Technology Pro

STTR Small Business Technology Transf

T/R Transceivers/Receivers

TAB  Technology Area Breakdown Structu

TBCC  Turbine Based Combin

TDM Technology Demonstration Missio

TPS Thermal Protection Syste

TR  Technology Readiness Lev

VT  Vertical Test
86

References

National Aeronautics and Space Administratio.  2011 NASA Strategic Pla

Washington DC: National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Retrieved from 

http://www.nasa.gov/news/budget/index.html.

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87

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88

Endnote

1 National Research Counci.  (2010.  Rising Above the Gathering Storm, Revisite.  Washingt

DC: The National Academies Pr

2 National Aeronautics and Space Administratio.  (2010.  In-Space Propulsion Systems Roadma

Technology Area 02. Washington DC: National Aeronautics and Science Administration. Retrieved 

from http://www.nasa.gov/offices/oct/home/roadmaps/index.html

3 National Aeronautics and Space Administratio.  (2010.  Nanotechnology Roadmap: Technolo

Area 10. Washington DC: National Aeronautics and Science Administration. Retrieved from http://

www.nasa.gov/offices/oct/home/roadmaps/index.html

4 National Research Counci.  (2012.  NASA Space Technology Roadmaps and Priorities: Restori

NASA’s Technological Edge and Paving the Way for a New Era in Space. Washington, DC: Th

National Academies Pre

5 White House Administration. (2010). National Space Policy of the United States of America.

6 National Research Counci.  (2012.  NASA Space Technology Roadmaps and Priorities: Restori

NASA’s Technological Edge and Paving the Way for a New Era in Space. Washington, DC: Th

National Academies Pre

7

 National Research Council. (2012). NASA Space Technology Roadmaps and Priorities: Restoring 

NASA’s Technological Edge and Paving the Way for a New Era in Space. Washington, DC: The 

National Academies Press.

8 National Research Counci.  (2012.  NASA Space Technology Roadmaps and Priorities: Restori

NASA’s Technological Edge and Paving the Way for a New Era in Space. Washington, DC: Th

National Academies Pre

9 National Research Counci.  (2012.  NASA Space Technology Roadmaps and Priorities: Restori

NASA’s Technological Edge and Paving the Way for a New Era in Space. Washington, DC: Th

National Academies Pre

10 National Research Counci.  (2012.  NASA Space Technology Roadmaps and Priorities: Restori

NASA’s Technological Edge and Paving the Way for a New Era in Space. Washington, DC: Th

National Academies Pre

11 White House Administration. (2012). Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and 

Agencies, Subject: Science and Technology Priorities for the FY 2014 Budget