Fellowships

 

 

NASA's Priorities

Strategic Framework for NASA

I. NASA Mission Directorates

NASA’s Mission to pioneer the future in space exploration, scientific discovery, and aeronautics research, draws support from four Mission Directorates, each with a specific responsibility.

· The Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate (ARMD) conducts vital research to make air travel more efficient, safe, green, and to uncover leading-edge solutions for the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) in the United States. ARMD’s fundamental research in traditional aeronautical disciplines and emerging disciplines helps address substantial noise, emissions, efficiency, performance and safety challenges that must be met in order to design vehicles that can operate in the NextGen.

(http://www.aeronautics.nasa.gov)

· The Exploration Systems Mission Directorate (ESMD) Agency role is to develop a sustained human presence on the moon; to promote exploration, commerce, and U.S. preeminence in space; and to serve as a stepping-stone for the future exploration of Mars and other destinations. ESMD establishes the NASA exploration research and technology development agenda. Specifically, ESMD develops capabilities and supporting research and technology that will enable sustained and affordable human and robotic exploration. It also works to ensure the health and performance of crews during long-duration space exploration. In the near-term, ESMD does this by developing robotic precursor missions, human transportation elements, and life-support systems. (http://www.exploration.nasa.gov)

· The Science Mission Directorate (SMD) leads the Agency in four areas of research: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Planetary Science, and Astrophysics. SMD works closely with the broader scientific community, considers national initiatives, and uses the results of National Research Council studies to define a set of “Big Questions” in each of these four research areas. These questions, in turn, fuel mission priorities and the SMD research agenda. The

SMD also sponsors research that both enables, and is enabled by, NASA’s exploration activities. SMD has a portfolio of Education and Public Outreach projects that are connected to its research efforts. (http://nasascience.nasa.gov)

· The Space Operations Mission Directorate (SOMD) provides the Agency with leadership and management of NASA space operations related to human exploration in and beyond low- Earth orbit. SOMD enables current space exploration in low earth orbit through its Space Shuttle and International Space Station Programs. SOMD is also responsible for Agency leadership and management of NASA space operations related to Launch Services, Space Transportation, and Space Communications in support of both human and robotic exploration programs. (http://www.spaceoperations.nasa.gov)

 

II. NASA Research Areas of Interest

NASA EPSCoR research priorities are defined by the Mission Directorates—Aeronautics Research, Exploration Systems, Science, and Space Operations. Each Mission Directorate covers a major area of the Agency’s research and technology development efforts.

 

Information about current NASA research solicitations can be found on NSPIRES at http://nspires.nasaprs.com (select “Solicitations” and then “Open Solicitations”).

 Research priorities for each of the Mission Directorates can be found at the following locations:

Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate (ARMD)

Researchers responding to the ARMD should propose research that is aligned with one or more of the ARMD programs. Proposers are directed to the following:

· ARMD Programs: http://www.aeronautics.nasa.gov/programs.htm

· Research Opportunities in Aeronautics (ROA) http://nspires.nasaprs.com (select “Solicitations” and then “Open Solicitations”)

 

Exploration Systems Mission Directorate (ESMD)

General priorities of ESMD can be found at http://www.nasa.gov/directorates/esmd.

Science Research Interests:

· Research and Technology Development to Support Crew Health and Performance in Space Exploration Missions, NASA Human Research Program and The National Space Biomedical Research Institute

http://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/viewrepositorydocument/cmdocumentid=154870/NNJ08ZSA002N.pdf

· Ground-Based Studies in Space Radiobiology, NASA Space Radiation Program Element

http://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/viewrepositorydocument/cmdocumentid=179575/NNJ09ZSA001N.pdf

Engineering Research Interests:

· Spacecraft: Guidance, navigation and control; thermal; electrical; structures; software; avionics; displays; high speed re-entry; modeling; power systems;

interoperability/commonality; advanced spacecraft materials; crew/vehicle health monitoring; life support.

· Propulsion: Propulsion methods that will utilize materials found on the moon or Mars, “green” propellants, on-orbit propellant storage, motors, testing, fuels, manufacturing, soft landing, throttle-able propellants, high performance, and descent.

· Lunar and Planetary Surface Systems: Precision landing hardware, software, in-situ resource utilization (ISRU), navigation systems, extended surface operations, robotics, (specifically environmental scouting prior to human arrival, outpost maintenance with and without humans present, and assist astronaut with geologic exploration) environmental analysis, radiation protection, spacesuits, life support, power systems. ESMD also has an extensive program to develop and test models of lunar surface systems

in realistic analog environments on Earth. Information on the Analog Tests is available on the Web by visiting: http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/home/analogs.html.

· Ground Operations: Pre-launch, launch, mission operations, command and control software systems, communications, landing and recovery.

 

Science Mission Directorate (SMD)

Detailed information on SMD research priorities is available at the following URLs:

· NASA Science Plan 2007:http://science.hq.nasa.gov/strategy/ and

http://nasascience.nasa.gov/about-us/science-strategy/Science_Plan_07.pdf.

· Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Science (ROSES):

http://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/. Select “Solicitations”, “Open Solicitations”, and then “Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) – 2009”.

 

Space Operations Mission Directorate (SOMD)

The primary research and technology development areas in SOMD support launch vehicles, space communications, and the International Space Station. Examples of research and technology development areas (and the associated lead NASA Center) with great potential include:

· Space Communications and Navigation

o Coding, Modulation, and Compression (Goddard Spaceflight Center (GSFC))

o Precision Spacecraft and Lunar/Planetary Surface Navigation and Tracking

(GSFC)

o Communication for Space-Based Range (GSFC)

o Antenna Technology (Glenn Research Center (GRC))

o Reconfigurable/Reprogrammable Communication Systems (GRC)

o Miniaturized Digital EVA Radio (Johnson Space Center (JSC))

o Transformational Communications Technology (GRC)

o Long Range Optical Telecommunications (Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL))

o Long Range Space RF Telecommunications (JPL)

o Surface Networks and Orbit Access Links (GRC)

o Software for Space Communications Infrastructure Operations (JPL)

o TDRS transponders for launch vehicle applications that support space

communication and launch services (GRC)

· Space Transportation

o Optical Tracking and Image Analysis (Kennedy Space Center (KSC))

o Space Transportation Propulsion System and Test Facility Requirements and Instrumentation (Stennis Space Center (SSC))

o Automated Collection and Transfer of Launch Range Surveillance/Intrusion Data (KSC)

o Technology tools to assess secondary payload capability with launch vehicles (KSC)

o Spacecraft Charging/Plasma Interactions (Environment definition & arcing

mitigation) ((Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC))

· Processing and Operations

o Crew Health and Safety Including Medical Operations (JSC)

o In-helmet Speech Audio Systems and Technologies (GRC)

o Vehicle Integration and Ground Processing (KSC)

o Mission Operations (Ames Research Center (ARC))

o Portable Life Support Systems (JSC)

o Pressure Garments and Gloves (JSC)

o Air Revitalization Technologies (ARC)

o In-Space Waste Processing Technologies (JSC)

o Cryogenic Fluids Management Systems (GRC)