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Development of innovative technologies are sought that will result in durable, long-life, lightweight, high performance space power and in-space propulsion systems to substantially enhance or enable future missions.

This STTR topic solicits advanced technologies for satellites with masses less than approximately 20 kg and volumes less than approximately 10,000 cm3. Needed are components, subsystems, sensors, detectors and instruments that increase the capabilities of very small satellites while meeting the significant constraints imposed by the very limited size and mass of the observatory.

As the launch opportunities of very small satellites increase, NASA needs advanced capabilities to be developed in order to increase the viability of world-class scientific and technological applications within smaller constraints. This will allow NASA to use every class of orbiting system to make measurements to improve the scientific understanding of the Earth, the Sun and the cosmos.

This topic addresses the need for low mass, low power technologies that support in situ compositional analysis and mapping. Two areas are of particular interest: micro-scale analysis and mapping of the mineralogy, organic compounds, chemistry and elemental composition of planetary materials, related to rock fabrics and textures; and remote mapping of geologic outcrops and features. Such technologi ...

This subtopic is focused on developing and demonstrating technologies for both orbital and in situ compositional analysis and mapping that can be proposed to future planetary missions. Technologies that can increase instrument resolution, precision and sensitivity or achieve new and innovative scientific measurements are solicited. For example missions, see (http://science.hq.nasa.gov/missions). For details of the specific requirements see the National Research Council's, Vision and Voyages for Planetary Science in the Decade 2013-2022 (http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/2013decadal/).

This topic seeks research and technology development that can directly support the NASA Space Technology Roadmap (STR) and Space Technology Grand Challenges. The long-term goal is to advance the technologies that will be needed to achieve the NASA mission objectives as outlined in the National Space Policy. The efforts of this STTR topic in 2011 will focus on two specific areas:    - Affordable and Sustainable Crew Support and Protection.    - Active Debris Removal Technologies.

This STTR sub-topic seeks to advance the state-of-the-art in spacecraft life support, thermal control, extra-vehicular activity and habitation systems, leading toward the ability to sustain a crew in space for years with minimal supplies launched from Earth. Atmosphere, water and waste all need to be regenerated with highly reliable systems to reduce or eliminate the need to launch parts and supplies to maintain the systems. The crew must also be protected from the dangers of the deep space environment. During extra-vehicular activity, this poses additional difficulties.

After more than 50 years of human space activities, orbital debris has become a problem in the near-Earth environment. The total mass of debris in orbit is close to 6000 tons at present. The U.S. Space Surveillance Network is currently tracking more than 22,000 objects larger than about 10 cm. Additional optical and radar data indicate that there are approximately 500,000 debris larger than 1 cm, and more than 100 million debris larger than 1 mm in the environment.

Kennedy Space Center (KSC) is seeking innovative solutions to improve ground systems operations. This topic highlights three areas that KSC has a vested interest. These include: improved performance of materials for cryogenic insulation, fireproofing, energy absorption, and other aerospace applications; methodologies for verification and validation of software that simulates ground effects of laun ...

The exhaust plume from a launch vehicle rocket engine generates severe acoustic waves, which cause acoustic loading on the ground structures and vehicle payload. Prediction and reduction of the acoustic levels in the near field of launch vehicle lift-off is an important factor that should be taken into consideration early in the design process of the space launch complex.