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Strategic Objective

Develop enabling space technologies for NASA and the nation.

Strategic Objective

Transform NASA missions and advance the Nation’s capabilities by maturing crosscutting and innovative space technologies.

Lead Office: Space Technology Mission Directorate

Themes:

General Science, Space, and Technology

NASA.gov

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Overview
Progress Update

Overview

NASA invests in cross-cutting, transformational space technologies that have high potential for offsetting mission risk, reducing costs, and advancing existing capabilities, which makes achieving more challenging missions possible. These technologies enable a new class of space missions; strengthen our Nation’s leadership in space-related science, technology, and industrial base; and foster a technology-based U.S. economy.

Drawing on talent from our workforce, academia, small business, and the broader space enterprise, NASA delivers innovative solutions that dramatically

Progress Update

Through the Strategic Review and the Agency’s other performance management processes, NASA reviews recent accomplishments and near term plans for the Agency’s strategic objectives and programs. Under Strategic Objective 1.7, NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) works to mature crosscutting and innovative space technologies. STMD is making great strides by delivering new technologies and capabilities (for example, completing the first two major demonstration of the Low Density Supersonic Decelerator, advancing the state of the art in high power solar arrays to enable future electric propulsion systems, completing mission infusion review of compression pad technology for Orion Exploration Mission (EM) 1, delivering Robonaut 2 legs and 3D printer hardware to the ISS, and flying PhoneSat missions).

Over the next several years, NASA’s critical next steps are to continue exploring early stage concepts, advancing promising new technologies, and maturing transformative solutions for flight demonstration. This approach will include continued emphasis on portfolio balance and lean, rapid technology development. STMD will also continue to emphasize partnerships within and outside the Agency. Specific performance measures for the next two years can be found in NASA’s FY 2016 and FY 2017 Annual Performance Plans.

The Strategic Review also addresses long-term strategic outcomes, alignment, and key management challenges for each strategic objective, as well as across NASA’s portfolio of activities. In 10 years, NASA plans that the Agency’s current efforts under Strategic Objective 1.7 will lead to advancing technology solutions that address NASA mission challenges and other national needs, as well as the market challenges of providing state-of-the-art commercial space products and services that significantly benefit the commercial space sector. However, STMD foresees several challenges and is pursing risk mitigation strategies for these issues.

This strategic objective has faced historical funding uncertainty, which creates programmatic planning challenges. STMD strives to remain flexible in an uncertain budget environment.
STMD pursues high-risk technology development. As is expected in such endeavors, STMD experiences challenges and setbacks. STMD continues to respond to budget constraints; cost, schedule, and performance issues; and other factors with both preventative and corrective actions.
STMD recognizes the opportunity to further improve the integration of activities and technology transition. To increase the probability of transition, STMD conducts activities such as early stage innovation workshops, is increasing emphasis on SBIR post-Phase II activities, and is investing in tipping point technologies that are particularly promising opportunities for the U.S. commercial space sector.
Access to space is also a challenge. To demonstrate new technology capabilities in space, STMD relies on rideshare launch capabilities (i.e., as secondary payloads or hosted payloads). Increasing launch costs and limited availability are challenges.

For more information, please see http://www.nasa.gov/directorates/spacetech/home/. Highlighted achievements during FY 2015 are detailed in the FY 2015 Agency Financial Report. Additional details on the FY 2015 performance for supporting Performance Goals and Annual Performance Indicators are provided in NASA’s FY 2015 Annual Performance Report. Information on the strategies for achieving this strategic objective can be found in the 2014 NASA Strategic Plan.

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Strategic Goals

Strategic Goal:

Expand the space frontier.

Statement:

Expand the frontiers of knowledge, capability, and opportunity in space.

Strategic Objectives

Develop evolving exploration systems and capabilities.

Statement:

Expand human presence into the solar system and to the surface of Mars to advance exploration, science, innovation, benefits to humanity, and international collaboration.

Description:

Over the next decades, NASA intends to erase the boundaries to human exploration of space. We want to open new frontiers beyond low Earth orbit to humankind. NASA is expanding human exploration by developing the capability to transport humans to and from deep space, enabling the exploration of other planets and asteroids within our solar system using innovative, advanced technologies.

As a starting point, exploring deep space requires the capability to transport cargo and crew beyond low Earth orbit, or farther than 2,000 kilometers beyond Earth. NASA is developing a new transportation system that includes a crew capsule, a heavy-lift launch vehicle, and supporting ground facilities and systems.

NASA is developing technologies to enable the additional capabilities that will be required the farther away from Earth we travel. These include the capabilities for in-space propulsion, in-space operations, long-duration habitation, and other systems to support humans in hostile environments. Precursor robotics, robotic missions that investigate candidate destinations and provide vital information to prepare for human explorers, will lay the groundwork for humans to achieve new milestones in deep space.

The capability to transport humans to and from deep space will leverage incremental development of exploration capabilities that seed future discoveries and innovation, and eventually lead to creation of a permanent, long-term human space presence in the solar system. Our exploration of deep space will reward us with new knowledge. While new knowledge increases our understanding of our planet, our solar system, our universe, and ourselves, Americans expect tangible benefits and applications that we can use on Earth. If the past is prologue, scientists and entrepreneurs will generate new uses for the knowledge and technology resulting from NASA’s investments in exploration systems, and this in turn will grow the U.S. economy.