Video Transcript: page 1 of 3

NASA TechFlights Informa<onal Video Feb. 27, 2023

Video Transcript

NASA TechFlights Informa6onal Video

Feb. 27, 2023

NASA TechFlights provides an opportunity to test your space technology in a relevant 

environment. 

In this video, you’ll learn about the basics of NASA TechFlights, who and what technologies are 

eligible for funding, how much funding is provided and what it can be used for, and a liDle bit 

about the proposal process.

Let’s start with the basics. 

NASA TechFlights is a recurring call for proposals. The awards provide funding for researchers 

outside of NASA to purchase flights from commercial flight providers for tesGng technologies for 

space applicaGons on suborbital vehicles or orbital plaHorms that can host payloads. 

Topics for TechFlights are designed to support the agency’s strategy and address criGcal 

technology needs. You can learn more about specific gaps to be addressed at 

techport.nasa.gov/framework.

Although the exact list of topics changes each year, TechFlights has supported a wide variety of 

technology areas and researchers from many different disciplines. If TechFlights is not open 

now, you can review prior years' solicitaGons to see past topics.

Now, let’s consider who and what technologies are eligible for NASA TechFlights.

TechFlights is open to U.S.-based researchers from industry, not-for-profit research 

organizaGons, academia, and private research insGtutes. 

If you are outside the United States, you may be eligible to collaborate with a U.S.-based 

principal invesGgator. Check the solicitaGon for specific eligibility details.

NASA employees and NASA-badged contractors cannot be the PI. But they can parGcipate as coinvesGgators or collaborators. Again, check the solicitaGon for specific eligibility details or 

contact Flight OpportuniGes to learn more about flight tesGng opGons for NASA researchers.

A technology readiness level of 4 is expected, and you must have demonstrated the proof of 

concept. Basic research is not a good fit for TechFlights.

Next, let’s talk about the funding.
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NASA TechFlights Informa<onal Video Feb. 27, 2023

The exact funding amount varies each year and will be specified in the solicitaGon. Past awards 

have been up to seven hundred fiXy thousand dollars. You are not required to bring any funding 

to the table, although cost sharing is allowed. 

You can use the funds to purchase commercial flight tests from a qualified provider. The Flight 

OpportuniGes program has contracts with several providers, although TechFlights researchers 

are not restricted to the current vendors or those that have previously supported TechFlights 

researchers. However, your flight provider must meet the requirements of the solicitaGon.

The TechFlights solicitaGon historically has included several vehicle types for the flight tests, 

including aircraX that fly parabolic profiles, high-alGtude balloons, suborbital launch vehicles, 

verGcal takeoff verGcal landing vehicles, and orbital plaHorms that can host payloads. You can 

view more informaGon about commercial providers that have supported TechFlights researchers 

on the Flight OpportuniGes website

In addiGon to paying for the flight, funds can be used to help you prepare your technology to be 

a flight-tesGng payload. You can pay for flight hardware buildup and tests to ensure your 

technology is ready for flight. Funds can cover the labor costs of personnel associated with this 

work as well as travel to the test site. 

In addiGon, TechFlights wants to inspire the next generaGon of scienGsts and engineers, so a 

porGon of the funding can be used to cover educaGonal acGviGes for payloads that have direct 

involvement of K through 12 students or educators from public or non-profit schools. The 

educaGonal funds can also cover acGviGes involving undergraduate students. 

Now, let’s look briefly at the TechFlights proposal process.

First, there’s a mandatory preliminary proposal. Then, some of the proposers are invited to 

submit a full proposal. The requirements for the preliminary proposal are lower to make it 

easier for you to submit your idea. And if you have more than one idea, you can submit more 

than one MPP.

TechFlights proposals are evaluated using a dual-anonymous peer review. This means that you 

won’t know the idenGty of the reviewers, and the reviewers won’t know who you are unGl aXer 

the proposal's technical merit has been evaluated. The goal of this approach is to ensure 

reviewers focus on the technical merit of each preliminary and full proposal without being 

affected by unconscious biases.

We know you might have addiGonal quesGons about TechFlights and the proposal process. 

There are many resources available, including as part of the Community of PracGce webinar 

series. We encourage you to explore the Flight OpportuniGes website learn more!

In the meanGme, you are strongly encouraged to plan ahead. 
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NASA TechFlights Informa<onal Video Feb. 27, 2023

• First, ensure your organizaGon is a registered enGty on SAM, the U.S. government’s 

System for Award Management. 

• Next, register on NSPIRES. 

• Go to the Flight OpportuniGes website and subscribe to the newsleDer to receive 

solicitaGon announcements. 

• And if the solicitaGon hasn’t opened yet, Flight OpportuniGes team members can talk 

with you about your ideas and answer your quesGons. 

• Most importantly, start thinking now about how your space technology might benefit 

from flight tesGng. 

Thanks for watching, and we hope to see you responding to the next NASA TechFlights 

SolicitaGon