NASA selects technological partnerships
DATELINE: WASHINGTON, Oct. 31
The U.S. space agency has selected 38 partnerships to help it advance key space-related technologies.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Innovative Partnerships Program Seed Fund announced the selections Wednesday. The projects address technology barriers with cost-shared, joint-development programs.
NASA said the partnerships span 30 states and include nine universities, 23 small to medium-sized businesses, 17 large corporations and participation by all 10 NASA field centers.
The one-year projects will involve collaboration among three principal partners: a NASA partnership manager at a field center, a co-principal investigator within a NASA program or project office and an external co-principal investigator from the private sector, academia or other government laboratory.
Examples of selected research areas include the pursuit of improved engine performance, creation of high-temperature materials for lunar lander engines and improved optics to lower the error rates of future space telescopes.
Funding will come from three sources -- $9 million from NASA's Technology Transfer Partnerships budget, $13 million provided by NASA sources in programs, projects, or field centers and $12 million from external partners for a total combined financial commitment of $34 million.
A complete list of selected organizations is available at http://www.ipp.nasa.gov/news.htm