NASA Provides Funding for Technology Grants to Support Exploration of Moon and Mars

NASA has recently awarded nearly $1.5 million to various academic, non-profit, and business organizations to advance technology crucial for the agency’s upcoming missions to the Moon and Mars. Among the 24 projects funded, Florida International University (FIU) in Miami stands out for its innovative research involving lunar regolith and graphene nanoplatelets.

Brandon Aguiar, a graduate student at FIU, is leading the charge in preparing a slurry containing a lunar regolith simulant, graphene nanoplatelets, and base resin for FIU’s study on the enhanced electrical conductivity of additively manufactured lunar regolith components. This research could potentially revolutionize construction methods on the Moon’s surface.

The Dual-Use Technology Development Cooperative Agreement Notices from NASA aim to collaborate with U.S. industry and academia to develop essential technologies for future space exploration. The selected projects cover a wide range of innovations, from using smartphone video guidance sensors to fly robots on the International Space Station to identifying new battery materials and improving neutrino particle detectors.

Other notable awardees include Auburn University, Northwestern University, and the University of Alabama, each receiving funding for two projects. The funding is intended to support entrepreneurial research and innovation ideas that could benefit both the commercial space sector and NASA’s missions.

With applications now open for the 2024 solicitation cycle, the future looks bright for advancements in space technology and exploration. NASA’s commitment to fostering collaboration and innovation will undoubtedly pave the way for groundbreaking discoveries in the realm of space exploration.